Media Days Set for New Orleans
The Sun Belt Conference will usher in the 2026 football season with its annual Media Days on July 15 and 16 at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District. The event will be broadcast nationwide on ESPN+, giving fans live access to coaches and student‑athletes from every East Division program for press conferences, interviews and photo sessions.
Attendance is limited to the head coach and two scholarship players from each East Division school, while representatives from the West Division will be announced on July 9. This structure highlights the conference’s focus on media engagement and its growing footprint across the country.
Key Storylines and Outlook
Among the returning standouts drawing particular attention are Appalachian State quarterback Colton Phares and James Madison defensive back Zach Greenberg. New head coaches Ryan Beard, Billy Napier and Blake Anderson will also be present, alongside Sonny Cumbie, whose Louisiana Tech program makes its first appearance at the Media Days.
Conference Commissioner Keith Gill will open the festivities with a State of the Conference address on July 15, reflecting on a historic 2025 campaign that delivered the Sun Belt’s first College Football Playoff berth and a fourth straight year of leading non‑autonomy conferences in bowl representation.
The upcoming season promises to test whether the momentum can be sustained, as East Division schools take the spotlight on the first day and West Division programs follow on the second. Analysts and fans alike will be watching closely to see how the new coaching staffs reshape their programs and whether the conference can translate its recent breakthroughs into another playoff‑contending year.