Sun Belt Media Days Kick Off in New Orleans with Southern Miss and South Alabama in the Spotlight

The 2025 Sun Belt Conference Football Media Days officially kicks off today in New Orleans, bringing all 14 league programs together under one roof at the Marriott Warehouse Arts District Hotel. The two-day event, broadcast live on ESPN+, provides a stage for coaches, players, and league officials to preview the upcoming season, discuss key storylines, and build excitement for what promises to be one of the most competitive years yet in the Sun Belt.

Southern Miss takes the stage today at 2:00 PM CT, ushering in a new era under head coach Charles Huff. Huff, who arrives in Hattiesburg after a successful stint at Marshall that included a Sun Belt East division title in 2024, is joined by standout quarterback Braylon Braxton and sophomore linebacker Chris Jones. Braxton, who followed Huff from Marshall, is already turning heads in Hattiesburg and was recently named the Sun Belt’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. The Golden Eagles are aiming to rebound after a tumultuous 2024 campaign and are seen as a potential contender in the West Division. Huff’s high-energy leadership, combined with a revamped staff and returning playmakers, has brought a renewed sense of optimism to the program. Southern Miss opens the season on August 30 at home against Mississippi State in a much-anticipated in-state showdown on ESPN.

(New Southern Miss coach Charles Huff speaks after being introduced as Head Coach in December.)

South Alabama will follow at 3:00 PM CT, with head coach Major Applewhite entering his second season at the helm in Mobile. Applewhite helped guide the Jaguars to a 7–6 finish last year, capped off by a bowl win that gave the program a late-season spark. He will be joined at the podium by senior offensive lineman Jordan Davis and linebacker Darius McKenzie, two veteran leaders on a roster that returns plenty of experience on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars has Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in Linebacker Blayne Myrick, who was 2024 Sun Belt Second Team.

Today’s schedule featured a full slate of West Division programs, beginning with remarks from Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill at 10:00 AM, followed by podium appearances from Arkansas State, Texas State, ULM, and Troy throughout the morning and early afternoon. Louisiana will speak at 2:30 PM CT, sandwiched between Southern Miss and South Alabama.

Media Days continue Wednesday with the East Division taking the spotlight. For fans watching from home, the event is available for streaming through ESPN+, with both a hosted “Media Days Show” and full podium sessions offered for every team.

For Southern Miss and South Alabama, today marks a chance to set the tone for the season ahead and show the rest of the Sun Belt that they’re ready to contend. Whether it’s Huff’s bold new vision in Hattiesburg or Applewhite’s steady climb in Mobile, the future of Sun Belt football in the Gulf South looks bright.