Sun Belt Conference schools dominate the MAC, winning 10 out of 13 games and sending a strong message to mid-major basketball. Coastal Carolina grabs center stage with a triple-overtime thriller against UMass, capped by Joshua Beadle’s clutch step-back three. Ragin' Cajuns surge with four straight wins, Troy controls Akron on national TV with Cooper Campbell’s hot hand, and South Alabama blitzes Buffalo with an early 25–4 run.

Dave Schultz spotlights lineup shifts, road trip challenges, and the impact of scheduling as App State scrapes past Eastern Michigan and Marshall battles undefeated Miami of Ohio. Key topics include net rankings volatility, Sun Belt tournament seeding hopes, and how three-point shooting is redefining the conference race.

Will South Alabama and App State earn top seeds down the stretch? Locked On Sun Belt offers sharp analysis on every critical matchup and player performance.

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Mazda

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Indeed

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FanDuel

Today’s episode is sponsored by FanDuel. The Winter Games are on. And there’s no better way to follow them than with a bet on FanDuel. FanDuel - Play your game.

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Texas State Bobcats aim for a Sun Belt farewell to remember under head coach Stephen Trout. Will breakout stars like Chase Mora and freshman flamethrowers Nolan Moore and Wade Cooper power the Bobcats back to the NCAA tournament?

Host Dave Schultz spotlights Trout’s resilient journey—from the uncertainties of the Covid shutdown and injury-plagued seasons to record-setting victories.

The episode explores NIL challenges, transfer portal strategy, and Texas State’s balanced recruiting approach, mixing promising high school talent with veteran junior college arms.

Schultz and Trout preview lineup battles, rotation depth, and what it will take to navigate a competitive Sun Belt before the move to the PAC-12.

Insightful discussions cover rising contributors, the impact of injuries, and marquee matchups against rivals like Gonzaga and Washington State. Can the Bobcats make noise in their final year, riding a new wave of talent and experience?

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If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

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Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

Mazda

Like our players, we’re driven by the details. Because highlights make the reel. What it takes to get there makes it count.

There’s more to a Mazda. Because there’s more to you.

Turbo Tax

For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life.

Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

FanDuel

If you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty.

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#sunbelt #CollegeFootball #NCAA #CollegeBasketball #collegesoftball #Collegebaseball #lockedonsunbelt #NCAASoftball #marshallthunderingherd #appstate #mountaineers #troytrojans #ulmwarhawks #odumonarchs #georgiasouthern #georgiastate #coastalcarolina #jmudukes #chanticleers #louisianaragincajuns #southernmiss #goldeneagles #arkansasstate #redwolves #texasstatebobcats #southalabamajaguars

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App State Mountaineers aim for a Sun Belt breakthrough as Head Coach Kermit Smith reveals the keys to building a passionate locker room, leveraging NIL and transfer portal opportunities, and maximizing player development.

Can Joseph Zamora, Jordan Fisher, and new transfer Nick DiRito drive App State back to the NCAA tournament in a league where consistency trumps a single weekend?

Host Dave Schultz probes App State’s recruiting strategy for pitchers in their scenic, high-elevation ballpark, discusses the impact of sports psychology on young athletes, and gets Coach Smith’s insights on schedule-building for RPI advantages.

The episode explores how App State balances roster evolution with the dynamic Sun Belt landscape and why a deep, healthy roster and mental toughness remain crucial. Is this the year the Mountaineers deliver on their promise—and how will the NCAA’s changing rules shape their competitive path?

00:00 "Staying the Course Successfully"

05:22 "Building a Passionate Team"

07:53 Building Relationships, Handling Pressure

13:49 Scholarship Changes and Player Opportunities

18:25 "Impressive Player Development Insights"

20:12 "Excited About the Roster"

24:43 "The Mental Game of Baseball"

27:29 Scheduling Balance for Early Season

30:42 "Mission Rooted in Student Growth"

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…

🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOSunBelt?sid=YouTube

Locked On College Conferences, HBCU, Basketball & More

🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnCollege

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Gametime

Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.

Mazda

Like our players, we’re driven by the details. Because highlights make the reel. What it takes to get there makes it count.

There’s more to a Mazda. Because there’s more to you.

Turbo Tax

For a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Take taxes off your plate and get back to your life.

Visit https://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today.

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

FanDuel

If you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

#sunbelt #CollegeFootball #NCAA #CollegeBasketball #collegesoftball #Collegebaseball #lockedonsunbelt #NCAASoftball #marshallthunderingherd #appstate #mountaineers #troytrojans #ulmwarhawks #odumonarchs #georgiasouthern #georgiastate #coastalcarolina #jmudukes #chanticleers #louisianaragincajuns #southernmiss #goldeneagles #arkansasstate #redwolves #texasstatebobcats #southalabamajaguars

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.