Troy is picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference West Division in 2024, with South Alabama fifth, according to voting by league coaches announced Monday.
The Trojans, who have won the Sun Belt title each of the last two seasons, received four of a possible 14 first-place votes. Texas State, the preseason division favorite, received nine first-place votes, while Louisiana got the other.
RELATED: Which South Alabama, Troy players were picked for preseason All-Sun Belt team?
South Alabama checks in at fifth in the preseason poll, behind Texas State (92), Troy (68), Louisiana (66) and Arkansas State (65). Southern Miss (31) was picked sixth, with Louisiana (16) in seventh.
Appalachian State is the favorite to win the East, receiving 12 first-place votes. James Madison, picked second, got the other two first-place nods.
The Mountaineers totaled 96 poll-points, ahead of JMU (79), Coastal Carolina (67), Georgia Southern (50), Marshall (49), Old Dominion (32) and Georgia State (19). There was no selection made for the overall conference championship.
Below are the coaches’ preseason picks in the Sun Belt East and West Divisions (first-place votes in parentheses):
| East | Pts |
|---|---|
| Appalachian State (12) | 96 |
| James Madison (2) | 79 |
| Coastal Carolina | 67 |
| Georgia Southern | 50 |
| Marshall | 49 |
| Old Dominion | 32 |
| Georgia State | 19 |
| West | Pts |
|---|---|
| Texas State (9) | 92 |
| Troy (4) | 68 |
| Louisiana (1) | 66 |
| Arkansas State | 65 |
| South Alabama | 54 |
| Southern Miss | 31 |
| Louisiana-Monroe | 16 |