Arkansas State and Appalachian State finished at the top of the Sun Belt Conference standings last season. Media members who cover the conference think those two teams will again this season, only with one switch.
Appalachian State edged ASU in a preseason poll to win the Sun Belt this season, released by the league office Thursday afternoon.
ASU, which won at Appalachian State en route to a conference title last season, was picked second, followed by Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Louisiana-Lafayette.
The Mountaineers, who went 11-2 overall and 7-1 in the Sun Belt last season, earned 114 points and five of the 11 first-place votes. ASU, which went 9-4 overall and 8-0 in the Sun Belt in 2015, earned 110 points and also earned five first-place votes.
Georgia Southern, which won the 2014 conference title, earned one first-place vote and 98 points. Georgia State (73 points), was picked fourth, followed by Louisiana-Lafayette (70), Troy (70), South Alabama (62), Idaho (48), New Mexico State (37), Texas State (30) and Louisiana-Monroe (14).
ASU lost five starters on offense, including quarterback Fredi Knighten, its top two receivers and its leading rusher. Appalachian State returns quarterback Taylor Lamb, who threw a Sun Belt-best 31 touchdowns last season, running back Marcus Cox, who rushed for 1,423 yards, and seven starters on defense.
ASU and Appalachian State do not play this season.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.