MOBILE, Ala. — The Sun Belt preseason basketball poll released Monday by the conference’s coaches projects very different seasons for South Alabama’s two programs, with the Jaguars men picked to finish fourth in the 14-team league and the Jaguars women slotted 12th.
The men’s program also landed two players on the preseason All-Sun Belt teams, including first-team forward Peyton Law, while the women’s team was shut out of the preseason honors. Both teams begin their 2026-27 seasons on Monday, Nov. 2, as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
Men Projected Fourth Behind Arkansas State, James Madison and Troy
In the men’s poll, South Alabama collected 136 points from the league’s coaches, placing the Jaguars fourth. Arkansas State was picked to win the league with 182 points, followed by James Madison with 176 and Troy with 143.
Although Arkansas State finished on top in total points, James Madison received the most first-place votes. The Dukes were named first on nine ballots, while Arkansas State earned three first-place votes. Southern Miss, which was picked seventh overall, received the remaining two first-place votes.
Here is the full predicted order of finish for Sun Belt men’s basketball, with poll points:
- 1. Arkansas State — 182
- 2. James Madison — 176
- 3. Troy — 143
- 4. South Alabama — 136
- 5. Marshall — 125
- 6. Louisiana — 117
- 7. Southern Miss — 109
- 8. Appalachian State — 105
- 9. Georgia Southern — 85
- 10. Georgia State — 76
- 10. Old Dominion — 76
- 12. Louisiana Tech — 64
- 13. Coastal Carolina — 58
- 14. Louisiana-Monroe — 15
The projection puts South Alabama in the upper tier of a league in which only 34 points separate the No. 3 and No. 7 teams, suggesting a tightly bunched race behind the top two contenders.
Peyton Law Earns First-Team Honors
South Alabama forward Peyton Law was selected to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team, a strong vote of confidence for a player who missed much of last season. The 6-foot-7 Law appeared in only 10 games in 2025-26 because of a knee injury, but he made those appearances count, averaging 12.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Law is joined on the first team by four guards:
- Adante’ Holiman, Old Dominion
- Jacob Meyer, Georgia State
- Isaac Taveras, Southern Miss
- Noah Otshudi, Marshall
Taveras was also chosen as the preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year. The Southern Miss guard averaged 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game last season, an all-around stat line that helps explain the Golden Eagles’ share of first-place votes.
Jalen Langsy Brings NAIA Scoring Touch
South Alabama’s second preseason honoree is a newcomer. Guard Jalen Langsy, a transfer from Northwestern of Iowa, was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt third team.
Langsy arrives with an eye-catching resume. He was an NAIA All-American last season after averaging 27.3 points per game and shooting 51% from 3-point range. Selection to a preseason all-conference team before playing a game at the NCAA Division I level reflects how highly league coaches regard his scoring ability.
With Law returning from injury and Langsy adding perimeter scoring, South Alabama has two of the more intriguing pieces in the conference as it tries to build on last season’s success.
Men Look to Build on 21-Win Season
South Alabama’s men went 21-12 in 2025-26 and earned a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, where the Jaguars fell to Auburn in the first round. Auburn went on to win the NIT title.
The Jaguars will open the 2026-27 regular season at home against Ohio on Nov. 2 in a MAC-Sun Belt Challenge game, after an Oct. 29 exhibition against Mississippi Christian. Their non-conference schedule includes road games at Central Florida, North Texas and SMU, a neutral-site game against Loyola Marymount in Pensacola, Fla., and a Thanksgiving-week trip to New Orleans for the Second Line Showcase. Sun Belt play begins Dec. 16 at Arkansas State, the team picked to win the league.
The Sun Belt Conference tournament will be held March 2-8 in Pensacola, where the winner will claim the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Women Picked 12th as James Madison Is Favored
On the women’s side, league coaches picked South Alabama 12th. The Jaguars received 61 poll points, finishing ahead of only Louisiana, with 42 points, and Georgia State, with 26.
James Madison is the clear preseason favorite. The Dukes received 189 poll points and 11 of the 14 first-place votes. Troy was picked second with 166 points, just ahead of Arkansas State with 165. Marshall, with 151 points, and Louisiana Tech, with 148, round out the top five. Arkansas State, Marshall and Louisiana Tech each received one first-place vote.
The full predicted order of finish for Sun Belt women’s basketball, with poll points:
- 1. James Madison — 189
- 2. Troy — 166
- 3. Arkansas State — 165
- 4. Marshall — 151
- 5. Louisiana Tech — 148
- 6. Old Dominion — 106
- 7. Coastal Carolina — 99
- 7. Southern Miss — 99
- 9. Appalachian State — 79
- 10. Louisiana-Monroe — 77
- 11. Georgia Southern — 62
- 12. South Alabama — 61
- 13. Louisiana — 42
- 14. Georgia State — 26
South Alabama was just one point behind Georgia Southern for 11th place, and only 16 points behind Louisiana-Monroe in 10th, meaning a modest improvement could move the Jaguars several spots up the standings.
No South Alabama women’s players were named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first, second or third teams.
Women Aim to Exceed Expectations Again
The South Alabama women finished 16-18 last season but made a run to the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt tournament, a reminder that preseason projections do not always tell the full story.
The Jaguars women open the 2026-27 season on the road at Akron on Nov. 2, also as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
Preseason polls offer a snapshot of how coaches view each roster before the first tip-off, but the real test begins in early November. For South Alabama’s men, the goal will be to live up to a top-four projection and contend for a conference title. For the women, the opportunity is to prove the coaches wrong and climb well above their 12th-place forecast.
