Interpreting the 2015 ULM Sun Belt Schedule

The Sun Belt released its 2015 football schedule yesterday. Let's check out what they have in store for the Warhawks.

2015 ULM Football Schedule

9/5 at Georgia

9/12 vs. Nicholls State

9/26 at Alabama

10/3 vs. Georgia Southern

10/10 at Tulsa

10/17 vs. App State

10/24 at Idaho

10/31 at UL-Lafayette

11/7 at Troy

11/14 vs. Arkansas State

11/19 at Texas State

11/28 at Hawaii

12/5 vs. New Mexico State

On the road again...

Due to the November game at Hawaii, the Warhawks will be one of the few teams in the country to play 13 games this season (and the only one in the Sun Belt). It also means that, like 2014, the team will only play five games at Malone Stadium - the four Sun Belt opponents and Nicholls State.

A mid-major team that sometimes struggles with money can benefit greatly from traveling to SEC powers and getting their butts kicked in exchange for a few hundred grand, but it would be nice to see at least one more home game on the schedule - for comparison, the Cajuns had six home games last season, and six in 2015.

(Un)Luck of the draw

Much was made last season about how Georgia Southern avoided having to meet UL-Lafayette and Arkansas State, arguably the two best teams in the conference (the Eagles drew similar scheduling favor this year). After seeing this slate of games for the Warhawks, it's clear they got no such luck. By my estimation, they play the top three toughest teams in the conference in 2015 in Georgia Southern, App St, and ULL - and there's a bit of a dropoff after those top three.

Tough early slate

The Warhawks got off to a 3-1 start before going on a six-game losing streak last season. It doesn't look like we'll see a similar open to the season in 2105. Nicholls State is a gimme, but it's sandwiched between two SEC powers. And right after facing off with Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the Warhawks take on Georgia Southern. If there was a stretch in the season where Bruce Feldman's body blow theory would apply, it's right there. Tulsa doesn't look to be too much trouble to many teams this year after winning just five games over the last two years, but I certainly wouldn't chalk it up as a W just yet.

Just one non-Saturday game

ULM has not had a Tuesday night game in a couple of years so I thought they might have had a shot in 2015, but it was not to be. The lone Thursday night game, November 19th at Texas State, will probably be played  at the same time as ECU vs. UCF (and maybe one more game, if ESPN hasn't completely updated its schedule for next year). Looks like there won't be many opportunities for ULM to be put in the spotlight next season, if at all.

Anything I missed? Leave your thoughts in the comments.