JMU Leads Sun Belt Bubas Cup After Fall Sports

**Breaking: James Madison University Tops Sun Belt Conference’s Vic Bubas Cup Standings After Dominant Fall Sports Season, Secures First-Ever Football Title; Arkansas State Snaps at Their Heels

The 2025 fall sports season has been nothing short of spectacular for James Madison University (JMU), and it’s paying off in the form of an early lead in the Sun Belt Conference’s coveted Vic Bubas Cup standings. This prestigious award recognizes the top-performing athletics department in the conference based on a points system.

JMU stormed through the fall sports season, earning impressive point tallies in various sports. Here are some of their standout performances:

• Football: The Dukes secured their first Sun Belt football title with an impeccable 8-0 conference record, earning them a whopping 15 points.

• Volleyball: JMU’s volleyball team also claimed a regular-season title, adding 14 points to the tally.

• Women’s Soccer: The Duchess scored an impressive 10 points for their third-place regular-season finish.

• Cross Country: Both men’s and women’s cross country teams contributed to the point total, bringing in eight points.

While JMU didn’t earn points for field hockey’s fourth-place finish in the MAC, their performance in other sports has catapulted them to the top of the Vic Bubas Cup standings.

Hot on the heels of JMU are Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, and Marshall, who are tied for third place with 36.5 points each. With the conference’s basketball and soccer seasons heating up, expect some serious competition in the coming months.

Named after the Sun Belt Conference’s first commissioner, the Vic Bubas Cup honors the memory of this trailblazing administrator. Bubas led the conference from 1976 to 1990, overseeing its growth from six to eight members and expanding its sponsored sports from four to 10. Prior to his commissioner role, Bubas was a three-time ACC Coach of the Year at Duke, taking his team to three Final Fours.

Points in the Vic Bubas Cup are awarded based on regular-season finishes for sports with conference schedules. For those without regular-season schedules, points are based on Sun Belt Championship finishes. Institutions not sponsoring a sport don’t receive points in that category, and ties result in shared points.

For sports with both a regular-season schedule and a conference tournament, one additional point is awarded to the winner. This includes the Sun Belt Conference Football Championship.

In sports divided into divisions, all teams’ conference records are ranked, and points are awarded regardless of divisional finish. For men’s and women’s soccer, standings are determined by points, not winning percentage.

🏆 Las Vegas odds-makers have JMU as early favorites to retain their Vic Bubas Cup lead heading into the winter sports season. However, the competitive landscape of the Sun Belt Conference promises plenty of excitement and surprises.

💡 Stay updated on the latest Sun Belt Conference sports news and trends by following @SunBelt on Twitter. They provide up-to-the-minute updates and insider information on all the conference’s sports action.

A: Football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball currently offer the most points due to their high number of participating schools.

A: As of now, the Vic Bubas Cup only accounts for team performances. However, conference officials are always exploring ways to enhance and grow the award.

Don’t miss a beat in the race for the Vic Bubas Cup! Stay informed with 247Sports News as we continue to cover the exciting sports action and trends shaping the Sun Belt Conference. Share your thoughts on the season so far, and join the conversation in the comments section below. And if you haven’t already, subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox!