The Sun Belt’s rise to power among the Group of Five ranks came about as both a surprise and an inevitability. Though it was mired in desolation for its first decade or so of operation, the Sun Belt looked for many years like a sleeping giant as a league based out of the Southeast, which has more than enough talent to provide for a G5 league. Once its membership started winning some games, those recruits would find value in the chance to stay home.

That step took a bit more time than expecte…