Coming off an 8-5 season and its first bowl game victory since 2019, expectations have risen for the Arkansas State football program ahead of Coach Butch Jones’ fifth year at the helm.

Jones, quarterback Jaylen Raynor and safety Brandon Barnes were in New Orleans on Tuesday to represent the program at Sun Belt football media days.

In the opening address made by Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill, realignment was discussed at length. Texas State announced its departure from the league last month, heading for the new Pac-12 beginning in 2026-27. To fill the void left by Texas State, the Sun Belt announced last week that Louisiana Tech will join the conference, with a date yet to be determined, no later than July 2027.

Arkansas State was the first team to take the stage Tuesday at the Marriott Warehouse Arts District in downtown New Orleans. Jones used part of his opening remarks to highlight the growth of the program since he arrived in Jonesboro ahead of the 2021 season.

“It’s been quite a journey. We’re one of only four programs in the country that have increased their win total over the last three consecutive seasons,” Jones said. “With our eight victories last year, that tied us for the third-highest win total in our 33-year history of being an FBS member. Our (68 Ventures Bowl) victory over Bowling Green was our fifth bowl victory since joining the FBS.”

In the first two seasons under Jones, the Red Wolves had a combined record of 5-19. Signs of progress became visible in 2023, when the team finished with a 6-7 record and made an appearance in the Camellia Bowl. The momentum continued into 2024 with the team picking up eight victories and a 38-31 victory over the Falcons in the 68 Ventures Bowl.

Arkansas State improving upon its record for a fourth consecutive year will not be an easy task. Jones said Tuesday higher win totals are harder to come by for Group of Five programs.

“Everyone asks me what’s the difference between Power Four and Group of (Five)? We don’t buy our four wins,” Jones said. “You’re a byproduct of your scheduling and we’re living that. We have six straight games to start the season.

“We play two formidable opponents (and) an SEC program in Arkansas. It’s the first time that Arkansas State and Arkansas will play. We’re able to do that in our state capital of Little Rock, which I think that’s what college football is all about. We get the daunting task the following week to come back home and play a Big 12 powerhouse in Iowa State.”

There is optimism on the offensive side of the ball for the Red Wolves with a number of key starters returning, including Raynor and preseason first-team All-Sun Belt wide receiver Corey Rucker. Returning kicker Clune Van Andel was the league’s preseason preseason Special Teams Player of the Year and a first-teamer, and Ja’Quez Cross was the first-team all-purpose player and second-team running back.

On the defensive side, there are more questions than answers for a unit that allowed the most yards per game (462.1) in the Sun Belt last season. Former linebackers coach Griff McCarley was promoted to defensive coordinator after Rob Harley was fired following the 2024 season.

Entering his third season as Arkansas State’s starting quarterback, Raynor will be leaned on heavily for his leadership. With 23 career starts under his belt, Raynor guided the Red Wolves to a 7-1 record in one-score games in 2024.

At the news conference Tuesday, Raynor talked about the importance of being process-oriented as the preseason gets underway. Before the highly anticipated matchups in Week 2 and Week 3 against Arkansas and Iowa State, respectively, Arkansas State will first play Southeast Missouri State to open the season on Aug. 30.

“Right now our eyes are focused on fall camp and just winning each day,” Raynor said. “You can’t win versus Arkansas today or tomorrow, so you have to focus on each day, maximize each day and kind of put all your effort into today to maximize and build on each day to be the best version of ourselves on that day.”

Barnes was mostly utilized as a special teams player in 2024, but he has capitalized on a strong offseason and earned the trust of Jones. Barnes is expected to start in the Red Wolves’ defensive backfield, which lost every starter from the 2024 roster. On Tuesday, Barnes echoed the same sentiments as Raynor.

“There is some excitement about being able to play a team like Arkansas, but at the same time, here in our program, we talk a lot about being where our feet are,” Barnes said. “You can only worry about one day at a time. How can you get better that day instead of looking days ahead?”

In the league’s preseason coaches poll released Monday, Arkansas State was picked to finish third in the Sun Belt West Division. Louisiana-Lafayette is the favorite to win the West after reaching the conference championship last season. James Madison was chosen as the favorite in the East Division.

There was a lot of change around the Arkansas State during the offseason with new additions to both the roster and coaching staff. The university also hired Chris Pezman earlier in the summer to replace Jeff Purinton as athletic director. Despite all the changes, Jones is confident in the foundation that has been built within the football program.

“We take great pride in our growth and in our development,” he said. “For us its relationships over transactions. It’s true connection. We really made a commitment to build our program through the high school recruiting and build our program the way we have always built programs.

“It starts with the people first. It starts with the culture. It starts with your principles and your values.”