JONESBORO, Ark. (12/15/25) – The Sun Belt Conference announced Monday updated standings for the 2025-26 Vic Bubas Cup, the league's all-sports award, and the Red Wolves stand in second place after accumulating 45.0 points through five sports scored.
 
A-State's points total is its second most for a fall semester since the Sun Belt's inaugural football season in 2001, trailing only its 46.5 score at this time last year when the Red Wolves stood tied for third. The Red Wolves currently trail leader James Madison by just 3.0 points, while holding an 8.5-point advantage over three programs (Coastal Carolina, Marshall and Louisiana) tied for third place.
 
"Our fall sports, including our football, men's and women's cross country, volleyball and soccer teams, have shown great commitment and worked extremely hard this year. Our standing in the Bubas Cup reflects that," said A-State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Chris Pezman. "I want to congratulate our student-athletes and coaches on the success we've had thus far, and we're proud of the job they've done this semester that has helped us build some early momentum."
 
Last year, Arkansas State went on to collect runner-up honors in the final standings as it claimed its best finish for a full athletics year since 1999-2000. Last year's runner-up finish followed a fourth-place finish in 2023-24, which at the time was its best since 2015-16.
 
Three of A-State's five fall sports either improved or matched their points scored last year, including volleyball, men's cross country and women's soccer.
 
Winning its seventh all-time Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship, the volleyball team earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015. The Red Wolves recorded at least 22 victories for the second straight year, including a home win over No. 16 Missouri and road victory at SEC-foe Arkansas.
 
A-State's football team contributed at least 9.5 points to the Red Wolves' Bubas Cup score for the second straight year. This year's team is set to compete in the Xbox Bowl in Frisco, Texas, on Dec. 18, making it one of just 18 Group of 6 programs to appear in a bowl game each of the last three seasons.
 
The men's and women's cross country teams combined to score 17.0 points after both finished among the top five at the Sun Belt Championships. Behind individual champion and Sun Belt Runner of the Year Carlo Martinez-Jamarillo, the men's squad claimed runner-up honors. Women's soccer improved its placement in the final standings this year, increasing its Bubas Cup points total to 4.5.
 
The next Bubas Cup update is expected to be announced following the completion of the Sun Belt Conference's winter sports, which will include men's and women's indoor track & field and men's and women's basketball.
 
2025-26 Vic Bubas Cup Standings (as of December 15, 2025)
 
PLACE, SCHOOL, TOTAL (WXC, MXC, WSOC, MSOC, VB, FB)
1, James Madison, 48.0 (8.0, --, 10.0, 1.0, 14.0, 15.0)
2, Arkansas State, 45.0 (9.0 , 8.0, 4.5, --, 14.0, 9.5)
3, Coastal Carolina, 36.5 (7.0, 2.0, 4.5, 3.0, 10.5, 9.5)
3, Louisiana, 36.5 (10.0, 5.0, 7.0, --, 5.0, 9.5)
3, Marshall, 36.5 (6.0, 4.0, 8.5, 8.0, 5.0, 5.0)
6, App State, 34.0 (13.0, 9.0, 6.0, --, 3.0, 3.0)
7, South Alabama, 33.0 (4.0, 3.0, 12.5, --, 8.5, 5.0)
8, Old Dominion, 31.0 (--, --, 12.5, 4.0, 2.0, 12.5)
9, Georgia Southern, 30.5 (3.0,--, 3.0, 7.0, 10.5, 7.0)
10, Southern Miss, 30.0 (12.0, --, 1.5, --, 7.0, 9.5)
11, ULM, 29.0 (5.0, 7.0, 14.0, --, 1.0, 2.0)
12, Georgia State, 25.0 (2.0, --, 8.5, 5.0, 8.5, 1.0)
13, Troy, 21.0 (1.0, 1.0, 1.5, --, 5.0, 12.5)