At this time last year, prognosticators were dooming the West to a subservient season behind the SBC East. Turns out, it was stronger than anticipated – and so was the hate! Here are the five biggest revenge games we’re looking forward to in 2023.

South Alabama vs Troy, November 2

Played before a national audience on a Thursday night, last year’s Battle of the Belt dustup might have been the best 10-6 game ever recorded in human history. ‘Twas a game of epic defense, with Troy’s DK Billingsly’s 5-yard TD punch serving as the only touchdown recorded. The win put the Trojans atop the SBC West and Jon Sumrall’s boys never lost momentum, mowing down the rest of the schedule en route to a Sun Belt championship.

Payback. While neither team managed more than 266 total yards, the Troy defense held the Jags to a mere 30 yards on the ground, while limiting Carter Bradley’s big arm to just 215 yards and a pick. Kane Wommack will want nothing more than to punish Troy before a cringing Trojan audience this November – with SBC West dominance likely on the line.

Arkansas State vs Southern Miss, September 23

The 2022 Red Wolves endured a difficult season grimly underscored by an alarming number of fourth quarter losses – none more difficult to swallow than a one point loss to the Golden Eagles in 2022. After closing out the third quarter with a safety, Arkansas State led Southern Miss 19-7 and seemed primed to close escrow on a much need victory. However, Frank Gore Jr. wasn’t willing to sign that deed, revising terms at the last minute by leading the Golden Eagles to a 13-0 fourth quarter stunner to seal the 20-19 victory.

Payback. The loss to Southern Miss only deepened the Red Wolves’ despair – but it also delivered clarity to Arkansas States’ needs. Butch Jones worked to deepen the Red Wolves offensive line in 2023 which should enable the Red Wolves to gain longer fourth quarter possessions. September will provide the ultimate test to this theory with Southern Miss visits Jonesboro for the first conference game for both teams this season.

Louisiana vs ULM, September 24

The Cajuns, favored by many in 2022 to win the SBC West again, seemed to have their ancient rival under wraps in the fourth quarter, leading the Warhawks 17-7 and putting ULM QB Chandler Rogers in the freezer. A recovered fumble after a botched Cajuns punt changed the narrative, however, leading to an easy punch in from Rodgers. But Rogers wasn’t finished authoring more Louisiana woe! Rogers would later connect with Tyrone Howell for an 89-yard gain, leading to a stunning 21-17 upset in Monroe.

Payback. Rogers is now a Mean Green, and the Cajuns get the Warhawks in Lafayette this season. Second-year Cajun’s head coach Mike Desormeaux is a season wiser now, and he won’t want to bear the slings and arrows of Cajuns fans enduring a consecutive defeat to ULM. Unless the Warhawks’ Terry Bowden has some surprises up the sleeves of his neatly pressed white dress shirt, you can expect pain in Louisiana this September.

Texas State vs ULM, October 14

How did the Warhawks become the bane of so many SBC West foes’ existence? ULM Pluck & Luck, as once again Bowden’s Boys overcame a fourth quarter deficit to secure victory from defeat’s greasy clutches. The Bobcats’ nailed a 21-0 lead in the first quarter behind Layne Hatcher’s two TD passes, but then went ice cold as ULM spent the next two quarters patiently chipping away at the lead. With ten minutes left on the clock, Chandler Rogers led the Warhawks down the field to take the 31-30 lead. Still plenty of time to salvage this, Bobcats! With six seconds on the clock, Texas State kicker Seth Keller needed only a 38-yard field goal to win the game – and he missed!

Payback. Layne Hatcher: gone! Chandler Rogers: gone! Bobcats head coach Jake Spavital: gone! Many of the original cast that played in last season’s drama have hit the road, but what better opportunity for new Texas State head coach C.J. Kinne to seal his FBS credentials than with a win over the program that contributed to his predecessor’s doom?

Louisiana vs Troy, November 18

Of the five games highlighted in this post, four are defeats that came after leading after three quarters – including last year’s mostly-defensive fistfight between the Cajuns and Trojans. Louisiana’s Ben Woodridge appeared in command for the first three quarters, tossing a pair of touchdowns as the defense limited Troy to just one touchdown during the closing seconds of the third quarter. However, no 17-3 fourth quarter lead is safe in the Sun Belt West! Troy’s Gunnar Watson and Kimani Vidal would lead a 16-0 route in the fourth quarter in recording the 23-17 victory.

Payback. Gunnar Watson: here! Ben Woodridge: here! Sumrall and Desormeaux: still here! Nearly everyone is back for this big budget sequel, and while the Trojans appear to be just as strong in 2023 as it was in 2022, look for a big chip on the Cajuns’ shoulder pads to provide all the incentive needed to deliver a dose of revenge on Troy.

PHOTO CREDIT: Belongs to the Sun Belt