The semester of Sun Belt 101 is nearly over, and we’re all bulging with the deepest SBC wisdom that a free, online course from an uncredited fake educator can provide.
#1 The Red Wolves Are Back
After getting outscored 110-3 in the first two weeks of the season, Butch Jones and his Red Wolves find themselves in a tie for second place in the Sun Belt West and bowl eligible for the first time since 2019. To underscore the team’s return to relevance, Arkansas State scored 11 touchdowns on a good Texas State team, which apparently had everyone bowled over:
#2 What The Hell Happened Part 1: Georgia State
It feels like it was just five weeks ago when the Panthers were the first (eligible) Sun Belt team to reach the magic six wins mark, led by a powerful 1-2 punch from quarterback Darren Grainger and running back Marcus Carol. Four consecutive losses later – including a crotch punch to LSU on Saturday – Georgia State is positioned next-to-last in the Sun Belt East and staring blankly into space. Defense may be an issue: in those for losses, the Panthers have given up 44, 42, 42 and 56 points.
#3 Appalachian State Might Win the East After All
Howlraiser didn’t look too sharp picking the Mountaineers to win the SBC East in the preseason, especially after Appalachian State posted two consecutive losses to open conference play. Since then, Appalachian State has won four straight, are in a tie for first place with Coastal, and just took a smelly dump on James Madison’s College Gameday parade. Provided the Mountaineers escape Georgia Southern next week, a James Madison victory over Coastal makes us look like Nostradamus.
#4 This is Not the Bobcats Year (and That’s Okay)
What GJ Kinne has accomplished in San Marcos is incredible, combining a cadre of Incarnate Word vets, a big pile of transfer athletes, and some Spavital holdovers to become one of the conference’s most dangerous teams. While the 77-31 road loss to Arkansas State wasn’t ideal, the Bobcats are still eligible for a bowl and can remove all doubt at home by handling South Alabama on Saturday. This wasn’t the year the Bobcats to challenge for a title. But the immediate future looks terrific for Texas State.
#5 This Was A Gross Out-of-Conference Week for the Sun Belt
While everybody was watching the Mountaineers stun the Dukes, the Sun Belt was quietly being throttled by the SEC…and Army! The Golden Eagles, Warhawks and Panthers made solid first half efforts before becoming overwhelmed by their opponents (two of which are ranked), but Coastal’s 28-21 loss to the Black Knights (who had already been dispatched by Troy and ULM) just wasn’t a good look for the conference.
#6 What The Hell Happened Part 2: Georgia Southern
The Eagles were the most exciting team in the Sun Belt East, featuring both a high powered offense behind running back Jalen White and ride receiver Kaleb Hood, and a better-than-good defense. But since earning its 6th victory, Georgia Southern has lost straight, including Saturday’s spiritless 20-17 defeat to ODU. What happened? Well, the offense is no longer piling up points, scoring just 25 a game in those three losses.
#7 Is the Heat Off Southern Miss Head Coach Will Hall?
Southern Miss’ defense fell apart against Mississippi State in the fourth quarter, surrendering 18 points in a 41-20 defeat. Still, since admitting the team is better off with somebody other than Will Hall calling plays, the Golden Eagles have won two out of four and have looked more like an actual football team. The rumbling in Hattisburg got dark during Southern Miss’ seven game losing streak. But the modest turnaround may have taken Hall’s seat off the front burner.
#8 Love or Hate the Dukes, JMU’s Loss to the NCAA and Appalachian State Hurt the Sun Belt
Yes, our competitive angels had many of us relishing James Madison’s denial of a bowl waiver – then the subsequent letdown loss to the Mountaineers. After all, nobody wants to see a conference foe get too successful! However, opportunities to see your conference represented in a NY6 Bowl are rare, and with JMU both ineligible and once-defeated (an unfair penalty assessed to all G5 contenders), the Sun Belt will once again watch another G5 accept the glory.
#9 Troy is Still Secretly Good
The Trojans finally earned some recognition for the AP Top 25, collecting 17 votes this Sunday after Troy deepened Louisiana’s chagrin on Saturday. With its remaining regular season contest against Southern Miss, the Trojans will need to put on an awesome show in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game to gain the full attention Jon Sumrall’s program rightly deserves.
#10 Err’body Go’n Bowl’n
The Sun Belt now has eight teams eligible for bowl play, with three more (Old Dominion, Louisiana and Marshall) vying for a ticket with a victory next Saturday. Is the world ready for ELEVEN bowl eligible teams from the Sun Belt? It would be amusing to see the SBC take over the Bowl Community, but one wonders if somebody from the Sun Belt getting set up for some righteous indignation.
#11 Wasn’t Old Dominion Supposed to Be Terrible?
Picked in preseason by more than a few to be the worst team in the Sun Belt, Rickey Rahne’s Monarchs are one win from bowl eligibility and have defeated supposedly superior foes like Georgia Southern, Louisiana, and Appalachian State. The weirdest team in college football is not going to be easily denied, with only the exhausted Panthers preventing them for achieving improbable post season glory.
Image: Sun Belt Media
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