For the longest time the Sun Belt had been the conference to beat up on. They came in got their money and and then paid for it on the field. But last year was different. Louisiana-Monroe knocked off Arkansas and nearly took out Auburn, Louisina almost beating Florida in Gainesville, while Western Kentucky beat Kentucky. Part of that success lead to FAU, FIU, North Texas, and Middle Tennessee leaving for Conference USA. To cope with the losses Georgia State has joined from FCS while Texas State came from the WAC. The core members are still here, but it should be fun to see how the new schools work their way in.
Here is how I predict the Sun Belt will be this year!
1. Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (10-2 6-1)
The most talented team in the Sun Belt, the Ragin' Cajuns are looking turn that into a conference title. To do so they'll need QB Terrance Broadway to continue his development that he showed at the end of last year. The key to their season will be their two game stretch where they play Western Kentucky and Arkansas State on the road in back to back weeks. If they can get through those two games it should be easy sailing the rest of the way through.
2. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (8-4 5-2)
Last year the Warhawks were the talk of the every season. Helps when you knock off Arkansas and then almost take down Auburn and Baylor the next two weeks. This year they'll look to do the same, but could be even better. They return the conference's offensive player of the year in QB Kolton Browning who should become the school's all time leading passing by years end. They'll give Louisiana a run for their money for the conference and it could come down to when the teams meet on the last weekend of the year. Too bad it's in Lafayette.
3. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (7-5 5-2)
When Willie Taggart left WKU to South Florida it was a big hit for a program that was really moving upward. However the Hilltoppers made a great hire in Bobby Petrino who no matter if you like the guy or not, is a very good football coach. Petrino will move this team from a power running offense to a more pass friendly unit. Luckily an experienced team comes back to help the transition. The player to watch though is LB Andrew Jackson who might be the best linebacker in the nation. I wouldn't be shocked if they win the conference.
4. Arkansas State Red Wolves (6-6 4-3)
Arkansas State is coming off a pretty impressive two year stretch winning 19 games, but because of that success they will be on their third head coach in three years. This year Bryan Harsin gets his first crack at being a head coach after being a coordinator at Texas and Boise State. They still have a lot of talent, but their transition from being a spread team (under both Malzahn and Freeze) to a more power team will be a hard one. However that should help because RB David Oku is the best player on their offense and could really see him blossom. But the key to this offense is former Utah State QB Adam Kennedy. If he clicks they could stay in the mix. But I'm not buying it.
5. Troy Trojans (5-7 4-3)
The Sun Belt breaks into three groups for me. You have the top which are the four teams that could all realistically win the conference, the bottom which is the three schools that are all new to FBS, and then there is Troy. Troy to me is just stuck in the middle. They are so much more talented than the bottom three schools but they don't have a shot at contending. That's too bad since Troy has been one of the most successful teams in this conferences history. But they just don't have the horses they use to. Long time coach Larry Blakeney has to hope he has a rabbit in the hat or this could be another long season.
6. Texas State Bobcats (4-8 3-4)
This will be the Bobcats second full season in FBS after spending last year in the WAC. They are still in the midst of their transition, so their roster is still mainly FCS level players. However they do get a huge boost from several transfers on the defensive side of the ball. They'll need those guys to help elevate the team towards making a bowl.
7. South Alabama Jaguars (2-10 1-6)
Much like Texas State, South Alabama enters their second season in the FBS. But unlike the Bobcats this is only the Jaguars fifth overall season in play. Now knowing all this you wouldn't think that seeing how they played last year. USA only won two games last year but were very competitive in most of their games and lost several close games. They're much improved and are hoping some of those losses can turn to wins next year. But don't count on it.
8. Georgia State Panthers (3-9 0-7)
Hey another new team not only to the Sun Belt, but to the FBS also. Along with South Alabama the Georgia State Panthers are also very young in their programs history being their fourth year. Now this season will be very rough trying to continue to build the team from scratch, but they are in a good conference to do so.
All Conference Team
QB: Terrance Broadway, Louisiana
RB: David Oku, Arkansas State
RB: Antonio Andrews, Western Kentucky
WR: Eric Thomas, Troy
WR: Je'Ron Hamm, Louisiana-Monroe
TE: Wes Saxton, South Alabama
OT: Joseph Treadwell, Louisiana-Monroe
OG: Daniel Quave, Louisiana
C: Sean Conway, Western Kentucky
OG: Melvin Maggs, South Alabama
OT: Aaron Williams, Arkansas State
DL: Alex Page, South Alabama
DL: DJ Yendrey, Texas State
DL: Ryan Carrethers, Arkansas State
DL: Gerrand Johnson, Louisiana-Monroe
LB: Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky
LB: Michael Orakpo, Texas State
LB: Wayland Coleman-Dancer, Troy
CB: Rob'Donovan Lewis, South Alabama
S: Jonathan Dowling, Western Kentucky
S: Isaiah Newsome, Louisiana-Monroe
CB: Tyree Robinson, Western Kentucky
K: Will Scott, Troy
P: Zach Robinson, Texas State
RS: Jafus Gaines, Texas State
Offensive Player of the Year: Terrance Bradway, Louisiana
Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Jackson, Western Kentucky
Newcomer of the Year: Adam Kennedy QB Arkansas State
Coach of the Year: Mark Hudspeth, Louisiana
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