Welcome everyone to another edition of Around the Sun Belt! There were a few surprises and some dominant showings by the upper tier of the conference. Also, one head coach in the conference is without a job after a poor start to the season.
Appalachian State Mountaineers:
Appalachian State was in control for much of their 37-29 win over Coastal Carolina to remain undefeated in Sun Belt play. A large part of that was because of Taylor Lamb’s big performance with 427 yards through the air and two touchdowns. That performance was good enough to earn the senior Sun Belt Conference co-offensive player of the week honors on Monday.
The Mountaineers will step away from conference play this weekend when they travel to take on Massachusetts with kickoff set for 2:30 pm.
Arkansas State Red Wolves:
Arkansas State continued its path of dominance through the Sun Belt with a 47-3 victory over the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns. The performance was so good that Justice Hansen and Ja’Von Rolland-Jones were named co-offensive and co-defensive player of the week respectively by the Sun Belt Conference
The Red Wolves will have a short week before hosting the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns in a nationally-televised Thursday night game. Kickoff is set for 6:30 pm.
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers:
The Chanticleers got out in front late in the first half against Appalachian State, but were unable to keep the ball rolling with the Mountaineers putting up 20 unanswered points in the second half.
Coastal Carolina will take on Texas State in Conway with kickoff set for 5 pm.
Georgia State Panthers:
Georgia State couldn’t get out of first gear last weekend with a 34-10 loss over Troy. The Panthers lone touchdown came in the final minute of regulation with Penny Hart connecting with Conner Manning on a 3-yard pass into the endzone.
Georgia State will stay in the friendly confines of the old Turner Field to take on South Alabama in a Thursday night matchup with kickoff set for 6:30 pm
Georgia Southern Eagles:
It’s not often you see a head coach in the Sun Belt Conference fired during the season. However, after a 55-20 loss to Massachusetts, the change was necessary.
Tyson Summers has been fired after starting out the season 0-6. Longtime assistant Chad Lunsford has been named the interim coach. The Eagles will return to action when they travel to Alabama to take on the Troy Trojans.
Idaho Vandals:
Idaho capitalized off an early mistake from Drew Lock on Saturday to take an early 7-0 lead, but the offensive onslaught of Mizzou proved to be too much for the Vandals in a 68-21 loss.
Idaho will return to action on Saturday at the Kibbie Dome when they take on the UL Monroe Warhawks.
New Mexico State Aggies:
New Mexico State had the weekend off and will take on Arkansas State on Saturday night in Las Cruces. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
South Alabama Jaguars:
South Alabama got another big win over UL Monroe over the weekend with a strong performance from defensive back Jeremy Reaves. The senior had a huge fumble recovery on the Warhawks opening drive and an interception in the final six minutes of the ballgame to clinch the victory for the Jags.
That performance was enough to earn him co-defensive player of the week honors from the Sun Belt Conference. South Alabama will have a short week with a trip to Atlanta to take on Georgia State in a Thursday night matchup.
Texas State Bobcats:
Texas State had the weekend off and will head to Conway, South Carolina to take on Coastal Carolina. Kickoff is set for 5 pm.
Troy Trojans:
After a surprise loss against South Alabama, the Trojans came back with a vengeance against Georgia State with a 34-10 victory. Brandon Silvers put together a solid showing with 335 yards through the air and two touchdowns.
The Trojans will return home when they take on Georgia Southern with kickoff set for 2:30 pm.
UL Monroe Warhawks:
After a strong start to conference play, the Warhawks came up short on Saturday in a 33-23 loss to South Alabama. Caleb Evans was held down with only 179 yards through the air and 91 yards on the ground.
UL Monroe will head to Moscow this weekend when they take on the Idaho Vandals with kickoff set for 4 pm.
-Clint Domingue