2020 FOOTBALL WEEKLY NEWS Mercedes-Benz Superdome For Immediate Release • Week 16 • December 15, 2020 1500 Sugar Bowl Drive • New Orleans, LA 70112 Contacts: Nancy Yasharoff ([email protected]) SunBeltSports.org Contacts: Travis Llewellyn ([email protected])

App State • Arkansas State • Coastal Carolina • Georgia Southern • Georgia State Louisiana • ULM • South Alabama • Texas State • Troy SUN BELT CONFERENCE STANDINGS Conference Overall EAST DIVISION W-L For Opp Pct W-L For Opp Pct Home Away Neut Streak Coastal Carolina * 8-0 309 145 1.000 11-0 412 206 1.000 6-0 5-0 0-0 Won 11 App State 6-2 256 154 .750 8-3 350 212 .727 5-1 3-2 0-0 Won 1 Georgia Southern 4-4 201 210 .500 7-5 316 267 .583 6-1 1-4 0-0 Lost 1 Georgia State 4-4 245 267 .500 5-4 294 296 .556 3-2 2-2 0-0 Won 2 Troy 3-4 199 172 .429 5-6 301 283 .455 2-3 3-3 0-0 Lost 1

WEST DIVISION W-L For Opp Pct W-L For Opp Pct Home Away Neut Streak Louisiana * 7-1 284 184 .875 9-1 339 218 .900 3-1 6-0 0-0 Won 6 South Alabama 3-5 153 210 .375 4-7 219 300 .364 2-4 2-3 0-0 Lost 1 Arkansas State 2-6 253 314 .250 4-7 362 409 .364 3-2 1-5 0-0 Won 1 Texas State 2-6 225 300 .250 2-10 332 458 .167 1-5 1-5 0-0 Lost 1 ULM 0-7 143 312 .000 0-10 163 420 .000 0-5 0-5 0-0 Lost 10 * Division Champion SUN BELT CONFERENCE STATISTICS http://sunbelt.me/FootballStats THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE BE THE CHANGE QUICK HITS

Saturday, December 19 DIVISION CHAMPIONS - Coastal Carolina’s East Division title is its first in the # 17 Louisiana at #9 Coastal Carolina ^ 2:30 p.m. program’s fourth year as a full member of the Sun Belt TV: ESPN Conference. Louisisna clinched the West Division title for Series: Coastal Carolina leads, 2-1 the third-straight time. Last Meeting: Coastal Carolina, 30-27 (2020) TWO TOP 25 BATTLE FOR TITLE - No. 9 Coastal Carolina and No. 17 Louisiana will battle for the Sun Belt Championship as the only two Top 25 SBC In response to the racial injustices that continue to plague teams to face each other in the contest. the United States, the Sun Belt Conference launched its All Times Central are Subject to Change Be The Change initiative in June 2020. The statement ALONE AT 11-0 referred to three pillars: education of American history - Coastal Carolina is the only 11-0 team in the country ^ Conference Championship Game including the fight for civil rights, civic engagement going into the Week 16. Both Alabama and Notre Dame around voting, and creating dialog with law enforcement are each 10-0. in each community. WIN STREAKS The Sun Belt Conference launched its Civil Rights Trail booklet as part of the conference’s Be The Change - CCU has the second longest win streak in SBC history. education series. The booklet highlights historic civil App State won 13 straight to close 2018 and open 2019 rights sites to visit and learn about the history of our season. country’s struggle to create a more perfect union. FIRST-EVER TOP 10 Three locations on the Sun Belt Conference Civil Rights - The Chants are the first Sun Belt team ever to break into Trail are in the backyard of this week’s SBC Championship the Top 10 (No. 9) in any poll (AP Poll). Game in Conway, S.C.: NO STRANGER TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP Historic Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum & SUN BELT ON TV - Louisiana is no stranger to the SBC Championship game. Education Center - Myrtle Beach, S.C. Hobcaw Barony - Georgetown, S.C. It is making its third appearance in a row. Each of the last More than 40 Sun Belt Conference games this season are Horry County Museum - Conway, S.C. two times the Ragin’ Cajuns fell to App State. slated to be broadcast nationally. The Sun Belt Conference and ESPN relationship continues for its ninth season on Lafayette, Louisiana features two stops on the tour, the 2018: L, 30-19 the ESPN platform, including 62 games through Week 15. Pillar of Progress, located on Louisiana’s campus, and the 2019: L, 45-38 Rosa Parks Transportation Center, which features a life- ESPN’s main channel will be home to eight SBC games sized bronze sculpture of Rosa Parks. - In all three trips (2018-20) Louisiana has played as the on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights through the road team. season. In addition to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and ESPN+, Sun Belt Conference games have been featured SBC IN NATIONAL RANKINGS THE MOTHERSHIP on CBS, FOX, FS1, CBS Sports Network and ACC Regional - For the third year (2018, 2019 and 2020) in a row the Sun Sports Network. - Coastal Carolina breaks into the Top 10 at No. 9 for the Belt Conference Championship will be aired on ESPN first time in the Associated Press Poll and up one spot to “Mothership” channel for the network. No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll this week. Louisiana SBC VS. NON-CONFERENCE IN REGULAR-SEASON moves up No. 17 in both the AP Poll coming and drops - The Sun Belt finished the regular season non-conference to No. 18 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. App State is schedule this year at 16-14. The SBC posted .500 or better receiving votes again this week in the AP Poll. records against the Big 12, Conferenec USA, AP Top 25, - In the third Playoff rankings this week Coaches’ Poll Top 25 and FCS teams. has Coastal moves up to No. 12 and Louisiana stays at No. 19.

@SunBelt SunBelt #SunBeltFB SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL WEEK 16 WEEKLY AWARDS - DEC. 14 BETWEEN THE HASH MARKS OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK SBC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME POW BATTLE Grayson McCall • Coastal Carolina • QB • Fr. For the third time this season, redshirt freshman quarterback Grayson McCall was - Coastal Carolina and Louisiana this season have claimed a combined total 18 (CCU: 10; Louisiana: 8) Player of the Week named SBC Offensive Player of the Week after leading a late fourth-quarter comeback Winners. Coastal took two of the three categories in weekly awards. The break down among the three categories is below: to defeat Troy 42-38 on the road. McCall finished the game going 24-of-29 for 338 yards, three touchdowns, and one . He also rushed 10 times for 40 yards and a TD Coastal Louisiana in the win. After throwing just his second interception of the season which allowed Troy Offensive POW: 3 2 to take the lead with 1:20 left in the game, McCall answered by going 4-of-4 for 71 yards Defensive POW: 6 2 to lead the Chants’ game-winning drive. He connected with Jaivon Heiligh for a 23-yard touchdown pass to cap the five-play, 75-yard drive that took just 45 seconds to put the Special Teams POW: 1 4 Chants back on top for good 42-38. McCall’s 24 pass completions and 338 yards were both career highs and his three touchdowns gives him eight games this season with CHAMPIONSHIP TURNOVER MARGIN MATCH UP two touchdown passes or more. With the win, the Chants finish the regular season - Cosatal Carolina ranks first in the confernece in Turnover Margin with a +11. The Chants have forced 22 turnovers and only undefeated at 11-0. gave it away 11 times this season. CCU this weekend goes against a Louisiana team who is second in the SBC in Turnover DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Margin with a +9. The Louisiana defense ranks first in passes intercepted (15) in the SBC, while Coastal is is first for fewest Carlton Martial • Troy • LB• Jr. thrown (4) this year. Carlton Martial recorded 21 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks and an interception against Coastal Carolina. His interception set up Troy’s go-ahead touchdown in the Gained Lost final minutes of the game. It was his fourth career interception and his 10thcareer Teams G Fumb Int Total Fumb Int Total Margin Per/G game with a forced turnover. Martial’s 21 tackles were a career high and his 13th career game with double-digit tackles, and his fifth this season. Martial has averaged 1. Coastal Carolina 11 8 14 22 7 4 11 +11 1.00 12.7 tackles per game over a seven-game stretch. The junior’s 21 tackles are tied for 2. Louisiana 10 6 15 21 5 7 12 +9 0.90 the most in the country this season and the second most in school history (Anthony Rabb had 23 vs. Middle Tennessee in 1999). He has 113 tackles on the season becoming CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BRINGS SCORING the first Troy player since Naazir Yamini in 2001-02 to record more than 100 tackles - Coastal Carolina brings the conference’s best scoring offense (37.5) into the SBC Championship this week. The Chants in consecutive seasons. Martial moved into 11th place all-time in Troy history with 315 scoring offense ranks 19th in the country. It is only 0.2 behind Notre Dame (37.7) who is ranked-second in the AP and USA career tackles, 20th place with 156 solo tackles and fifth place with 159 career assisted tackles. His 2.5 tackles for loss pushed his career total to 37, one away from ninth all- Today national polls. Louisiana ranks second in the conference and 30th in the national in scoring enter this week. time in Sun Belt history and fourth in Troy history. Teams Gms Points Avg/G SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK 1. Coastal Carolina 11 412 37.5 Jalen Virgial • App State• WR • Sr. Jalen Virgil’s 100-yard kickoff return gave App State its first lead of the game at 24-20 2. Louisiana 10 339 33.9 in the fourth quarter and helped lift the Mountaineers to a 34-26 road win at Georgia 3. Arkansas State 11 362 32.9 Southern. Virgil’s first career touchdown return was the third 100-yard return in school 4. Georgia State 9 294 32.7 history (Darrynton Evans in 2018 and Keith Nash in 1968). After fielding the kickoff 5. App State 11 350 31.8 over his head, Virgil sprinted left and weaved his way through a couple of defenders, untouched, before using his sprinter’s speed to streak down the left sideline to the end 6. Texas State 12 332 27.7 zone. Virgil finished the game with 171 all-purpose yards and two total touchdowns 7. Troy 11 301 27.4 (one receiving). 8. Georgia Southern 12 316 26.3 WEEKLY AWARDS 9. South Alabama 11 219 19.9 10. ULM 10 163 16.3 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Sept. 7...... Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama CAJUNS PASS DEFENSE IS NATIONAL Sept. 14...... Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State - Louisiana’s 166.9 yards per game ranks first in the Sun Belt and is fourth in the nation in Passing Yards Allowed. Fellow Sun Sept. 21...... Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana Belt member App State ranks seventh to close out the Top 25. Sept. 28...... Daetrich Harrington, App State Oct. 5...... Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina Teams Gms Comp Att Int Pct. Yards Avg. TD Yards/G Oct. 12...... Gunnar Watson, Troy 1. Louisiana 10 155 303 15 51.2 1669 5.5 8 166.9 Oct. 19...... Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State 2. App State 11 146 313 14 46.6 1868 6.0 10 169.8 Oct. 26...... Kawaan Baker, South Alabama & Zac Thomas, App State 3. Coastal Carolina 11 203 337 14 60.2 2231 6.6 11 202.8 Nov. 2...... Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina 4. ULM 10 126 217 4 58.1 2153 9.9 20 215.3 Nov. 9...... Cornelious Brown IV, Georgia State 5. Georgia Southern 12 215 367 14 58.6 2657 7.2 16 221.4 Nov. 16...... Levi Lewis, Louisiana 6. Troy 11 240 358 8 67.0 2623 7.3 16 238.5 Nov. 23...... Brady McBride, Texas State 7. South Alabama 11 220 333 7 66.1 2881 8.7 15 261.9 Nov. 30...... Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama 8. Texas State 12 278 413 7 67.3 3245 7.9 26 270.4 Dec. 7...... Corey Rucker, Arkansas State 9. Georgia State 9 219 344 10 63.7 2556 7.4 21 284.0 Dec. 14...... Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina 10. Arkansas State 11 249 388 6 64.2 3454 8.9 33 314.0

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK PASSING HIS WAY THROUGH THE LAND Sept. 7...... Nick Mobley, South Alabama - Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall leads the conference and ranks eighth nationally in Passing Efficiency. He is the only Sept. 14...... Ferrod Gardner, Louisiana freshman ranked in the Top 10 and 1 of 2 in the Top 25 in the nation. His 185.9 puts him behind, Mac Jones, Alabama (1st), Justin Sept. 21...... Silas Kelly, Coastal Carolina Fields, Ohio State (2nd), Zach Wilson, BYU (3rd), Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan (4th), Dustin Crum, Kent State (5th) Kyle Trask, Sept. 28...... Lorenzo McCaskill, Louisiana Florida (6th), and Matt Corral, Ole Miss (7th). The top seven all have a passing efficiency of 187.3 or better. Oct. 5...... Antavious Lane, Georgia State Oct. 12...... Justin Rice, Arkansas State WEEK 14 TOUCHBACK Oct. 19...... Riley Cole, South Alabama #11 Coastal Carolina 42, Troy 38 Oct. 26...... Jordan Strachan, Georgia State - CCU’s Grayson McCall threw for three touchdowns, while going 24 of 29 for 338 passing yards. Nov. 2...... Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina - CJ Marable rushed for 120 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns for Coastal ... This is his third-straight game with over Nov. 9...... Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina 100-yards rushing this season. Nov. 16...... D’Marco Jackson, App State - Jaivon Heiligh finished with 138 receiving yards on 11 catches and a pair of touchdowns for the Chants. Nov. 23...... C.J. Brewer, Coastal Carolina - Gunnar Watson finished with 260 yards through the air and a touchdown for Troy. Nov. 30...... Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina - Troy’s Jamontez Woods and Kimani Vidal each finished a rushing touchdown. Dec. 7...... Jeffery Gunter, Coastal Carolina - Reggie Todd tallied 101 receiving yards on eight catches and a touchdown for the Trojans. Dec. 14...... Carlton Martial, Troy - Carlton Martial registered 21 tackles (6 solo, 15 ast), 2.5 tackles for a loss, a sack and a interception for Troy. SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Sept. 7...... Blake Grupe, Arkansas State App State 34, Georgia Southern 26 Sept. 14...... Chris Smith, Louisiana - Zac Thomas passed for 208 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while going 18 of 29 for App State. Sept. 21...... Rhys Byrns, Louisiana - App State’s Nate Noel rushed for 103 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Sept. 28...... Nate Snyder, Louisiana - Thomas Hennigan and Jalen Virgil each tallied a receicing touchdown for the Mountaineers. Oct. 5...... NaJee Thompson, Georgia Southern - Nick Hampton finished with eight tackles (6 solo, 2 ast.) a for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Oct. 12...... Ryan Hanson, Arkansas State - Georgia Southern’s Miller Mosley tallied 122 passing yards and a touchdown, while completing 5 of 14 attempts. Oct. 19...... Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina - Justin Tomlin recorded 76 rushing yards on six carries and a touchdown for the Eagles. Oct. 26...... Chris Smith, Louisiana - The Eagles’ Quin Williams tallied six tackles (3 solo, 3 ast), two tackles for a loss and two sacks. Nov. 2...... Seth Keller, Texas State Nov. 9...... Jack Martin, Troy Nov. 16...... Jeremiah Haydel, Texas State Nov. 23...... Chandler Staton, App State Nov. 30...... Noel Ruiz, Georgia State Dec. 7...... Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern Dec. 14...... Jalen Virgil, App State @SunBelt SunBelt #SunBeltFB SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL WEEK 16 ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL 2020 BOWL INFORMATION VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPP.

Week 16 Three Sun Belt Conference teams have already accepted Total Non-Conference Records invitations to 2020 Bowl Season games, while this week’s Team Record Points Prev. All Games...... 16-14 championship contenders, #9/12 Coastal Carolina (11-0) 1 Alabama (62) 10-0 1550 - and #17/18 Louisiana (9-1) await their bowl destinations. Big 12 Opponents...... 3-0 2 Notre Dame 10-0 1482 - Conference USA Opponents...... 5-5 App State (8-3) will take on North Texas at the Myrtle 3 Ohio State 5-0 1405 - Beach Bowl on December 21, 2020 at 1:30 p.m. CT/2:30 American Opponents...... 1-3 4 Clemson 9-1 1388 - p.m. ET at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. ACC Opponents...... 0-1 5 Texas A&M 7-1 1286 - Georgia Southern (7-5) will face Louisiana Tech at the R+L FBS Independent Opponents...... 1-5 6 Cincinnati 8-0 1248 7 Carriers New Orleans Bowl on December 26, 2020 at 2:00 FCS Opponents...... 6-0 7 Indiana 6-1 1140 8 p.m. CT/3:00 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in 8 Iowa State 8-2 1059 9 New Orleans, Louisiana. AP Top 25...... 2-2 9 Coastal Carolina 11-0 994 11 Georgia State (5-4) will face Western Kentucky at the Coaches’ Poll Top 25...... 2-2 10 Georgia 7-2 968 12 LendingTree Bowl on December 23, 2020 at 2:30 p.m. 11 Florida 8-2 940 6 CT/3:30 p.m. ET at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. 12 Oklahoma 7-2 902 13 13 USC 5-0 774 16 All three games will be televised by ESPN. SUN BELT PRESEASON POLL 14 BYU 10-1 724 - The Sun Belt’s new postseason bowl lineup includes 15 Northwestern 6-1 691 - placement in three ESPN Events owned-and-operated 2020 16 North Carolina 8-3 631 20 bowl games, as well as participation in the R+L Carriers EAST DIVISION New Orleans Bowl and the LendingTree Bowl on an 17 Louisiana 9-1 566 - 1 App State (9) - 49 pts. annual basis. 18 Iowa 6-2 502 19 2 Georgia Southern - 36 pts. 19 Miami 8-2 454 9 “We are proud of the football success the Sun Belt 3 Troy (1) - 32 pts. experienced this season. We were able to safely play 4 Georgia State - 20 pts. 20 Tulsa 6-1 408 18 more than 97% of our conference schedule and had 21 Texas 6-3 227 23 many impressive non-conference wins. These postseason 5 Coastal Carolina - 13 pts. 22 Liberty 9-1 184 - opportunities are well deserved and a great reward for our 23 Buffalo 5-0 183 24 student-athletes and football programs,” said Keith Gill, WEST DIVISION Sun Belt Conference Commissioner. 24 NC State 8-3 137 NR 1 Louisiana (7) - 47 pts. 25 San Jose State 6-0 124 NR In addition to the league’s five bowl tie-ins, the Sun Belt 2 Arkansas State (2) - 40 pts. champion has access annually to the New Year’s Six 3 South Alabama (1) - 22 pts. bowls - managed by the College Football Playoff - should 4 Texas State - 21 pts. ORV: Oklahoma State 83, Marshall 47, Boise State 12, UCF the champion be selected as one of the top four teams 11, Army 9, Washington 9, Auburn 8, TCU 3, App State 1 overall by the CFP selection committee or ranked by the 5 ULM - 20 pts. committee as the top champion among the Group of Five conference champions. 2019 SUN BELT PLAYERS IN THE NFL

Active Players

Robert Hunt, Louisiana, OL – Miami Dolphins.

Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. Darrynton Evans, App State, RB –

Dec. 26 at 2:30 p.m. Akeem Davis-Gaither, App State, LB – Cincinnati Bengals Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m.

All Times Central are Subject to Change Kevin Dotson, Louisiana, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers

Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern, DB – Chicago Bears

Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern, K – Buffalo Bills

USA TODAY COACHES’ POLL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF Younghoe Koo, Georgia Southern, K – Atlanta Falcons

Jerick McKinnon, Georgia Southern, RB – San Francisco 49ers Week 16 Week 16 Team Record Points Prev. Team Record Prev. Matt Breida, Georgia Southern, RB – Miami Dolphins 1 Alabama (60) 10-0 1548 - 1 Alabama (60) 10-0 - 2 Notre Dame (2) 10-0 1481 - 2 Notre Dame 10-0 - Raymond Calais, Louisiana, RB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 Clemson 9-1 1403 - 3 Clemson 9-1 - Hunter Atkinson, Georgia State, OL – Atlanta Falcons 4 Ohio State 5-0 1381 - 4 Ohio State 5-0 - 5 Texas A&M 7-1 1292 - 5 Texas A&M 7-1 - Aaron Brewer, Texas State, C – Tennessee Titans 6 Cincinnati 8-0 1213 7 6 Iowa State 8-2 7 7 Indiana 6-1 1088 9 7 Florida 8-2 6 Frankie Griffin, Texas State, DB – Green Bay Packers 8 Iowa State 8-2 1065 11 8 Georgia 7-2 9 9 Georgia 7-2 1038 10 9 Cincinnati 8-0 8 Bryan London, Texas State, LB – Los Angeles Rams 10 Oklahoma 7-2 933 12 10 Oklahoma 7-2 11 Marcus Webb, Troy, DL – Seattle Seahawks 11 Flordia 8-2 912 6 11 Indiana 6-1 12 12 Coastal Carolina 11-0 884 13 12 Coastal Carolina 11-0 13 Gerald Everett, South Alabama, TE – Los Angeles Rams 13 USC 5-0 798 15 13 USC 5-0 15 14 Northwestern 6-1 779 - 14 Northwestern 6-1 - Justin Hamilton, Louisiana, DT – Dallas Cowboys 15 North Carolina 8-3 626 20 15 North Carolina 8-3 17 Steven McLendon, Troy, NT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16 BYU 10-1 616 - 16 Iowa 6-2 - 17 Iowa 6-2 526 18 17 BYU 10-1 18 18 Louisiana 9-1 510 17 18 Miami 8-2 10 Developmental Team 19 Miami 8-2 488 8 19 Louisiana 9-1 - Tae Hayes, App State, CB – Miami Dolphins 20 Tulsa 6-1 365 19 20 Texas 6-3 - 21 Liberty 9-1 194 - 21 Oklahoma State 7-3 22 Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama , S – 22 Oklahoma State 7-3 189 NR 22 NC State 8-3 23 23 NC State 8-3 185 24 23 Tulsa 6-1 24 Josh Thomas, App State, DB – Buffalo Bills 24 Texas 6-3 176 23 24 San Jose State 6-0 NR Kirk Merritt, Arkansas State, WR – Miami Dolphins 25 San Jose State 6-0 127 NR 25 Colorado 4-1 21 Ja’Marcus Bradley, Louisiana, WR – Cleveland Browns ORV: Buffalo 102, Auburn 45, Army 35, Boise State 30, Dropped from rankings: Missouri 25 Marshall 29, Washington 22, Missouri 17, Colorado 17, Injured Reserve Nevada 10, Wisconsin 8, SMU 7, Oregon 6, Utah 4, TCU 1 Omar Bayless, Arkansas State, WR – Carolina Panthers

Will Sunderland, Troy, DB – Green Bay Packers

@SunBelt SunBelt #SunBeltFB SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL - CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

With 6,140 career passing yards, Lewis is 100 yards shy of passing Jerry Babb for third place on Louisiana’s all-time passing list. He is currently second all-time in touchdown passes thrown with 52. Mitchell looks to shine in the backfield for the third-straight SBC Championship Game. He averaged 17.5 carries and 85 yards per game the previous two years, including a touchdown in 2019.This season overall he is averaging 83.4 yards per game #17 LOUISIANA (9-1) AT #9 COASTAL CAROLINA (10-0) this year, while has tallied 751 total yards and seven touchdowns. SAT., DEC. 19 • 2:30 P.M. CT • ESPN LeBlanc is making his second appearance in the SBC Championship Game after SERIES: Coastal Carolina leads, 2-1 going off in last year’s game when he posted 118 yards on three catches and two LAST MEETING: Coastal Carolina, 30-27 (2020) touchdowns. The sophomore this year has appeared in nine games and has tallied 334 yards on NEW ORLEANS - Western Division champion No. 17 Louisiana travels to take on 23 catches while averaging 17.5 yards per game this season. Eastern Division champion No. 9 Coastal Carolina for the 2020 Sun Belt Conference Coastal looks to redshirt freshman quarterback Grayson McCall, senior running back football championship this week. This is the first trip to the SBC title game for the CJ Marable, and junior wideout Jaivon Heiligh. Chants and the third straight for the Ragin’ Cajuns. This is only the fourth meeting McCall this season ranks first in the conference in 2,170 passing yards and between both teams with the last one coming back on October 14 when Coastal won, touchdowns with 23. He has completed 151 of 218 attempts, while only throwing two 30-27, to hand Louisiana its only loss of the regular season. interceptions. Both these teams had wins against Big 12 opponents earlier in the season (SBC went The redshirt freshman has found his name on multiple award watch lists this season. 3-0 against Big 12 this year). Louisiana defeated No. 23 Iowa State (currently #6) on the Including being a national semifinalists for both Davey O’Brien National Quarterback road 31-14, while Coastal won at Kansas, 38-23. Award the Maxwell Award. Coastal won the program’s first-ever Sun Belt Eastern Division Championship with Marable this season is averaging 76.7 yards per game and leads the conference in a 49-14 conference road win over Texas State on November 28. The Chants won the rushing touchdowns with 12. He has tallied 844 yards on 11 carries this year. Earlier this division title only in its fourth year as a full-time member of the Sun Belt Conference. season he rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown against Louisiana back on October 14. The 2020 Chants have matched the program’s best start to a season at 11-0, which Coastal’s Heiligh has 820 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns on 52 receptions. He ranks was only done back in 2014. The team’s undefeated run through the regular-season third in the conference for yards, and second in touchdowns behind Arkansas State’s slate is tied for the best regular-season in conference history. Jonathan Adams (12). The Chants this season were picked to finish last in the Eastern Division in the Defensively the Chants have four Top 10 pass rushers in the conference, each 2020 Sun Belt Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Coastal tallied 13 points, the fewest by any recording more than four sacks: Tarron Jackson (8.5), Jeffrey Gunter (6.5), C.J. Brewer SBC member. Louisiana was picked to finish first in the Western Division. The Ragin’ (6.5), and Silas Kelly (4.5). Jackson (13.5) and Gunter (12.5) are also Top 6 in tackles for Cajuns tallied 47 points in the poll and seven first-place votes, its point total was the loss. Zi’Yon Ayers leads Louisiana with four sacks. Jackson is also a semifinalist for the second-most in the conference. Bednarik Award. Louisiana, who finished with the second-best overall record in the Sun Belt this year at 9-1, brings the experience back to this year’s championship game in three key offensive weapons. Those three weapons are seniors quarterback Levi Lewis, running ### back Elija Mitchell, and sophomore wideout Peter LeBlanc. Levi Lewis will be making his third appearance in the SBC Championship Game with 375 total offense yards, including four passing touchdowns. In 2019, Lewis earned his first postseason start, completing 24-of-46 passes for 354 yards and 4 TDs - the second-most passing yards in Ragin’ Cajun postseason history.

NATIONAL AWARDS

WILLIAM V. CAMPBELL TROPHY ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL’S MANNING AWARD - Recognizes the best football scholar-athlete in the nation for combined academic success, - The Sun Belt has had seven quarterbacks this season named 2020 Weekly Honorees. football performance and exemplary leadership. September 8: Desmond Trotter (South Alabama) Cole Garrison (App State) Shai Werts (Georgia Southern) September 14: Layne Hatcher (Arkansas State) and Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) Forrestt Merrill (Arkansas State) Jonathan Ifedi (Georgia State) September 21: Tyler Vitt (Texas State) Tarron Jackson (Coastal Carolina) Brian Ankerson (South Alabama) October 12: Gunnar Watson (Troy) Cameron Kaye (Troy) Cameron Solomon (Louisiana) October 19: Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) October 26: Zac Thomas (App State) WUERFFEL TROPHY NOMINEES December 7: Layne Hatcher (Arkansas State) - Given to college football’s premier award for community service. Andre Harris, Jr, OL (Arkansas State) Brian Ankerson (South Alabama) MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST C.J. Brewer, DL (Coastal Carolina) Jalen Williams (Louisiana) - Given to the Most Outstanding Player in college football each year. Shai Werts, QB (Georgia Southern) Noah Hanna (App State) Josh Johnson, RB (ULM) Levi Lewis, QB (Louisiana) B.J. Smith, RB (Troy) Zac Thomas, QB (App State) RIMINGTON TROPHY WATCH LIST Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) - Semifinalist - Award to the Nation’s Top Center. Noah Hannon (App State) Shane Vallot (Louisiana) FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN WATCH LIST Sam Thompson (Coastal Carolina) Brian Ankerson (South Alabama) Cornelious Brown IV (Georgia State) Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) Jacob Still (Arkansas State) Reece Jordan (Texas State) Antavious Lane (Georgia State) Willie Lampkin (Coastal Carolina) Malik Sumter (Georgia State) Dylan Bradshaw (Troy) Kimani Vidal (Troy) Kyren Lacy (Louisiana) Jacon Solomon (Troy) Beau Johnson (Georgia Southern) CFPA NATIONAL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST Calvin Hill (Texas State) Derrick Canteen (Georgia Southern) Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) Layne Hatcher (Arkansas State) DAVEY O’BRIEN NATIONAL QUARTERBACK AWARD’S GREAT 8 LIST Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) Zac Thomas (App State) BURLSWORTH TROPHY NOMINEE Shane Vallot (Louisiana) MAYO CLINIC COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LIST Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina) BEDNARIK AWARD SEMIFINALIST Tarron Jackson (Coastal Carolina) Justin Rice (Arkansas State) Sherman Jean-Charles (App State)

@SunBelt SunBelt #SunBeltFB SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL WEEK 16 APP STATE (8-3, Sun Belt: 6-2) #17 LOUISIANA (9-1, Sun Belt: 7-1) COMMUNICATIONS 9/12 Charlotte W, 35-20 9/12 at #23 Iowa State W, 31-14 9/19 at Marshall L, 17-7 9/19 at Georgia State * W, 34-31 OT App State 9/26 Campbell W, 52-21 9/26 Georgia Southern * W, 20-18 Joey Jones 10/22 Arkansas State * W, 45-17 10/14 Coastal Carolina * L, 30-27 Email: [email protected] 10/31 at ULM * W, 31-13 10/23 at UAB W, 24-20 Office: 828-262-2845 11/7 at Texas State * W, 38-17 10/31 at Texas State * W, 44-34 Cell: 828-964-7183 11/14 Georgia State * W, 17-13 11/7 Arkansas State * W, 27-20 11/21 at #15 Coastal Carolina * L, 34-23 11/14 South Alabama * W, 38-10 Arkansas State 11/28 Troy * W, 47-10 11/21 Central Arkansas Cancelled Jerry Scott 12/4 #20 Louisiana * L, 24-21 11/28 at ULM * W, 70-20 Email: [email protected] 12/12 at Georgia Southern * W, 34-26 12/4 at App State * W, 24-21 Office: 870-972-3405 12/19 at Coastal Carolina ! 11 a.m./ESPN Coastal Carolina ARKANSAS STATE (4-7, Sun Belt: 2-5) ULM (0-10, Sun Belt: 0-7) Kevin Davis 9/5 at Memphis L, 37-24 9/12 at Army L, 37-7 Email: [email protected] 9/12 at Kansas State W, 35-31 9/19 Texas State * L, 38-17 Office: 843-349-2822 9/26 Tulsa PPD 9/26 UTEP L, 31-6 10/3 at Coastal Carolina * L, 52-23 10/3 Georgia Southern * L, 35-30 Georgia Southern 10/10 Central Arkansas W, 50-27 10/10 at Liberty L, 40-7 Bryan Johnston 10/15 Georgia State * W, 59-52 10/24 at South Alabama * L, 38-14 Email: [email protected] 10/22 at App State * L, 45-17 10/31 App State * L, 31-13 Office: 912-478-5448 10/31 Troy * L, 38-10 11/7 at Georgia State * L, 52-34 11/7 at Louisiana * L, 27-2 11/21 at Louisiana Tech Cancelled Georgia State 11/21 at Texas State * L, 45-45 11/28 #23 Louisiana * L, 70-20 Allison George 11/28 South Alabama * L, 38-31 12/5 at Arkansas State * L, 48-15 Email: [email protected] 12/5 ULM * W, 48-15 12/17 at Troy * Canceled Office: 404-413-4032 12/12 Incarnate Word Canceled Louisiana #9 COASTAL CAROLINA (11-0, Sun Belt: 8-0) SOUTH ALABAMA (4-7, Sun Belt: 3-5) Patrick Crawford 9/12 at Kansas W, 38-23 9/3 at Southern Mississippi W, 32-21 Email: [email protected] 9/18 Campbell W, 43-21 9/12 Tulane L, 27-24 Office: 337-482-5393 10/3 Arkansas State * W, 52-23 9/24 UAB L, 42-10 ULM 10/14 at #21 Louisiana * W, 30-27 10/17 Texas State * W, 30-20 10/24 Georgia Southern * W, 28-14 10/24 ULM * W, 38-14 John Lewandowski 10/31 at Georgia State * W, 51-0 10/29 at Georgia Southern * L, 24-17 Email: [email protected] 11/7 South Alabama * W, 23-6 11/7 at #15 Coastal Carolina * L, 23-6 Office: 318-342-5378 11/21 App State * W, 34-23 11/14 at #24 Louisiana * L, 38-10 South Alabama 11/28 at Texas State * W, 49-14 11/21 Georgia State * L, 31-14 Brian Fremund 12/5 #8 BYU W, 22-17 11/28 at Arkansas State * W, 38-31 Email: [email protected] 12/12 at Troy * W, 42-38 12/5 Troy * L, 29-0 12/19 Louisiana ! 11 a.m./ESPN Office: 251-414-8032 Texas State GEORGIA SOUTHERN (7-5, Sun Belt: 4-4) TEXAS STATE (2-10, Sun Belt: 2-5) Rick Poulter 9/12 Campbell W, 27-26 9/5 SMU L, 31-24 Email: [email protected] 9/26 at #19 Louisiana * L, 20-18 9/12 UTSA L, 51-48 2 OT Office: 512-245-2966 10/3 at ULM * W, 35-30 9/19 at ULM * W, 38-17 10/17 UMass W, 41-0 9/26 at Boston College L, 24-21 Troy 10/24 at #20 Coastal Carolina * L, 28-14 10/10 at Troy * L, 37-17 Adam Prendergast 10/29 South Alabama * W, 24-17 10/17 at South Alabama * L, 30-20 Email: [email protected] 11/7 Troy * W, 20-13 10/24 at #11 BYU L, 52-14 Office: 334-670-3832 11/14 Texas State * W,40-38 10/31 Louisiana * L, 44-34 Sun Belt Conference 11/21 at Army L, 28-27 11/7 App State * L, 38-17 11/28 at Georgia State * L, 30-24 11/14 at Georgia Southern * L, 40-38 Nancy Yasharoff 12/5 Florida Atlantic W, 20-3 11/21 Arkansas State * W, 47-45 Sr. Associate Commissioner, Chief Communications & 12/12 App State * L, 34-26 11/28 #16 Coastal Carolina * L, 49-14 Branding Officer Email: [email protected] GEORGIA STATE (5-4, Sun Belt: 4-4) TROY (5-6, Sun Belt: 3-4) Office: 202-531-0162 9/19 #19/21 Louisiana * L, 34-31 OT 9/19 at Middle Tennessee W, 47-14 9/26 at Charlotte PPD 9/26 at #22 BYU L, 48-7 Travis Llewellyn 10/3 East Carolina W, 49-29 10/10 Texas State * W, 37-17 Associate Commissioner, Football & Broadcasting 10/15 at Arkansas State * L, 59-52 10/17 Easten Kentucky W, 31-29 Email: [email protected] 10/24 at Troy * W, 36-34 10/24 Georgia State * L, 36-34 Office: 504-556-0886 10/31 #20 Coastal Carolina * L, 51-0 10/31 at Arkansas State * W, 38-10 11/7 ULM * W, 52-34 11/7 at Georgia Southern * L, 20-13 11/14 at App State* L, 17-13 11/21 Middle Tennessee L, 20-17 11/21 at South Alabama * W, 31-14 11/28 at App State * L, 45-10 11/28 Georgia Southern * W, 30-24 12/5 at South Alabama * W, 29-0 12/12 #14 Coastal Carolina * L, 42-38 12/17 ULM * Canceled

* denotes SBC game; ! Sun Belt Championship Game; Home games in BOLD; All times are Central (CT) and Subject to @SunBelt SunBelt #SunBeltFB