sign in sign up
<<
Home , Akeem Davis, Chad Lunsford, Chip Lindsey, Denzel Rice, Doug Middleton, Jake Spavital

2019 Sun Belt Football Mercedes-Benz Superdome For Immediate Release • Week 1 • August 27, 2019 1500 Sugar Bowl Drive • New Orleans, LA 70112 Contacts: Keith Nunez ([email protected]) SunBeltSports.org • @SunBelt • #SunBeltFB Scottie Rodgers ([email protected])

Appalachian State • Arkansas State • Coastal Carolina • Georgia Southern • Georgia State Louisiana • ULM • South Alabama • Texas State • Troy

STANDINGS

Conference Overall EAST DIVISION W-L Pct For Opp W-L Pct For Opp Home Away Neutral Streak Appalachian State 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Won 6 Coastal Carolina 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Lost 4 Georgia Southern 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Won 3 Georgia State 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Lost 7 Troy 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Won 1

WEST DIVISION W-L Pct For Opp W-L Pct For Opp Home Away Neutral Streak Arkansas State 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Lost 1 Louisiana 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Lost 2 ULM 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Lost 2 South Alabama 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Won 1 Texas State 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 .000 0 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 Lost 3

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE AROUND #SUNBELTFB

Thursday, August 29 Campbell at /RV Troy 5 p.m. • football kicks off the Texas State at 12/11 Texas A&M 7:30 p.m. Broadcast: ESPN+ 2019 season with all 10 teams in action. The conference’s Week 1 slate features matchups Broadcast: SEC Network Series: First Meeting on the ESPN family of networks – one on ESPN, Series: Texas A&M leads 2-0 two on ESPNU, two on the SEC Network, four on Last Meeting: Texas A&M, 44-31 (2005) SMU at Arkansas State 6 p.m. ESPN+ and one on ESPN3. Broadcast: ESPN+ Saturday, August 31 Series: SMU leads 2-1 • Appalachian State opens the season receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Amway RV/RV Mississippi State vs. Louisiana 11 a.m. Last Meeting: SMU, 44-21 (2017) Coaches powered by USA Today Sports Top 25 Site: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans polls. The Mountaineers received five points Broadcast: ESPNU Georgia Southern at 6/6 LSU 6:30 p.m. in the AP Poll and four points in the Amway Series: Mississippi State leads 4-0 Broadcast: SEC Network Coaches preseason polls. Appalachian State Last Meeting: Mississippi State, 56-10 (2018) Series: First Meeting earned the Sun Belt’s second-ever Top 25 ranking last season – 25th in the Oct. 21, 2018 AP Poll. The Mountaineers’ ranking tied the highest- South Alabama at 24/RV Nebraska 11 a.m. Grambling State at ULM 7 p.m. ever ranking for a Sun Belt team with Troy’s Broadcast: ESPN Broadcast: ESPN3 ranking of 25th in the Nov. 13, 2016 AP Poll. Series: Nebraska leads 1-0 Series: ULM leads 3-0 Last Meeting: Nebraska, 48-9 (2015) Last Meeting: ULM, 48-10 (2013) • Troy received one vote in the Amway Coaches Poll to make it three-straight seasons for the Trojans appearing among the teams receiving Georgia State at /RV Tennessee 2:30 p.m. All Times Central and Subject to Change votes in that poll. Troy’s two votes in the Broadcast: ESPNU preseason edition of the 2018 Associated Press Series: Tennessee leads 1-0 Poll was a program first in the initial AP Poll. Last Meeting: Tennessee, 51-13 (2012) • The Sun Belt opened with five wins over the first week of the 2018 season. That marked the Eastern Michigan at Coastal Carolina 2:30 p.m. conference’s best opening week since winning Broadcast: ESPN+ seven wins in 2014 and six wins in 2016 as an 11- Series: First Meeting team conference.

• A total of 68 Sun Belt football student-athletes East Tennessee State – Appalachian State (4), Arkansas State (13), at RV/RV Appalachian State 2:30 p.m. Coastal Carolina (14), Georgia Southern (7), Broadcast: ESPN+ Georgia State (2), Louisiana (6), ULM (8), South Series: Appalachian State leads 31-14-1 Alabama (4), Texas State (8) and Troy (2) – have Last Meeting: Appalachian State, 21-7 (2003) already earned their undergraduate degrees and are playing this fall while pursuing second diplomas. 2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL WEEK 1

AROUND #SUNBELTFB 2019 WEEKLY AWARDS

• The Sun Belt has proven itself against Power Five conference opponents in recent history, The 2019 Sun Belt football weekly awards for posting eight wins in the last eight seasons and at least one win in seven of the last eight Offensive Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the seasons. Five of the league’s eight Power Five wins have come on the road. Week and Special Teams Player of the Week begin on Monday, Sept. 2. 2011 – North Texas 24, Indiana 21 (Denton, Texas) 2012 – ULM 34, No. 6 Arkansas 31 [ot] (Monroe, La.) and WEEKLY AWARDS HISTORY Western Kentucky 32, Kentucky 31 [ot] (Lexington, Ky.) A look at the most recent weekly award winners from 2013 – ULM 21, Wake Forest 19 (Winston-Salem, N.C.) each school entering the 2019 season: 2014 – ULM 17, Wake Forest 10 (Monroe, La.) 2016 – South Alabama 21, Mississippi State 20 (Starkville, Miss.) School Player (Award) Date 2017 – Troy 24, No. 25 LSU 21 (Baton Rouge, La.) Appalachian State Akeem Davis-Gaither (D) 11/26/18 2018 – Troy 24, Nebraska 19 (Lincoln, Neb.) Arkansas State Justin McInnis (ST) 11/26/18 Coastal Carolina Evan Rabon (ST) 10/23/17 • The Sun Belt looks to keep its winning ways going in non-conference play after posting the Georgia Southern Shai Werts (O) 10/29/18 best non-conference winning percentage (regular-season and postseason games) of any Kindle Vildor (D) 10/29/18 Group of Five conference in 2018. The league’s 24 non-conference victories were the most in Georgia State Penny Hart (O) 10/16/17 conference history, eclipsing the 22 wins in 2016. Marterious Allen (D) 10/16/17 Louisiana Raymond Calais (O) 11/12/18 W L Pct. ULM Caleb Evans (O) 11/5/18 1. Sun Belt 24 20 .545 South Alabama Tra Minter (O) 11/26/18 2. Mountain West 29 25 .537 Texas State James Sherman (ST) 9/10/18 3. American 27 28 .491 4. Conference USA 26 36 .419 Troy Tyler Sumpter (ST) 11/18/18 5. Mid-American 19 35 .352

• For the first time as an Football Bowl Subdivision Conference, the Sun Belt boasted three WEEKLY AWARDS WINNERS teams – Appalachian State (11-2, 7-1 Sun Belt), Troy (10-3, 7-1) and Georgia Southern (10-3, 6-2) – with double-digit wins in 2018. All three won their bowl games. OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Sept. 2...... • Arkansas State is in select company with Alabama, Oklahoma and Clemson as one of four Sept. 9...... Sept. 16...... Football Bowl Subdivision programs that have made eight bowl appearances and won at Sept. 23...... least four conference championships over the past eight seasons. Sept. 30...... Oct. 7...... • The Sun Belt also looks to continue its success in the postseason as well, boasting the Oct. 14...... best three-year (2016-18) bowl winning percentage among all 10 Football Bowl Subdivision Oct. 21...... conferences. Oct. 28...... Nov. 4...... W L Pct. Nov. 11...... Nov. 18...... 1. Sun Belt 11 5 .688 Nov. 25...... 2. Big 12 14 10 .583 Dec. 2...... 3. Atlantic Coast 18 14 .563 4. Big Ten 15 12 .556 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK 5. Mountain West 10 8 .556 Sept. 2...... 6. Conference USA 12 10 .545 Sept. 9...... 7. Southeastern 17 17 .500 Sept. 16...... 8. American Athletic 8 13 .381 Sept. 23...... 9. Pac-12 7 15 .318 Sept. 30...... Oct. 7...... 10. Mid-American 2 15 .118 Oct. 14...... Oct. 21...... • Several Sun Belt players enter the season already ranked in the conference’s career lists: Oct. 28...... Nov. 4...... - Georgia Southern redshirt junior Shai Werts ranks sixth in career rushing yards Nov. 11...... as a quarterback with 1,630 yards. He ranks behind Arkansas State’s Ryan Aplin with 1,756 Nov. 18...... career rushing yards from 2009-12. Nov. 25...... Dec. 2...... - Georgia Southern redshirt senior placekicker Tyler Bass ranks third in career field goal SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK completion percentage at 85.0 percent (34 of 40 made). The conference’s all-time leader is Sept. 2...... Louisiana’s Brett Baer at 90.0 percent (45 of 50 made) from 2009-12. Sept. 9...... Sept. 16...... - Appalachian State junior placekicker Chandler Staton (92 of 92 made) and Troy junior Sept. 23...... placekicker/punter Tyler Sumpter (79 of 79 made) rank tied for first in career PAT percentage Sept. 30...... at 100.0 percent. Staton and Sumpter join Troy’s Ryan Kay (78 of 78 made in 2013-16) as the Oct. 7...... only players in conference history to have a perfect career PAT percentage. Oct. 14...... Oct. 21...... - Georgia State redshirt senior placekicker/punter Brandon Wright ranks fourth in career Oct. 28...... Nov. 4...... punting average at 43.8 yards per punt. The conference’s all-time leader is Idaho’s Austin Nov. 11...... Rehkow at 44.8 yards per punt from 2014-16. Nov. 18...... Nov. 25...... - Georgia Southern senior cornerback Monquavion Brinson ranks tied for fifth in career Dec. 2...... passes defended with 31. The conference’s all-time leader is Arkansas State’s Blaise Taylor with 36 career passes defended from 2014-17. 2 2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL WEEK 1

AROUND #SUNBELTFB ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL

• Four head coaches are making their Sun Belt debuts this week – Eliah Drinkwitz at Preseason (August 19) Appalachian State, at Coastal Carolina, at Texas State and at Troy. Team Record Points Prev. 1. Clemson 0-0 1540 1 • Arkansas State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Terry Mohajir begins a three- 2. Alabama 0-0 1496 2 year appointment on the College Football Playoff selection committee in 2019. Mohajir is 3. Georgia 0-0 1403 7 one of just 13 athletics directors and 29 total people to serve on the CFP selection committee 4. Oklahoma 0-0 1331 4 5. Ohio State 0-0 1261 3 entering its sixth year of existence. His term will include the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons. 6. LSU 0-0 1199 6 7. Michigan 0-0 1164 14 • The Sun Belt officiating program is using a collaborative replay system for the third- 8. Florida 0-0 1054 7 straight year in 2019. The system allows a central location to review replays at each game in 9. Notre Dame 0-0 1044 5 coordination with Sun Belt Coordinator of Officials Steve Shaw. The Sun Belt is one of only 10. Texas 0-0 1005 9 five NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision conferences, joining the Southeastern, Atlantic Coast, 11. Oregon 0-0 860 NR Big 12 and Pac-12 conference, to use a collaborative replay system and the only Group of Five 12. Texas A&M 0-0 852 16 13. Washington 0-0 786 13 conference to use the system. 14. Utah 0-0 772 NR 15. Penn State 0-0 651 17 • Former Coastal Carolina football student-athlete Nicholas Clark was one of eight winners 16. Auburn 0-0 578 NR of the 2019 John McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Awards. Clark served on the 17. UCF 0-0 410 11 NCAA Division I National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, including a stint as chair, and 18. Michigan State 0-0 377 NR currently serves on the NCAA Division I Council, Football Oversight Committee and Board of 19. Wisconsin 0-0 370 NR Governors Sports Wagering Committee. 20. Iowa 0-0 330 25 21. Iowa State 0-0 302 NR 22. Syracuse 0-0 209 15 • Four former football student-athletes from Sun Belt institutions attended the Third Annual 23. Washington State 0-0 200 10 Campbell Trophy Summit, sponsored by Intuit Inc., at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. 24. Nebraska 0-0 154 NR Georgia State’s Bobby Baker, South Alabama’s Harrison Louden and Texas State’s Nick 25. Stanford 0-0 141 NR Clark and Gabe Loyd were among the 214 previous nominees for The William V. Campbell Trophy® attending the 2019 event held August 14-17. Others Receiving Votes: Missouri 117, Army 94, Mississippi State 87, Miami (Fla.) 70, Northwestern 63, TCU 57, Virginia 44, Boise State 38, Cincinnati 16, South Carolina 15, Virginia • The Sun Belt littered the preseason watch lists entering the 2019 season. The conference Tech 12, Fresno State 8, Utah State 8, Minnesota 7, Memphis led all FBS conferences with six candidates for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award. Here is a look 6, Appalachian State 5, West Virginia 3, Oklahoma State 3, at the Sun Belt’s candidates on various preseason watch lists: Arizona State 3, Arizona 1, Southern California 1.

Maxwell Award (Player of the Year) – Appalachian Nagurski Award (Best Defensive Player) – AMWAY COACHES POLL State’s Darrynton Evans and Zac Thomas, Arkansas Appalachian State’s Jordan Fehr and Texas State’s POWERED BY USA TODAY SPORTS State’s Kirk Merritt and Troy’s B.J Johnson Bryan London II

Preseason (August 1) Bednarik Award (Defensive Player of the Year) – Lou Groza Award (Top Placekicker) – Coastal Appalachian State’s Akeem Davis-Gaither, Georgia Carolina’s Massimo Biscardi, Georgia Southern’s Team Record Points Prev. Southern’s Kindle Vildor and Texas State’s Bryan Tyler Bass and Troy’s Tyler Sumpter 1. Clemson 0-0 1619 1 London 2. Alabama 0-0 1566 2 Ray Guy Award (Top Punter) – Arkansas State’s 3. Georgia 0-0 1447 8 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award – Cody Grace and Georgia State’s Brandon Wright 4. Oklahoma 0-0 1415 4 Appalachian State’s Zac Thomas 5. Ohio State 0-0 1368 3 Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile Player) – 6. LSU 0-0 1218 7 Doak Walker Award (Best Running Back) – Appalachian State’s Darrynton Evans, Arkansas 7. Michigan 0-0 1155 14 Appalachian State’s Darrynton Evans, Arkansas State’s Kirk Merritt, Georgia Southern’s Wesley 8. Florida 0-0 1103 6 State’s Marcel Murray, Louisiana’s Elijah Mitchell Kennedy III and South Alabama’s Tra Minter 9. Notre Dame 0-0 1100 5 and Trey Ragas, South Alabama’s Tra Minter and 10. Texas 0-0 1038 9 Troy’s B.J. Smith Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service and 11. Texas A&M 0-0 893 16 Athletic & Academic Achievement) – Appalachian 12. Washington 0-0 834 13 Biletnikoff Award (Best Receiver) – Arkansas State’s Darrynton Evans, Arkansas State’s Tajhea 13. Oregon 0-0 787 NR State’s Kirk Merritt Chambers, Coastal Carolina’s Silas Kelly, Georgia 14. Penn State 0-0 699 17 Southern’s Rashad Byrd, Louisiana’s Deuce Wallace, 15. Utah 0-0 642 NR John Mackey Award (Best Tight End) – South Alabama’s Brian Ankerson, Texas State’s 16. Auburn 0-0 606 NR Appalachian State’s Collin Reed, Arkansas State’s Hutch White, and Troy’s B.J. Smith 17. UCF 0-0 436 12 Javonis Isaac, Coastal Carolina’s Isaiah Likely, and Wisconsin 0-0 436 NR Louisiana’s Johnny Lumpkin Walter Camp Award (Player of the Year) – 19. Iowa 0-0 343 NR Appalachian State’s Zac Thomas 20. Michigan State 0-0 313 NR Dave Rimington Award (Best Center) – 21. Washington State 0-0 274 10 Appalachian State’s Noah Hannon, Arkansas State’s Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Graduating 22. Syracuse 0-0 227 NR Jacob Still, Coastal Carolina’s Trey Carter, ULM’s Quarterback) – Appalachian State’s Zac Thomas 23. Stanford 0-0 200 NR Bobby Reynolds, South Alabama’s Brian Ankerson and ULM’s Caleb Evans 24. Iowa State 0-0 169 NR and Texas State’s Aaron Brewer 25. Northwestern 0-0 161 19 Manning Award (Top Quarterback) – Appalachian Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back) – State’s Zac Thomas and ULM’s Caleb Evans Others Receiving Votes: Nebraska 152, Boise State 118, Appalachian State’s Desmond Franklin and Josh Mississippi State 111, Miami 94, Army 91, Kentucky 79, Virginia Thomas, Arkansas State’s Darreon Jackson and Reese’s Senior Bowl – Appalachian State’s Akeem Tech 64, Texas Christian 63, Southern California 47, Utah State Jerry Jacobs, and Georgia Southern’s Monquavion Davis-Gaither, Jordan Fehr and Victor Johnson, 32, Fresno State 32, Virginia 30, Cincinnati 25, West Virginia Brinson and Kindle Vildor Arkansas State’s Dahu Green and Kirk Merritt, 24, Memphis 24, Oklahoma State 20, South Carolina 15, North Georgia Southern’s Tyler Bass, Monquavion Brinson Carolina State 12, Duke 10, Boston College 5, Florida State 4, Butkus Award (Best Linebacker) – Appalachian and Kindle Vildor, Louisiana’s Raymond Calais, Baylor 4, Appalachian State 4, North Texas 3, Houston 3, UCLA State’s Akeem Davis-Gaither South Alabama’s Tra Minter, Texas State’s Aaron 2, Temple 2, Arizona State 2, Troy 1, Tennessee 1, Ole Miss 1, Brewer and Texas State Bryan London and Troy’s Minnesota 1. Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman) – B.J. Smith Appalachian State’s Victor Johnson, Louisiana’s Robert Hunt and Troy’s Kirk Kelley 3 2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL WEEK 1

GAME PREVIEWS

TEXAS STATE (0-0) AT TEXAS A&M (0-0) GEORGIA STATE (0-0) AT TENNESSEE (0-0) Thursday, August 29 • 7:30 p.m. • SEC Network Saturday, August 31 • 2:30 p.m. • ESPNU

SERIES: Texas A&M leads 2-0 SERIES: Tennessee leads 1-0 LAST MEETING: Texas A&M, 44-31 (2015) LAST MEETING: Tennessee, 51-13 (2012)

NOTES: Texas State and Texas A&M are meeting for the third time. All three NOTES: For the first time in its 10-year history, Georgia State is opening the matchups have been played in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M won the season away from home and on a Saturday. The Panthers’ previous nine two previous matchups – 28-0 on Oct. 3, 1919 and 44-31 on Sept. 22, 2005. season openers have all been at home and none have been on a Saturday. This marks the second straight time that Texas State has played at Texas Georgia State has played four Thursday openers, four Friday openers and A&M in a Thursday night game. The Bobcats and Aggies also played on one Wednesday opener. The Panthers are 4-5 in season openers, including Thursday night in 2005 in advance of Hurricane Rita, which made landfall last year’s 24-20 victory over Kennesaw State. The matchup with Tennessee on the Texas-Louisiana border two days later in the early morning on Sept. marks Georgia State’s 11th game against a Power Five opponent. In their 24. Texas State plays a nationally ranked FBS opponent in a season opener first nine years, the Panthers played at Alabama twice along with trips to for the second time in school history. The only other time the Bobcats Tennessee, West Virginia, Clemson, Washington, Oregon, Wisconsin, Penn played a season-opener against a ranked team was in 2015 when the State and North Carolina State. Head coach Shawn Elliott spent seven years Bobcats traveled to No. 10-ranked Florida State. The last time the Bobcats on the staff at South Carolina (2010-16) and faced Tennessee each year. played against a nationally ranked opponent was Sept. 24, 2016 against South Carolina went 4-3 against the Volunteers in that span, including a No. 6 Houston. Head coach Jake Spavital was the offensive coordinator/ 2-1 mark at Neyland Stadium. In 2015 while Elliott was serving as South quarterback coach for the Aggies from 2013-15. Carolina’s interim head coach, the Gamecocks fell 27-24 in Knoxville.

MISSISSIPPI STATE (0-0) VS. LOUISIANA (0-0) EASTERN MICHIGAN (0-0) AT Saturday, August 31 • 11 a.m. • ESPNU COASTAL CAROLINA (0-0) Saturday, August 31 • 2:30 p.m. • ESPN+ SERIES: Mississippi State leads 4-0 LAST MEETING: Mississippi State, 56-10 (2018) SERIES: First Meeting

NOTES: Louisiana is playing its seventh game all-time in Mercedes-Benz NOTES: This first meeting between Coastal Carolina and Eastern Michigan Superdome since the 2010 season. The Ragin’ Cajuns hold an official marks a unique first in FBS history. Coastal Carolina is playing against a 2-2 record in those games, with their last appearance being a 28-21 loss school that also features a non-green playing surface as its home field. to Southern Miss in the 2016 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. In the four The Chanticleers’ Brooks Stadium is known for its teal surf turf and Eastern previous meetings with Mississippi State, Louisiana has scored 13 points – Michigan’s Rynearson Stadium features a gray artificial surface. Coastal three in 1987 and 10 in 2018. This marks the second time Louisiana is facing Carolina returns 52.3 percent of its total offense in 2019 – 52.0 percent of an Southeastern Conference opponent under head coach as its rushing yards, 52.6 percent of its passing yards and 62.2 percent of its his Ragin’ Cajuns played Mississippi State and Alabama in 2018. Louisiana receiving yards. First-year head coach Jamey Chadwell is entering his has faced an SEC opponent in every season since 2012. Redshirt senior third season leading the Chanticleers’ offense after serving as offensive wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley enters 2019 after hauling in 10 receiving coordinator the past two seasons, including also serving as interim head last year, tying Donald Richard (1996) and Dave Oliver (1976) coach in 2017. Eastern Michigan holds a 4-7-1 record against teams in the for the most all-time in school history. Redshirt junior running back Trey Sun Belt. In its last meeting against a Sun Belt opponent, Eastern Michigan Ragas returns after compiling 1,181 rushing yards last season, good for the fell 23-21 to Georgia Southern on a last-second field goal in the 2018 third-highest total in the Sun Belt. Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

SOUTH ALABAMA (0-0) AT NEBRASKA (0-0) EAST TENNESSEE STATE (0-0) AT APPALACHIAN STATE (0-0) Saturday, August 31 • 11 a.m. • ESPN Saturday, August 31 • 2:30 p.m. • ESPN+

SERIES: Nebraska leads 1-0 SERIES: Appalachian State leads 31-14-1 LAST MEETING: Nebraska, 48-9 (2015) LAST MEETING: Appalachian State, 21-7 (2003)

NOTES: South Alabama opens the season on the road against an NOTES: The season opener pitting Appalachian State and East Tennessee opponent from a Power Five conference for the third time in the last State rekindles a series with the Mountaineers’ former Southern four years. The matchup with Nebraska is just the fourth time since the Conference rival less than 60 miles from Boone, N.C. The last meeting program’s inception in 2009 that the Jaguars are facing on a nationally between the two schools was in 2003, when Appalachian State claimed a ranked opponent. South Alabama is 1-2 all-time against nationally ranked 21-7 victory in Boone. East Tennessee State temporarily dropped football foes with the one win coming on a 42-24 victory over No. 19 San Diego after the 2003 season and the Buccaneers began playing competitively State on Oct. 1, 2016. Nebraska is the only team the Jags have faced from again in 2015. Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz is making his FBS head coaching the Big Ten Conference with the two schools previously meeting in Lincoln, debut after being an offensive coordinator at North Carolina State, Boise Neb. in 2015. In that game, South Alabama racked up 313 yards passing, the State and Arkansas State and a quality control assistant during Auburn’s program’s most ever against a Power Five opponent. The Jags are 6-4 in 2010 national title run. Appalachian State enters the season ranked fifth season openers, which includes a 2-1 mark when starting the year on the nationally in winning percentage (78.8) behind only Clemson (93.2), road. South Alabama has split its two previous season openers at Power Alabama (93.2), Ohio State (88.9) and Oklahoma (85.2) since 2015. With a Five opponents, defeating Mississippi State, 21-20, in 2016 while dropping a 41-11 record over the last four seasons, the Mountaineers’ win total trails 47-27 decision at Ole Miss in 2017. only Clemson (55-4), Alabama (55-4), Ohio State (48-6), Oklahoma (46-8), Wisconsin (42-12) and Georgia (42-13).

4 2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL WEEK 1

GAME PREVIEWS

CAMPBELL (0-0) AT TROY (0-0) GEORGIA SOUTHERN (0-0) AT LSU (0-0) Saturday, August 31 • 5 p.m. • ESPN+ Saturday, August 31 • 6:30 p.m. • SEC Network

SERIES: First Meeting SERIES: First Meeting

NOTES: The matchup with Campbell marks the 53rd all-time in program NOTES: Georgia Southern’s matchup with LSU marks the program’s 14th history that Troy has played against a current member of the Big South against a current member of the Southeastern Conference. The game at Conference. The Trojans have played North Alabama 44 times, Charleston Tiger Stadium is the Eagles’ only scheduled game on natural grass this Southern four times and Presbyterian four times. Troy’s 21 combined wins season. The 10 largest crowds Georgia Southern ever played in front of were in 2016-17 and 2017-18 tie for the fourth most in back-to-back seasons in all at SEC venues. The largest crowd the Eagles have played in front of was school history and are the most for the program at the FBS level. Troy’s 31 the announced attendance of 101,821 at Alabama in 2011. Georgia Southern wins over the last three seasons (2016-18) are tied for the most in program has opened its season nine prior times against a Power Five opponent, the history. The Trojans are 22-5 over their last 27 games and 17-3 over their last time was in 2017 at Auburn. The Eagles own one victory over a Power last 20 games. First-year head coach Chip Lindsey have coached offenses Five opponent – 26-20 over Florida on Nov. 23, 2013. That win came a season as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss, Arizona State and Auburn. His before the Eagles joined the Sun Belt. Georgia Southern is facing its 11th teams have been shutout just once in 74 games – first career game at opponent in program history ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Southern Miss. Troy is the only FBS school in the country to hire a football Poll. Georgia Southern holds a 3-5 all-time record in games played in the head coach (Lindsey), men’s basketball head coach (Scott Cross) and month of August. The Eagles have won 12 of its last 16 games and won its Director of Athletics (Brent Jones) since January. last four games decided by 10 points or less.

SMU (0-0) AT ARKANSAS STATE (0-0) GRAMBLING STATE (0-0) AT ULM (0-0) Saturday, August 31 • 6 p.m. • ESPN+ Saturday, August 31 • 7 p.m. • ESPN3

SERIES: SMU leads 2-1 SERIES: ULM leads 3-0 LAST MEETING: SMU, 44-21 (2017) LAST MEETING: ULM, 48-10 (2013)

NOTES: Arkansas State’s last and only win over SMU was a 35-28 win in NOTES: All three previous matchups between ULM and Grambling State Jonesboro, Ark. in 2007. The Red Wolves open the season at home for the have taken place in Monroe, La. The cities of Monroe and Grambling are third time in four seasons. Arkansas State enters 2019 on a couple of streaks separated by less than 40 miles. The Warhawks return six offensive starters – eight-straight winning seasons and eight-straight bowl appearances and eight defensive starters in 2019. Senior quarterback Caleb Evans is (2011-18). The Red Wolves have compiled 67 wins over the last seven back as ULM’s signal caller for the third-straight season. Evans enters the seasons (2012-18), which tied for 25th among FBS programs. In that span, season already ranked among the school’s all-time top 10 in completion A-State has won 51 Sun Belt games and captured five conference titles. percentage (second at 60.1), passing efficiency rating (third at 132.7), total Last season, the Red Wolves led the nation in punt return defense at an offense (third with 7,945 career yards), pass completions (fifth with 518), FBS-record minus 1.88 (-1.88) yards per return. Senior wide receiver Kirk passing yards (sixth with 6,571), pass attempts (seventh with 862) and Merritt enters the season on the watch lists for three major college football passing touchdowns (seventh with 37). He listed on the preseason watch awards – Hornung, Maxwell and Biletnikoff. Merritt recorded 83 receptions list for two major college football awards – Maxwell and Unitas. Head coach for 1,005 yards in 2018, both third most in school history. Defensive Matt Viator enters 2019 with 92 head coaching victories – 78 at McNeese coordinator and linebackers coach David Duggan is serving as interim and 14 at ULM. Viator led the Warhawks to their first season with a .500 or head coach while head coach Blake Anderson takes a leave of absence. better record (6-6) in 2018 since ending with a 6-6 record in 2013.

VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS COLLEGE FOOTBALL 150TH ANNIVERSARY

Football Bowl Subdivision vs. FBS Opponents 0-0 The Sun Belt Conference joins the national American Athletic 0-0 vs. FCS Opponents 0-0 celebration surrounding the 150th anniversary Atlantic Coast 0-0 vs. Associated Press Poll 0-0 of college football (CFB150) throughout the 2019 Big Ten 0-0 vs. Amway Coaches Poll 0-0 season. Big 12 0-0 Conference USA 0-0 By School The rich history of Sun Belt football is being Mid-American 0-0 Appalachian State 0-0 chronicled this fall via a series of feature stories as well as social media and Mountain West 0-0 Arkansas State 0-0 video content highlighting historic moments across the conference. Pac-12 0-0 Coastal Carolina 0-0 Southeastern 0-0 Georgia Southern 0-0 The Sun Belt and its 10 football-playing institutions are participating FBS Independents 0-0 Georgia State 0-0 in CFB150 Celebration Week from Oct. 31 to Nov. 9. During that week, Football Championship Subdivision Louisiana 0-0 the Sun Belt is set to feature the league’s history, along with notable Big South 0-0 ULM 0-0 accomplishments, student-athletes, coaches and games through the Sun Colonial Athletic Association 0-0 South Alabama 0-0 Belt’s digital and social media channels. The Sun Belt will also name a Mid-Eastern Athletic 0-0 Texas State 0-0 Sun Belt Conference CFB150 Honor Roll consisting of five former student- Missouri Valley 0-0 Troy 0-0 athletes and head coaches from each school. Southern 0-0 Southland 0-0 In addition to digital and social media campaigns, each Sun Belt institution Southwestern Athletic 0-0 will wear a commemorative CFB150 patch on their uniforms this season. TOTAL 0-0 (.000) CFB150 is a non-profit corporation formed to plan and administer a national celebration of the sport’s anniversary.

5 2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL WEEK 1

AROUND #SUNBELTFB 2019 BOWL OPPORTUNITIES

SUN BELT IN THE NFL • The Sun Belt is slated to open the 2019 regular season with 54 former standouts on active rosters and three on reserved lists.

• The conference boasts representatives on 24 different NFL teams.

• Appalachian State leads the Sun Belt with 13 former players on active rosters.

Appalachian State (13) Georgia State (6) Ronald Blair III, (DL, 4th year) Robert Davis, Washington Redskins (WR, 2nd year) Parker Collins, Carolina Panthers (C, 1st year) Penny Hart, (WR, 1st year) Sun Belt Champion as highest-ranked Clifton Duck, Chicago Bears (CB, 1st year) Ulrick John, (OT, 6th year)* Group of Five champion in the CFP national Austin Exford, (S, 1st year) Will Lutz, New Orleans Saints (PK, 4th year) semifinals or New Year’s Six bowl game Colby Gossett, (OL, 2nd year) Chase Middleton, Atlanta Falcons (LB, 1st year) Tae Hayes, (CB, 1st year) Chandon Sullivan, Green Bay Packers (CB, 2nd year) A.J. Howard, New England Patriots (DB, 1st year) Albert Wilson, (WR, 6th year) Daniel Kilgore, Miami Dolphins (C, 9th year) Kendall Lamm, (OT, 5th year) Louisiana (5) Sam Martin, (P, 7th year) Justin Hamilton, (DT, 4th year) Doug Middleton, (S, 3rd year) Elijah McGuire, New York Jets (DB, 3rd year) Jalin Moore, New York Jets (RB, 1st year)** Christian Ringo, Cincinnati Bengals (DE, 4th year) Brian Quick, Washington Redskins (WR, 8th year) Simeon Thomas, (CB, 1st year) MyQuon Stout, New York Jets (DL, 1st year) Tracy Walker, Detroit Lions (DB, 2nd year) R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Arkansas State (6) ULM (2) Dec. 21 - New Orleans, La. Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints (LB, 8th year) Derrick Gore, Los Angeles Chargers (RB, 1st year) Sun Belt Champion vs. Conference USA Dee Liner, Los Angeles Chargers (DT, 1st year) Marcus Green, Atlanta Falcons (WR, 1st year) J.D. McKissic, Seattle Seahawks (RS, 3rd year) Chris Odom, Atlanta Falcons (DE, Second year) South Alabama (3) Kyle Wilson, Los Angeles Chargers (LB, 1st year) Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Rams (TE, 3rd year) Xavier Woodson-Luster, Houston Texans (LB, 2nd year) Jeremy Reaves, Washington Redskins (DB, 1st year) Wes Saxton, Seattle Seahawks (TE, 1st year) Coastal Carolina (4) Anthony Chesley, Cincinnati Bengals (CB, 1st year) Texas State (3) De’Angelo Henderson, Minnesota Vikings (RB, 2nd year) Keenen Brown, Los Angeles Rams (TE, 1st year) Josh Norman, Washington Redskins (CB, 8th year) David Mayo, San Francisco 49ers (LB, 5th year) Denzel Rice, (CB, 3rd year) Ty Nsekhe, Buffalo Bills (OT, 5th year) Mobile Alabama Bowl Jan. 6 - Mobile, Ala. Georgia Southern (6) Troy (6) Sun Belt vs. Mid-American Conference Matt Breida, San Francisco 49ers (RB, 3rd year) Mario Addison, Carolina Panthers (LB/DE, 9th year) Ukeme Eligwe, (LB, 3rd year) Jordan Chunn, Dallas Cowboys (RB, 1st year) Jerick McKinnon, San Francisco 49ers (RB, 6th year) Antonio Garcia, Indianapolis Colts (OT, 1st year) Joshua Moon, Jacksonville Jaguars (S, 1st year) Trevon Sanders, New York Jets (DL, 1st year) Ellis Richardson, Chicago Bears (TE, 1st year) Brynden Trawick, (DB, 7th year) J.J. Wilcox, Atlanta Falcons (DB, 7th year)* Damion Willis, Cincinnati Bengals (WR, 1st year) Antwione Williams, Carolina Panthers (LB, 2nd year) *Reserved/injured list **Reserved/non-football injury list Raycom Media Camellia Bowl 2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME Dec. 21 - Montgomery, Ala. Sun Belt vs. Mid-American Conference The 2019 Sun Belt Football Championship Game pits the East and West Division champions with the best conference winning percentages on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The second edition of the league’s football title game is slated for live coverage on ESPN or ESPN2 at 11 a.m. CT/Noon ET.

The inaugural Sun Belt Football Championship Game saw Appalachian State defeat Louisiana 30-19 at Kidd Brewer Stadium AutoNation Cure Bowl in Boone, N.C. The host Mountaineers were led by running back Dec. 21 - Orlando, Fla. Darrynton Evans, who surpassed 1,000 rushing yards on the season during a belt-hoisting, Sun Belt vs. American Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player-winning performance – 218 all-purpose yards that included 111 rushing yards and a 97-yard kickoff return.

The 2018 game was one of the highest-rated Sun Belt football games in conference history and was the 15th-highest rated cable program on Dec. 1, 2018 in the United States.

The Sun Belt is the final of the 10 FBS conferences to stage a football championship game. In 2018, the Sun Belt was the first FBS conference to hold an inaugural football championship game since the American Athletic Conference conducted its first title game in 2015. The Sun Belt is the 12th NCAA Division I football-playing conference (FBS or Football Championship NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl Subdivision) to stage a football championship game. Dec. 31 - Tucson, Ariz. Sun Belt vs. Mountain West Conference 6 2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL WEEK 1

2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS AND HONORS

Appalachian State was predicted to repeat as East Division champion with Defense seven first-place votes and 46 points. The Mountaineers were also selected DL - William Bradley-King (Arkansas State, RS-Junior) # as the favorite to win the 2019 Sun Belt regular-season title. DL - Forrest Merrill (Arkansas State, Junior) # DL - Raymond Johnson (Georgia Southern, Junior) # Louisiana was picked to win the West Division, garnering six first-place DL - Tyree Turner (South Alabama, Senior) *# votes for a total of 46 points. The Ragin’ Cajuns started conference play LB - Akeem Davis-Gaither (Appalachian State, Senior) # with a 2-3 record in 2018 before rattling off three consecutive conference LB - Jordan Fehr (Appalachian State, Senior) ^ wins to close out the season and earn a spot in the inaugural Sun Belt LB - Bryan London II (Texas State, Senior) *^ Football Championship Game. DB - Desmond Franklin (Appalachian State, Senior) ^ DB - Jerry Jacobs (Arkansas State, Junior) # Predicted Championship Game Winner DB - Monquavion Brinson (Georgia Southern, Senior) *# Appalachian State DB - Kindle Vildor (Georgia Southern, Senior) ^

Preseason Coaches Preseason Poll Special Teams First-place votes in parentheses K - Tyler Bass (Georgia Southern, RS-Senior) *^ P - Brandon Wright (Georgia State, RS-Senior) ^ East Division Points RS - Tra Minter (South Alabama, Senior) # 1. Appalachian State (7) 46 2. Troy (1) 39 Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team 3. Georgia Southern (2) 35 Offense 4. Coastal Carolina 17 QB - Caleb Evans (ULM, Senior) *$ 5. Georgia State 13 RB - Elijah Mitchell (Louisiana, Junior) # RB - Trey Ragas (Louisiana, RS-Junior) *$ West Division Points WR - Omar Bayless (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) ! 1. Louisiana (6) 46 WR - Kawaan Baker (South Alabama, Junior) ! 2. Arkansas State (3) 42 WR - Tray Eafford (Troy, Junior) 3. ULM 27 TE - Collin Reed (Appalachian State, Senior) *$ 4. South Alabama (1) 19 OL - Jacob Still (Arkansas State, RS-Junior) *! 5. Texas State 16 OL - Hunter Atkinson (Georgia State, RS-Senior) *$ OL - T.J. Fiailoa (ULM, RS-Junior) $ Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams OL - Aaron Brewer (Texas State, Senior) *! Troy senior running back B.J. Smith was tabbed as the Preseason Offensive OL - Tristan Crowder (Troy, Senior) *$ Player of the Year while Georgia Southern senior cornerback Kindle Vildor was selected as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Defense DL - Kevin Thurmon (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) ! Appalachian State and Arkansas State led all teams with 11 total selections DL - Tarron Jackson (Coastal Carolina, RS-Junior) $ apiece on the Preseason All-Sun Belt teams. The Mountaineers had eight DL - Zi’Yon Hill (Louisiana, RS-Sophomore) $ selections on the first team and three on the Second Team. The Red DL - Jarvis Hayes (Troy, Senior) $ Wolves placed five on the first team and six on the second team. Louisiana LB - Jacques Boudreaux (Louisiana, Senior) $ placed eight student-athletes between the two teams and Troy placed LB - Nikolas Daniels (Texas State, Senior) $ seven. LB - Carlton Martial (Troy, Sophomore) DB - Josh Thomas (Appalachian State, Senior) ! Preseason Offensive Player of the Year DB - B.J. Edmonds (Arkansas State, Senior) * B.J. Smith (Troy, Senior) DB - Darreon Jackson (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) $ DB - Michael Jacquet III (Louisiana, RS-Senior) Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Kindle Vildor (Georgia Southern, Senior) Special Teams K - Tyler Sumpter (Troy, Junior) $ Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team P - Cody Grace (Arkansas State, RS-Senior) *# Offense RS - Darrynton Evans (Appalachian State, Junior) QB - Zac Thomas (Appalachian State, Junior) # RB - Darrynton Evans (Appalachian State, Junior) ^ * - 2018 Preseason All-Sun Belt selection RB - B.J. Smith (Troy, Senior) ^ ^ - 2018 All-Sun Belt First Team selection WR - Corey Sutton (Appalachian State, Junior) # # - 2018 All-Sun Belt Second Team selection WR - Kirk Merritt (Arkansas State, Senior) ^ $ - 2018 All-Sun Belt Third Team selection WR - Ja’Marcus Bradley (Louisiana, RS-Senior) $ ! – 2018 All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention selection TE - Javonis Isaac (Arkansas State, RS-Junior) # OL - Noah Hannon (Appalachian State, Junior) # OL - Victor Johnson (Appalachian State, Senior) *^ OL - Kevin Dotson (Louisiana, RS-Senior) *^ OL - Robert Hunt (Louisiana, RS-Senior) # OL - Kirk Kelley (Troy, Senior) ^

7 2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL WEEK 1

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES COMMUNICATIONS CONTACTS

CFP FOUNDATION EXTRA YARD FOR TEACHERS Appalachian State The Sun Belt Conference and the College Football Playoff (CFP) are once again partnering Joey Jones up during the college football season to recognize teachers through the CFP Foundation’s Office: 828-262-2845 Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) platform. Cell: 828-964-7183 Email: [email protected] During the 2019 season, each of the 10 Sun Belt football-playing institutions is receiving a grant from the CFP Foundation to use in their respective local communities to recognize Arkansas State teachers for their hard work and dedication and to provide classroom supplies and Jerry Scott professional development resources. In addition, Sun Belt institutions will recognize teachers Office: 870-972-3405 at football games during Extra Yard for Teachers Week (Sept. 14-21) on their respective Cell: 870-243-6021 campuses via pregame and in-game presentations on the field and videoboards as well as Email: [email protected] during live broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks. The conference is also recognizing the EYFT initiative via presentations during the 2019 Sun Belt Football Championship Game. Coastal Carolina Kevin Davis COACHES FOR A CURE Office: 843-349-2822 The Sun Belt Conference and the AutoNation Cure Bowl benefiting the Breast Cancer Cell: 704-974-9095 Research Foundation (BCRF) are teaming up for the Coaches for a Cure initiative for the Email: [email protected] second-straight year during the 2019 football season. Georgia Southern During the month of October, the 10 Sun Belt football-playing institutions are participating Bryan Johnston in Pink Saturdays and displaying Sun Belt Kicks Cancer kicking nets. For the Pink Saturdays Office: 912-478-5448 games, the Cure Bowl is providing pink shoelaces, armbands, wristbands and towels for Cell: 912-531-3575 coaching staffs to wear for each school’s designated game(s). In addition, each school is set Email: [email protected] to display a specially designed pink Sun Belt Kicks Cancer kicking net on its home sideline during games throughout the month. Georgia State Allison George MEDIA INFORMATION Office: 404-413-4032 Cell: 678-595-7728 WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA Email: [email protected] Sun Belt Conference football information including standings, statistics, news and notes are updated regularly on SunBeltSports.org and the league’s social media platforms. The Louisiana complete Sun Belt football weekly release is posted online on Monday afternoons during Patrick Crawford the season. Contact Keith Nunez or Scottie Rodgers to receive Sun Belt football information. Office: 337-482-5393 Follow the Sun Belt on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Use the hashtags Cell: 337-412-4220 #RiseAbove and #SunBeltFB on social media to keep up the conversations and coverage of Email: [email protected] Sun Belt football. ULM SUN BELT ON ESPN John Lewandowski The Sun Belt is projected to feature more than 500 live events on an ESPN platform in 2019- Office: 318-342-5378 20, including all regular-season home football games (for an eighth-consecutive year) to go Cell: 517-896-3537 along with a minimum of 150 regular-season home men’s basketball games, 130 regular- Email: [email protected] season home women’s basketball games, 75 regular-season baseball games and every Sun Belt championship event. The conference’s agreement with ESPN runs through 2027-28. South Alabama Brian Fremund WEEKLY MEDIA TELECONFERENCE Office: 251-414-8032 The Sun Belt conducts a weekly media teleconference featuring all 10 head coaches on Cell: 251-623-3191 Mondays throughout the regular season. These teleconferences are for accredited media Email: [email protected] representatives only. Contact Keith Nunez or Scottie Rodgers for call-in information. Texas State Schedule: Rick Poulter 10:30 a.m. CT/11:30 a.m. ET – Eliah Drinkwitz, Appalachian State Office: 512-245-2966 10:37 a.m. CT/11:37 a.m. ET – Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina Cell: 512-738-0697 10:44 a.m. CT/11:44 a.m. ET – Steve Campbell, South Alabama Email: [email protected] 10:51 a.m. CT/11:51 a.m. ET – Jake Spavital, Texas State 10:58 a.m. CT/11:58 a.m. ET – , Georgia Southern Troy 11:05 a.m. CT/12:05 p.m. ET – David Duggan, Arkansas State Adam Prendergast 11:12 a.m. CT/12:12 p.m. ET – Matt Viator, ULM Office: 334-670-3832 11:19 a.m. CT/12:19 p.m. ET – Billy Napier, Louisiana Cell: 334-372-5555 11:26 a.m. CT/12:26 p.m. ET – Chip Lindsey, Troy Email: [email protected] 11:33 a.m. CT/12:33 p.m. ET – Shawn Elliott, Georgia State Sun Belt Conference VIDEO SERVICES Keith Nunez Each week the Sun Belt provides video interviews, melts and highlights for use by media Office: 504-556-0884 representatives. Contact Whitney Haworth, Director/Digital and Social Media, at haworth@ Cell: 504-256-8937 sunbeltsports.org for access. Email: [email protected]

COLLEGEPRESSBOX.COM Scottie Rodgers CollegePressBox.com is the official media website for NCAA Office: 504-556-0872 Division I football. Access and download weekly game notes, Cell: 609-903-1416 quotes, statistics, media guides, headshots, logos and more Email: [email protected] for each conference and its member schools. Register for access at collegepressbox.com/ register. 8 2019 SUN BELT FOOTBALL WEEK 1

APPALACHIAN STATE (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) LOUISIANA (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) 8/31 East Tennessee State (ESPN+) 2:30 p.m. 8/3 vs. RV/RVMississippi State (ESPNU)1 11 a.m. 9/7 Charlotte (ESPN+) 2:30 p.m. 9/7 Liberty (ESPN+) 6:30 p.m. 9/21 at North Carolina TBA 9/14 Texas Southern (ESPN3) 6:30 p.m. 9/28 Coastal Carolina* (ESPN+) 2:30 p.m. 9/21 at Ohio TBA 10/9 at Louisiana* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. 9/28 at Georgia Southern* TBA 10/19 ULM* 2:30 p.m. 10/9 Appalachian State* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. 10/26 at South Alabama* (ESPNU) TBA 10/17 at Arkansas State* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. 10/31 Georgia Southern* (ESPNU) 7 p.m. 11/2 Texas State* TBA 11/9 at South Carolina TBA 11/7 at Coastal Carolina* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. 11/16 at Georgia State* 1 p.m. 11/16 at South Alabama* TBA 11/23 Texas State* 1:30 p.m. 11/23 Troy* TBA 11/29 at Troy* 5 p.m. 11/30 ULM* TBA

ARKANSAS STATE (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) ULM (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) 8/31 SMU (ESPN+) 6 p.m. 8/31 Grambling State (ESPN3) 7 p.m. 9/7 at UNLV (STADIUM) 9 p.m. 9/7 at Florida State (ACCN) 4 p.m. 9/14 at Georgia (ESPN/ESPN2) 11 a.m. 9/21 at Iowa State TBA 9/21 Southern Illinois 6 p.m. 9/28 South Alabama* 6 p.m. 9/28 at Troy* 5 p.m. 10/5 Memphis 6 p.m. 10/5 at Georgia State* 2:30 p.m. 10/10 at Texas State* (ESPNU) 8:15 p.m. 10/17 Louisiana* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. 10/19 at Appalachian State* 2:30 p.m. 10/26 Texas State* 6 p.m. 11/2 Arkansas State* 4 p.m. 11/2 at ULM* 4 p.m. 11/9 Georgia State* 4 p.m. 11/16 Coastal Carolina* 2 p.m. 11/16 at Georgia Southern* TBA 11/23 Georgia Southern* 2 p.m. 11/23 Coastal Carolina* 4 p.m. 11/29 at South Alabama* TBA 11/30 at Louisiana* TBA

COASTAL CAROLINA (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) SOUTH ALABAMA (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) 8/31 Eastern Michigan (ESPN+) 2:30 p.m. 8/31 at 24/RVNebraska (ESPN) 11 a.m. 9/7 at Kansas (ESPN+) 6 p.m. 9/7 Jackson State (ESPN+) 6 p.m. 9/14 Norfolk State (ESPN3) 1 p.m. 9/14 Memphis (ESPNU) 2:30 p.m. 9/21 at Massachusetts (FloSports/NESN) Noon 9/21 at UAB (NFLN) 2:30 p.m. 9/28 at Appalachian State* 2:30 p.m. 9/28 at ULM* 6 p.m. 10/12 Georgia State* TBA 10/3 Georgia Southern* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. 10/19 at Georgia Southern* TBA 10/16 at Troy* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. 11/2 Troy* TBA 10/26 Appalachian State* TBA 11/7 Louisiana* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. 11/9 at Texas State* TBA 11/16 at Arkansas State* 2 p.m. 11/16 Louisiana* TBA 11/23 at ULM* 4 p.m. 11/23 at Georgia State* 1 p.m. 11/30 Texas State* TBA 11/29 Arkansas State* TBA

GEORGIA SOUTHERN (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) TEXAS STATE (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) 8/31 at 6/6LSU (SEC Network) 6:30 p.m. 8/29 at 12/11Texas A&M (SECN) 7:30 p.m. 9/7 Maine (ESPN+) 5 p.m. 9/7 Wyoming (ESPN+) 6 p.m. 9/14 at Minnesota (BTN) 2:30 p.m. 9/14 at SMU (ESPN3) 6 p.m. 9/28 Louisiana* TBA 9/21 Georgia State* TBA 10/3 at South Alabama* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. 9/28 Nicholls TBA 10/19 Coastal Carolina* TBA 10/10 ULM* (ESPNU) 8:15 p.m. 10/26 New Mexico State TBA 10/26 at Arkansas State* 6 p.m. 10/31 at Appalachian State* (ESPNU) 7 p.m. 11/2 at Louisiana* TBA 11/9 at Troy* 2:30 p.m. 11/9 South Alabama* TBA 11/16 ULM* TBA 11/16 Troy* TBA 11/23 at Arkansas State* 2 p.m. 11/23 at Appalachian State* 1:30 p.m. 11/30 Georgia State* TBA 11/30 at Coastal Carolina* TBA

GEORGIA STATE (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) TROY (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) 8/31 at /RVTennessee (ESPNU) 2:30 p.m. 8/31 Campbell (ESPN+) 5 p.m. 9/7 Furman (ESPN+) 6 p.m. 9/14 Southern Miss (ESPN+) 5 p.m. 9/14 at Western Michigan (ESPN+) 6 p.m. 9/21 at Akron TBA 9/21 at Texas State* TBA 9/28 Arkansas State* 5 p.m. 10/5 Arkansas State* 2:30 p.m. 10/5 at Missouri TBA 10/12 at Coastal Carolina* TBA 10/16 South Alabama* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. 10/19 Army 6 p.m. 10/26 at Georgia State* 6 p.m. 10/26 Troy* 6 p.m. 11/2 at Coastal Carolina* TBA 11/9 at ULM* 4 p.m. 11/9 Georgia Southern* 2:30 p.m. 11/16 Appalachian State* 1 p.m. 11/16 at Texas State* TBA 11/23 South Alabama* 1 p.m. 11/23 at Louisiana* TBA 11/30 at Georgia Southern* TBA 11/29 Appalachian State* 5 p.m. Home games in BOLD | All Times Central and Subject to Change | *Sun Belt Conference contest 9 1-Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans, La.)