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2020 FOOTBALL WEEKLY NEWS Mercedes-Benz Superdome For Immediate Release • Week 14 • December 2, 2020 1500 Sugar Bowl Drive • , LA 70112 Contacts: Nancy Yasharoff ([email protected]) SunBeltSports.org Contacts: Travis Llewellyn ([email protected])

App State • State • Coastal Carolina • Southern • Georgia State • ULM • South • State • Troy CONFERENCE STANDINGS Conference Overall EAST DIVISION W-L For Opp Pct W-L For Opp Pct Home Away Neut Streak Coastal Carolina * 7-0 267 107 1.000 9-0 348 151 1.000 5-0 4-0 0-0 Won 9 App State 5-1 201 104 .833 7-2 295 162 .778 5-0 2-2 0-0 Won 1 Georgia Southern 4-3 175 176 .571 6-4 270 230 .600 5-0 1-4 0-0 Lost 2 Georgia State 4-4 245 243 .500 5-4 294 296 .556 3-2 2-2 0-0 Won 2 Troy 2-3 132 130 .400 4-5 234 241 .444 2-2 2-3 0-0 Lost 3

WEST DIVISION W-L For Opp Pct W-L For Opp Pct Home Away Neut Streak Louisiana * 6-1 260 163 .857 8-1 315 197 .889 3-1 5-0 0-0 Won 5 South Alabama 3-4 153 181 .429 4-6 219 271 .429 2-3 2-3 0-0 Won 1 Texas State 2-6 225 300 .250 2-10 332 458 .167 1-5 1-5 0-0 Lost 1 Arkansas State 1-6 205 299 .143 3-7 314 394 .300 2-2 1-5 0-0 Lost 5 ULM 0-6 128 264 .000 0-9 148 372 .000 0-5 0-4 0-0 Lost 9 * Division Champion STATISTICS http://sunbelt.me/FootballStats THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE BE THE CHANGE QUICK HITS

Friday, December 4 COMIN TO YOUR CITY - ESPN College GameDay is headed to Coastal Carolina #20 Louisiana at App State * 7:30 p.m. for the first time ever. This is the show’s first stop outside TV: ESPN of Columbia and Clemson in the state of .

Series: App State leads, 8-0 - College GameDay started broadcasting live onsite in Last Meeting: App State, 45-38 (2019) 1993. It made its first stop to the state in 2001 and the show’s record in the state is 8-3. Saturday, December 5 Sun Belt Conference teams will be wearing BE THE 11/10/2001 - at South Carolina, 54-17 #25 Liberty at #14 Coastal Carolina 1 p.m. CHANGE helmet decals and patches this season to 9/11/2004 - Georgia at South Carolina, 20-16 TV: ESPNU promote the conference's racial equity initiative launched 9/1/2005 - Central Florida at South Carolina, 24-15 this summer. The Sun Belt believes one of the most 10/21/2006 - Georgia at Clemson, 31-7 Series: Tied, 7-7 effective ways to make progress is to educate people 10/9/2010 - Alabama at South Carolina, 35-21 about the power of civic engagement. In partnership Last Meeting: Coastal Carolina, 42-7 (2016) 10/6/2012 - Georgia at South Carolina, 35-7 with its student-athletes, coaches and staff, the Sun Belt 8/31/2013 - Georgia at Clemson, 38-35 Troy at South Alabama * 1 p.m. is facilitating conversations that better educate those in its membership about the electoral process, work to help 9/27/2014 - at South Carolina, 21-20 TV: ESPN3 register voters and create meaningful dialogue with law 10/3/2015 - Notre Dame at Clemson, 24-22 Series: Troy leads, 5-3 enforcement to build stronger community policing. 10/1/2016 - Louisville at Clemson, 42-36 8/29/2019 - Georgia Tech at Clemson, 52-14 Last Meeting: Troy, 37-13 (2019) The Sun Belt understands it will be very difficult to assuage the hurt and pain felt by so many. That is why, DIVISION CHAMPIONS ULM at Arkansas State * 2 p.m. as an NCAA Division I FBS conference with over 4,000 - Coastal Carolina’s East Division title is the first for the TV: ESPN3 student-athletes, coaches and administrators from all program fourth year as a full member of the Sun Belt backgrounds, the Sun Belt intends to lead by example. Conference. Louisiana clinched the Wes Division title for Series: Arkansas State leads, 15-4 The SBC is proud to be the first FBS conference to hire an the third straight time. Last Meeting: Arkansas State, 48-41 (2019) African American Commissioner. It supports the efforts underway to help America improve our democracy with COASTAL CREATING HISTORY FAU at Georgia Southern 5 p.m. equal justice for all. Together, we can build a better future - Chants are 9-0 to start a season for the first time since for all of our citizens and communities. 2014 and just the third time in program history (2013 and TV: ESPN+ 2014). The team’s 7-0 conference start is the first time in Series: First Meeting program history. This is the best start by an SBC and third- SBC IN NATIONAL RANKINGS longest win streak in SBC history. All Times Central are Subject to Change MCDONALD IS RUSHING THE LINE * Conference Game - Coastal Carolina moves up to No. 14 in the Associated Troy’s Jayden McDonald is the fourth-highest rated pass Press Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll this week. I rushing linebacker in the country with a 90.5 grade (min. Louisiana moves up in the AP Poll coming in at No. 20 450 snaps). and in the USA Today Coaches Poll at No. 21. App State is receiving votes again this week in the USA Today ON TRACK FOR A 12-GAME SCHEDULE Coaches Poll. - The only four FBS teams on track to play - or to have played - the usual 12-game schedule this season reside - In the second Playoff rankings this in the Sun Belt Conference: Georgia Southern, Troy, week has Coastal moving up to No. 18 and Louisiana Arkansas State and Texas State. broke into the rankings at No. 25. OWNING NOVEMBER SBC AWARDS - CCU’s Tarron Jackson claimed his third SBC Player of the Week award for the month of November. He is the only SBC POW winner to earn it three times so far this season. @SunBelt SunBelt #SunBeltFB SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL WEEK 14 WEEKLY AWARDS - NOV. 30 BETWEEN THE HASH MARKS

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK SBC NON-CONFERENCE ACTION IS BACK Jalen Tolbert • South Alabama • WR • Jr. - The Sun Belt takes its 14-14 non-conference record back to action this week for the second to last time this season. Tolbert recorded a career-best 10 receptions for a school game-record This week’s highly profiled non-conference game has #25 Liberty traveling to #14 Coastal Carolina for one of the SBC’s 252 yards, the third-highest total in Sun Belt Conference history, and biggest non-conference games this season. Liberty this season is 1-0 against the Sun Belt with a 40-7 win over ULM back three touchdowns to lead the Jaguars to a come-from-behind victory at Arkansas State. The junior posted all three scores in the second half on October 10. This is the fourth non-conference Top 25 meeting by a SBC team and the first at home. after South fell behind by 10 points; he reached the end zone from 42 and 37 yards out in the third quarter to put the Jags back in front, PASSING HIS WAY THROUGH THE LAND and after the Red Wolves regained the lead in the final period his 51- - Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall leads the conference and ranks seventh nationally in Passing Efficiency. He is the yard touchdown catch put USA in front for good. Not only was it his only freshman ranked in the Top 10 and 1 of 3 in the Top 25 in the nation. His 188.4 puts him behind Kaleb Eleby, Western second 100-yard game of the season, with the effort Tolbert became Michigan (1st), Mac Jones, Alabama (2nd), Zach Wilson, BYU (3rd), , Ohio State (4th), Kyle Trask, Florida (5th), the school’s season record holder with 993 receiving yards this fall th while tying the school standard with eight touchdown catches on Dustin Crum, Kent State (6 ). The top six all have a passing efficiency of 192.7 or better. the year. WE CAN RUN WITH REST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Georgia Southern’s 267.7 rushing yards per game ranks first in the conference and fifth in the nation in Rushing Tarron Jackson • Coastal Carolina • DE • Sr. Offense. Fellow Sun Belt members App State (7th) and Coastal Carolina (19th) to round out the Top 25 nationally. Tarron Jackson led the Coastal defense with six total tackles, five of which were solo stops, 2.5 sacks, and 3.0 tackles-for-loss in the Chants’ Teams Gms Att Yards Avg. TD Yards/G 49-14 blowout win over Texas State. The redshirt-senior defensive end 1. Georgia Southern 10 481 2677 5.6 23 267.7 set the tone of the game with a sack on the very first play of the game. 2. App State 9 413 2309 5.6 19 256.6 His 2.5 sacks and 3.0 TFL’s matched season highs for a Chant defender in a single game this season. CCU held Texas State to just 318 total 3. Coastal Carolina 9 388 1998 5.1 23 222.0 yards of offense on 202 passing yards and 116 rushing yards for the 4. Louisiana 9 338 1952 5.8 21 216.9 game. Coastal is 9-0, the best start ever by a Sun Belt Conference 5. Georgia State 9 388 1713 4.4 21 190.3 football team, and won the Sun Belt East Division Championship title 6. Texas State 12 372 1575 4.2 15 131.2 in only their fourth year in the league. 7. Arkansas State 10 354 1301 3.7 7 130.1 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK 8. South Alabama 10 389 1168 3.0 7 116.8 Noel Ruiz • App State • PK • Gr. 9. Troy 9 267 923 3.5 9 102.6 Georgia State placekicker Noel Ruiz booted three field goals and an 10. ULM 9 211 653 3.1 8 72.6 extra point in Georgia State’s 30-24 victory over Georgia Southern. His third field goal of the game gave the Panthers a six-point lead with less than two minutes to play. In the game, Ruiz hIt field goals of 35, 29 and 25 yards and scored 10 points. The graduate transfer from A-STATE PASSING INTO THE TOP 10 Wilson, N.C., leads Sun Belt kickers with 7.9 points per game (second - Arkansas State’s 349.7 Passing Offense ranks first in the conference and sixth in the country. The Red Wolves are 6.8 among all players) and 1.38 field goals per game. yards per game back of Ole Miss (356.5) who ranks fifth in the nation. A-State is the only Sun Belt team in the Top 25 WEEKLY AWARDS nationally. Troy comes in at 27th in to make it in the Top 30. Teams Gms Points Avg/G OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Sept. 7...... Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama 1. Arkansas State 10 3497 349.7 Sept. 14...... Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State 2. Troy 9 2541 282.3 Sept. 21...... Elijah Mitchell, Louisiana 3. South Alabama 10 2537 253.7 Sept. 28...... Daetrich Harrington, App State 4. Texas State 12 2861 238.4 Oct. 5...... Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina 5. ULM 9 2081 231.2 Oct. 12...... Gunnar Watson, Troy 6. Louisiana 9 2047 227.4 Oct. 19...... Jonathan Adams, Arkansas State 7. Georgia State 9 2046 227.3 Oct. 26...... Kawaan Baker, South Alabama & Zac Thomas, App State 8. Coastal Carolina 9 2037 226.3 Nov. 2...... Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina 9. App State 9 1808 200.9 Nov. 9...... Cornelious Brown IV, Georgia State 10. Georgia Southern 10 1013 101.3 Nov. 16...... Levi Lewis, Louisiana Nov. 23...... Brady McBride, Texas State WEEK 13 TOUCHBACK Nov. 30...... Jalen Tolbert, South Alabama Georgia Southern 24, Georgia State 30 Dec. 7...... - Logan Wright rushed for 143 yards on eight carries and tallied a pair of touchdowns for the Eagles. Dec. 14...... - Georgia Southern’s Anthony Wilson recorded 12 tackles (all solo). - Panthers’ Cornelious Brown IV passed for 372 yards and a touchdown, while going 28 of 39. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Cornelious McCoy rushed for 111 yards on five carries with a long of 45 yards and a touchdown for Georgia State. Sept. 7...... Nick Mobley, South Alabama - Blake Carrol finished with 14 tackles (9 solo, 5 ast.) and a recover. Sept. 14...... Ferrod Gardner, Louisiana Sept. 21...... Silas Kelly, Coastal Carolina #16 Coastal Carolina 49, Texas State 14 Sept. 28...... Lorenzo McCaskill, Louisiana - CCU’s Grayson McCall tallied two passing touchdowns, while throwing for 154 yards. Oct. 5...... Antavious Lane, Georgia State - CJ Marable rushed for 157 yards on 16 carries and team-high three touchdowns for the Chants. Oct. 12...... Justin Rice, Arkansas State - Tarron Jackson registered six tackles (5 solo, 1 ast.), three tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks for CCU. Oct. 19...... Riley Cole, South Alabama - Texas State’s Brady McBride passed for 202 yards and a touchdown, while going 20 of 26. Oct. 26...... Jordan Strachan, Georgia State - Hal Vinson tallied eight tackles (4 solo, 4 ast.), a for a loss and a forced a fumble. Nov. 2...... Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina Nov. 9...... Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina #23 Louisiana 70, ULM 20 Nov. 16...... D’Marco Jackson, App State - Levi Lewis finished with 147 passing yards, three touchdowns and rushed for two scores on 55 yards for Louisiana. Nov. 23...... C.J. Brewer, Coastal Carolina - Louisiana’s Trey Ragas, Elijah Mitchell and Michael Orphey eached rushed for a touchdown. Nov. 30...... Tarron Jackson, Coastal Carolina - Jeremy Hunt passed for 121 yards and a threw for a touchdown, while rushing for one for ULM. Dec. 7...... - Jabari Johnson and Austin Hawlay each finished with 12 tackles for the Warhawks. Dec. 14...... South Alabama 38, Arkansas State 31 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Each team passed for four touchdowns and attempting 30 pass attempts in the process. Sept. 7...... Blake Grupe, Arkansas State - Desmond Trotter passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for the USA’s only rushing touchdown. Sept. 14...... Chris Smith, Louisiana - Jalen Tolbert finished with 252 receiving yards on 10 catches and three touchdowns for the Jaguars. Sept. 21...... Rhys Byrns, Louisiana - A-State’s Logan Banner passed for four touchdowns and tallied 183 yards, while going 11 of 16. Sept. 28...... Nate Snyder, Louisiana Oct. 5...... NaJee Thompson, Georgia Southern - Jonathan Adams finished with a 138 receiving yards on nine catches and two touchdowns. Oct. 12...... Ryan Hanson, Arkansas State Troy 10, App State 47 Oct. 19...... Massimo Biscardi, Coastal Carolina - Troy’s Gunnar Watson passed for 125 yards and a touchdown. Oct. 26...... Chris Smith, Louisiana - Carlton Martial recorded 13 tackles (2 solo, 11 ast.) for the Trojans. Nov. 2...... Seth Keller, Texas State - Zac Thomas passed for 279 yards and four touchdowns, while going 22 of 29 for App State. Nov. 9...... Jack Martin, Troy - Mountaineer’s Malik Williams finished with a 113 receiving yards on seven catches and a touchdown. Nov. 16...... Jeremiah Haydel, Texas State Nov. 23...... Chandler Staton, App State Nov. 30...... Noel Ruiz, Georgia State Dec. 7...... Dec. 14...... @SunBelt SunBelt #SunBeltFB SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL WEEK 14 ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL 2020 POSTSEASON ACTION VS. NON-CONFERENCE OPP.

Week 14 Total Non-Conference Records Team Record Points Prev. All Games...... 14-14 1 Alabama (62) 8-0 1550 - Big 12 Opponents...... 3-0 2 Notre Dame 9-0 1481 - Conference USA Opponents...... 4-5 3 Ohio State 4-0 1403 - American Opponents...... 1-3 4 Clemson 8-1 1392 - Sun Belt Football Championship Game ACC Opponents...... 0-1 5 Texas A&M 6-1 1262 - December 19 - Conway, SC FBS Independent Opponents...... 0-5 6 Florida 7-1 1226 - Louisiana at Coastal Carolina 7 8-0 1204 - FCS Opponents...... 6-0 8 BYU 9-0 1113 - The Sun Belt Conference has solidified its football AP Top 25...... 1-2 9 7-1 991 10 postseason opportunities for the next six seasons with Coaches’ Poll Top 25...... 1-2 five bowl tie-ins beginning with the 2020 season. 10 Indiana 5-1 984 12 11 Georgia 6-2 919 13 The conference’s new postseason lineup includes 12 Iowa State 7-2 873 15 placement in three ESPN Events owned-and-operated 13 Oklahoma 6-2 815 14 bowl games and participation in the R+L Carriers New SUN BELT PRESEASON POLL Orleans Bowl and the LendingTree Bowl on an annual 14 Coastal Carolina 9-0 694 16 basis. 2020 15 Marshall 7-0 600 17 16 Northwestern 5-1 577 11 “We are coming off of our most successful season in EAST DIVISION 17 USC 3-0 540 19 Sun Belt history,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill. 1 App State (9) - 49 pts. “We’re excited to provide a flex model that allows for our 18 Wisconsin 2-1 531 - 2 Georgia Southern - 36 pts. fans and schools to go to desirable locations with exciting 3 Troy (1) - 32 pts. 19 Oklahoma State 6-2 426 21 opponents that are easily accessible and provides more 20 Louisiana 8-1 352 23 revenue than the previous bowl cycle.” 4 Georgia State - 20 pts. 21 Oregon 3-1 326 9 5 Coastal Carolina - 13 pts. ESPN Events will hold the first, third and fourth selections 22 Tulsa 5-1 244 24 and will utilize a flex model to select teams into the WEST DIVISION 23 Washington 3-0 218 NR following pool of games: 24 Iowa 4-2 119 NR 1 Louisiana (7) - 47 pts. 25 Liberty 9-1 67 NR • (Boca Raton, Fla.) 2 Arkansas State (2) - 40 pts. • Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.) 3 South Alabama (1) - 22 pts. • (Orlando, Fla.) 4 Texas State - 21 pts. ORV: 65, Buffalo 56, Texas 39, Auburn 25, • (Boise, Idaho) Colorado 21, NC State 11, Boise State 8, San José State 8, • SERVPRO (, Texas) 5 ULM - 20 pts. SMU 8, UCF 1, Oregon State 1 • Tropical Smoothie Cafe (Frisco, Texas) • (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) • New Bowl (Albuquerque, N.M.) 2019 SUN BELT PLAYERS IN THE NFL

The will hold the second selection and the LendingTree Bowl will hold the fifth selection. Active Players

In addition to the league’s five bowl tie-ins, the Sun Belt Robert Hunt, Louisiana, OL – Miami Dolphins. champion has access annually to the New Year’s Six Darrynton Evans, App State, RB – Titans bowls, managed by the , should the champion be selected as one of the top four teams Akeem Davis-Gaither, App State, LB – Cincinnati Bengals USA TODAY COACHES’ POLL overall by the CFP selection committee or ranked by the committee as the top champion among the Group of Kevin Dotson, Louisiana, OL – Pittsburgh Steelers Five conference champions. The Sun Belt champion is Week 14 determined by a matchup of the East Division and West Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern, DB – Bears Team Record Points Prev. Division champions squaring off at the home site of the 1 Alabama (59) 8-0 1547 - divisional champion with the best overall conference Tyler Bass, Georgia Southern, K – Buffalo Bills 2 Notre Dame (2) 9-0 1479 - winning percentage. 3 Clemson 8-1 1391 4 Younghoe Koo, Georgia Southern, K – Falcons 4 Ohio State (1) 4-0 1382 3 Jerick McKinnon, Georgia Southern, RB – 49ers 5 Florida 7-1 1255 - 6 Texas A&M 6-1 1254 - Matt Breida, Georgia Southern, RB – Miami Dolphins 7 Cincinnati 8-0 1177 - 8 BYU 9-0 1073 - Raymond Calais, Louisiana, RB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 9 Miami 7-1 1026 - 10 Georgia 6-2 972 - Hunter Atkinson, Georgia State, OL – Atlanta Falcons 11 Indiana 5-1 934 12 Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 26 at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 26 at 11 a.m. Aaron Brewer, Texas State, C – 12 Iowa State 7-2 855 15 13 Oklahoma 6-2 816 14 Frankie Griffin, Texas State, DB – Green Bay Packers 14 Coastal Carolina 9-0 625 17 15 Marshall 7-0 615 16 Bryan London, Texas State, LB – Rams 16 USC 3-0 581 18 Marcus Webb, Troy, DL – Seattle Seahawks 17 Northwestern 5-1 535 13 Dec. 22 at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 25 at 1:30 p.m. 18 Oklahoma State 6-2 469 22 , South Alabama, TE – Los Angeles Rams 19 Wisconsin 2-1 459 20 20 Oregon 3-1 343 11 Justin Hamilton, Louisiana, DT – Dallas Cowboys 21 Louisiana 8-1 293 24 Steven McLendon, Troy, NT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22 Tulsa 5-1 228 25 23 Washington 3-0 186 NR 24 Iowa 4-2 125 NR Developmental Team 25 Liberty 9-1 87 NR Dec. 22 at 2:30 p.m. Tae Hayes, App State, CB – Miami Dolphins Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. ORV: Auburn 75, North Carolina 68, Missouri 43, Texas Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama , S – 40, NC State 40, App State 33, Buffalo 29, Colorado 27, Josh Thomas, App State, DB – Buffalo Bills San José State 19, Memphis 17, Boise State 15, 14, Boston College 10, Army 6, Ole Miss 3, 2, UCF Kirk Merritt, Arkansas State, WR – Miami Dolphins 1, Florida Atlantic 1 Dec. 26 at 2:30 p.m. Ja’Marcus Bradley, Louisiana, WR – Cleveland Browns

Injured Reserve

Omar Bayless, Arkansas State, WR – Carolina Panthers Dec. 24 at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. Will Sunderland, Troy, DB – Green Bay Packers All Times Central are Subject to Change @SunBelt SunBelt #SunBeltFB SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL - GAME PREVIEWS WEEK 14

#20 LOUISIANA (8-1) AT APP STATE (7-2) * NO. 25 LIBERTY (9-1) AT NO. 14 COASTAL CAROLINA (9-0) FRI., DEC. 4 • 7:30 P.M. CT • ESPN SAT., DEC 5 • 1 P.M. CT • ESPNU

SERIES: App State leads, 8-0 SERIES: Tied, 7-7 LAST MEETING: App State, 45-38 (2019) LAST MEETING: Coastal Carolina, 42-7 (2016)

NOTES: Louisiana travels to Boone, North Carolina to close out the regular season NOTES: Liberty and Coastal Carolina will meet for the first time since 2016 and this year before playing the Sun Belt Championship on December 19. This game was originally both teams are ranked in the Top 25. Conway, South Carolina for the first time will be the scheduled back on October 7 but because of COVID reasons, the game was pushed site of ESPN College GameDay. The Chants are 5-2 in the series when playing at home back to Week 14. The series between App State and the Ragin’ Cajuns have been all with the last win coming in 2016 and the last loss coming in 2014 (15-14). Liberty’s only Mountaineers as they have posted an 8-0 mark. The Rajin’ Cajuns are riding a five- loss this season came against North Carolina State in a 15-14 setback back on November game win streak and App State bounced back into the win column with a win over 21. Overall both teams come in evenly matched with each team taking slight edges in Troy last week. Both teams met twice in 2018 and 2019, once during the regular different areas when breaking down the numbers. The Flames this season have held season and once in the conference championship. Louisiana brings its second-ranked opponents to 19.2 points per game while averaging 38.3 points against. Coastal this year scoring offense (35.0) against App State’s second-ranked scoring defense (18.0) in the ranks first in the conference in both scoring offense (38.7) and scoring defense (16.8). conference. The Louisiana offensive line has allowed the least amount of sacks against Both teams have generated 23 touchdowns each on the ground, but the Flames have (9) them this season and will face a defense that has tallied 22 sacks for the third-most the edge through the air as they have tallied 25 touchdowns to the Chants 23. in the Sun Belt.

TROY (4-5) AT SOUTH ALABAMA (4-6) * ULM (0-9) AT ARKANSAS STATE (3-7) SAT., DEC. 5 • 1 P.M. CT • ESPN3 SAT., DEC. 5 • 2 P.M. CT • ESPN3

SERIES: Troy leads, 5-3 SERIES: Arkansas State leads, 27-14 LAST MEETING: Troy, 37-13 (2019) LAST MEETING: Arkansas State, 48-41 (2019)

NOTES: Troy looks to snap its three-game losing streak as it heads down to Mobile to NOTES: ULM heads north to Jonesboro, Arkansas this week as it faces Arkansas State face South Alabama in the “Battle for the Belt”. The Trojans hold a 5-3 series record and for its 42nd time in program history. The first meeting between both teams was back in are 3-1 when playing at South Alabama. The Jaguars’ last win at home in the series was 1959. Since both teams joined the Sun Belt A-State leads the series 15-5 (Home: 8-1; Away: back in 2014 when it claimed a 27-13 victory. This is the first time both teams will end 7-3). The Red Wolves bring the number pass offense (349.7) in the conference against their regular-season finale playing each other since joining the Sun Belt in 2012. The the number four pass defense (182.4) this week. The Warhawks have allowed 14 passing Trojans have four defensive touchdowns this season and scored a defensive touchdown touchdowns all season, while A-State has thrown 33 touchdowns and leads all Sun Belt in three straight games this season. The Jaguars rank third in the conference in field teams. Looking back at last year’s game, both teams showed they were evenly matched. goals as they are 13-for-17 (76.5%) with a long of 54 that ranks as the longest this season Each team produced four rushing and two passing touchdowns each while recording 21 in the SBC. first downs apiece. The big difference was in the passing game which A-State generated 307 yards to the Warhawks 215.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC (5-1) AT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (6-4) SAT., DEC. 5 • 5 P.M. CT • ESPN+ SERIES: First Meeting SUN BELT ON TV

NOTES: Georgia Southern and Florida Atlantic meet for the first time in programs More than 40 Sun Belt Conference games this season are slated to be broadcast nationally. history this week. This contest was originally slated to be played back on September 19. The Sun Belt Conference and ESPN relationship continues for its ninth season on the The Owls are riding a four-game winning streak after suffering its only loss all season ESPN platform, including 55 games through Week 13. ESPN’s main channel will be home to 22nd-ranked Marshall at the time back on October 24. Georgia Southern looks to to eight SBC games on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights through the season. In snap a two-game skid as it is back home for its final two games of the regular season addition to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and ESPN+, Sun Belt Conference games have starting this week. FAU this season is averaging 21.00 points and holding opponents to been featured on CBS, FOX, FS1, CBS Sports Network and ACC Regional Sports Network. 11.17 points through six games. The Eagles pride themselves on their running game this year will face a defense that has allowed 632 total rushing yards and two touchdowns. Georgia Southern, who ranks first in the Sun Belt in rushing offense and defense will be the difference-maker since the Owls this season have tallied 1185 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. The Eagles on the ground have produced an average of 267.7 yards and held the opposition to 103.9 yards per game. 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 - Given to college football’s premier award for community service. MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST Andre Harris, Jr, OL (Arkansas State) Brian Ankerson (South Alabama) - Given to the Most Outstanding Player in college football each year. C.J. Brewer, DL (Coastal Carolina) Jalen Williams (Louisiana) Josh Johnson, RB (ULM) Levi Lewis, QB (Louisiana) Shai Werts, QB (Georgia Southern) Noah Hanna (App State) B.J. Smith, RB (Troy) Zac Thomas, QB (App State)

RIMINGTON TROPHY WATCH LIST FWAA FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN WATCH LIST - Award to the Nation’s Top Center. Cornelious Brown IV (Georgia State) Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) Noah Hannon (App State) Shane Vallot (Louisiana) Antavious Lane (Georgia State) Willie Lampkin (Coastal Carolina) Sam Thompson (Coastal Carolina) Brian Ankerson (South Alabama) Kimani Vidal (Troy) Kyren Lacy (Louisiana) Jacob Still (Arkansas State) Reece Jordan (Texas State) Jacon Solomon (Troy) Beau Johnson (Georgia Southern) Malik Sumter (Georgia State) Dylan Bradshaw (Troy) Calvin Hill (Texas State) Derrick Canteen (Georgia Southern)

CFPA NATIONAL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST DAVEY O’BRIEN NATIONAL QUARTERBACK AWARD’S GREAT 8 LIST Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina) Zac Thomas (App State) Layne Hatcher (Arkansas State) MAYO CLINIC COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LIST Silas Kelly (Coastal Carolina)

@SunBelt SunBelt #SunBeltFB SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL WEEK 14 APP STATE (7-2, Sun Belt: 5-1) #20 LOUISIANA (8-1, Sun Belt: 6-1) 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 Cancelled Jerry Scott 12/4 #20 Louisiana * 7:30 p.m./ESPN 11/28 at ULM * W, 70-20 Email: [email protected] 12/12 at Georgia Southern * 5 p.m./ESPN3 12/4 at App State * 7:30 p.m./ESPN Office: 870-972-3405 12/19 at Coastal Carolina ! TBA/TBA Coastal Carolina ARKANSAS STATE (3-7, Sun Belt: 1-5) ULM (0-9, Sun Belt: 0-6) 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 * 2 p.m./ESPN3 Email: [email protected] 12/5 ULM * 2 p.m./ESPN3 12/17 at Troy * 6 p.m./TBA Office: 404-413-4032 12/12 Incarnate Word TBA/TBA Louisiana #14 COASTAL CAROLINA (9-0, Sun Belt: 7-0) SOUTH ALABAMA (4-6, Sun Belt: 3-4) Patrick Crawford 9/12 at Kansas W, 38-23 9/3 at Southern 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 #25 Liberty 1 p.m./ESPNU 11/28 at Arkansas State * W, 38-31 Email: [email protected] 12/12 at Troy * 2 p.m./ESPN+ 12/5 Troy * 1 p.m./ESPN3 12/19 Louisiana ! TBA/TBA Office: 251-414-8032 Texas State GEORGIA SOUTHERN (6-4, Sun Belt: 4-3) 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 5 p.m./ESPN3 11/21 Arkansas State * W, 47-45 Sr. Associate Commissioner, Chief Communications & 12/12 App State * 5 p.m./ESPN3 11/28 #16 Coastal Carolina * L, 49-14 Branding Officer Email: [email protected] GEORGIA STATE (5-4, Sun Belt: 4-4) TROY (4-5, Sun Belt: 2-3) 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 * 1 p.m./ESPN3 12/12 #14 Coastal Carolina * 2 p.m./ESPN+ 12/17 ULM * 6 p.m./TBA

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