One thing I never saw coming this week was a takeover from the MAC with three teams earning spots in the top 10. Ohio joins Toledo and NIU in the rankings, making the MAC tied for the most most represented with the AAC.
Others Receiving Votes: Houston 14, Fresno State 14, Troy 11, Army 8, Florida International 3, North Texas 3, SMU 2.
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Apparently nothing can go according to schedule this season. South Florida looked to be in control after San Diego State failed to hold the top spot. That didn't last for long as the Bulls fell in devastating fashion to Houston on Saturday.
The Bulls were not the only top 10 team to fall as Colorado State and Fresno State also fell, opening spots for Arkansas State and San Diego State to join the party.
Others Receiving Votes: SMU 14, Ohio 7, Troy 6, Houston 6, Army 5, Colorado State 5, North Texas 4, Marshall 3, Florida International 3, Fresno State 2.
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Week two was such an up and down experience for the G5 as marquee matchup UCF/Memphis was lost to weather, while UTSA and five other teams took out P5 opposition. Hopefully we can get a bit of a respite from the weather and start to see more action from the top 10 of the G5 in the next few weeks so that we can get a real idea just which team is the best.
South Florida (2-0): The Bulls were unable to play on
Saturday due to weather issues. It has yet to be determined if the AAC game
versus UConn will be made up. Up Next: Illinois.
Toledo (2-0): The Rockets are flying under the radar, but they
continue to win after taking care of Nevada in week two. A much anticipated
matchup versus Tulsa should gather more attention to the MAC program. Up Next:
Tulsa.
Boise State (1-1): Despite losing to Washington State in
week two, the Broncos remain in the top three. The biggest question marks for
Boise State are on offense and there is little time to relax as New Mexico and
Virginia come to town in each of the next two weeks. Up Next: New Mexico.
Memphis (1-0): The Tigers were unable to play Central
Florida in week two, but have arguably the marquee G5 game of week three as
UCLA comes to town. Memphis needs to prove that the weather was the only reason
for the lack of a passing game versus ULM. Up Next: UCLA.
San Diego State (2-0): If UCLA at Memphis is the #1 G5 game
of week three, the Aztec playing host to Stanford is #1A. SDSU looks as good as
ever on offense with Penny replacing Pumphrey, but are not quite the dominant
defensive team of the past few years. Up Next: Stanford.
Houston (1-0): The Cougars took care of business on Saturday
in squeaking by Arizona despite the Wildcats having already played a game
before the matchup. Ed Oliver was once again his dominant self and Kyle Allen
looked good in his H-Town debut. Up Next: Rice.
Western Kentucky (1-1): It is easy to begin to worry about the
Hilltoppers after two weeks. They struggled to put away EKU in week one and
looked inept on offensive versus a not very good Illinois squad. Until WKU can
put things together, they will be sitting at the back end of the top ten. Up
Next: Louisiana Tech.
Appalachian State (1-1): A week after missing out on a
golden chance to take out an SEC program, the Mountaineers had a much needed cupcake
game versus Savannah State. Time will tell how good they are, but the schedule
is set up for Appalachian State to head into November at 7-1. Up Next: Texas State.
UTSA (1-0): The Roadrunners got their first win over a P5
program in downing Baylor in week two. They would have been higher up the list
if not for Baylor already sporting a loss to Liberty in week one. Up Next: Southern.
Arkansas State (0-1): The Red Wolves are sitting at tenth
despite losing their only game of the season to Nebraska. I can’t fault them
for waiting another week to play after Miami canceled their trip to Jonesboro.
After a cupcake versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff, we get to see what they are made up
with a trip to Dallas to face SMU. Up Next: Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Others considered: Navy,
Central Florida, Old Dominion, Louisiana Tech, MTSU, Army, CMU, EMU, Ohio, Troy,
Air Force, Colorado State.
The Sun Belt featured close calls in week one. Arkansas State gave everything they could handle and the Sun Belt as a whole represented itself as a tough out for nearly any team in the nation.
Appalachian State (0-1, 0-0): You could make a case that Arkansas State looked like the best team in the Sun Belt in week one, but I will not hold a poor performance by the Mountaineers in week one against them. They have a chance to regroup and recover with a cupcake game versus Savannah State.
Arkansas State (0-1, 0-0): Wait, don’t the Red Wolves normally struggle in non-conference play before kicking it into gear in Sun Belt play? This group looks ready to contend with everyone, but must make it through a gauntlet that includes Miami (FL) and SMU.
Troy (0-1, 0-0): The Trojans had Boise State on the ropes at times, but could not string together enough offense to pull off arguably the biggest win in a very long time. With Alcorn State, NMSU, and Akron in the next three weeks, expect the Trojans to be halfway to bowl eligibility when they face #12 LSU.
Idaho (1-0, 0-0): The Vandals struggled a bit in a season opening win, but are still easily the fourth best team in the conference. They cannot afford to lose to an angry UNLV squad with a trip to Western Michigan on the horizon.
Louisiana (1-0, 0-0): I don’t even know how to describe Saturday night for the Ragin’ Cajuns. They were dominated in nearly every facet of the game, but got two kickoff returns for touchdowns and a stand at the end and got the win. Up next is a Tulsa team looking to prove their doubters wrong.
New Mexico State (0-1, 0-0): Let’s be honest, after the third quarter, the Aggies never really had a chance to win over Arizona State. Still, they fought to the end, put up 31 points, looked respectable versus a PAC 12 program. If the defense is improved, they have a chance to get to six wins.
South Alabama (0-1, 0-0): For a half, the Jaguars looked poised to beat a Mississippi team from the SEC for the second time in two years. Those hopes faded fast as they gave up 27 points in the third quarter and lost big to the Rebels. With Oklahoma State, Idaho, and Louisiana Tech still on the schedule before October, this could be a tough month for South Alabama.
Coastal Carolina (1-0, 0-0): The Chanticleers have to earn their way up the rankings, but more wins over FBS opposition will help the cause. They could hypothetically head into October 4-0 with winnable games versus UAB, Western Illinois, and ULM. They could also easily lose all three.
ULM (0-1, 0-0): Huge underdogs to Memphis, the Warhawks made things a bit more stressful before bowing down in the rain. Don’t expect Riley Ferguson to be held under 100 yards passing once again, so props to the ULM defense.
Georgia Southern (0-1, 0-0): Look, I know they were playing Auburn, but 78 total yards is embarrassing. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt this early in the season. Up next is a matchup with FCS program New Hampshire.
Texas State (1-0, 0-0): The Bobcats won and that is all that matters. It was not pretty and Houston Baptist had chances, but a win is a win. Colorado, Appalachian State, UTSA, and Wyoming await the Bobcats to end September.
Georgia State (0-1, 0-0): Getting dominated at home versus Tennessee State was not the way to open a new home for the program. There is talent on the roster, so hopefully, this is a blip on the radar like a loss two years ago to Charlotte that led to an eventual bowl berth.
We are weeks away from another foray into the Funbelt. Last season was a rollercoaster as teams rose from the ashes (Idaho) while others fell to the ground (Georgia Southern). No one fully knows what to expect out of the conference this fall other than Arkansas State, Appalachian State, and Troy will be good.
Without further ado, here is a look at the Sun Belt's top returning offensive skill position players for the 2017 season.
The top end of the running back position in the Sun Belt is as talented as any group in the nation. From Moore to Johnson, and of the top five running backs is capable of a 1,500-yard season. Larry Rose has a chance to rebound from an injury plagued season in 2016 and lead the Aggies to their first bowl game since the 1960s. He is capable of a 2,000-yard season if everything falls right.
As a group, Idaho might be in the best shape in the backfield. They have two solid backs that added up for just over 1,400 yards, giving them a fighting chance if one of the big two is stricken with an injury. It could be a year to remember for the Vandals as they make their farewell tour of the Sun Belt.
Passing:
Matt Linehan, Idaho: 257-415/3,184/19TD/136.7 Efficiency
Others to watch: Tyler Rogers NMSU (2,589/16TD), Taylor Lamb APP STATE (2,281/15TD), Garrett Smith ULM (1,237/9TD), Austin Wilson CCU (Graduate Transfer from Syracuse).
Just like the running back position, there is a ton of talent at the top end of the quarterback position. Taylor Lamb of Appalachian State only threw for 2,281 last season, but he is in a run first offense and has personally carried the ball for more than 400 yards in each of the last three seasons.
Linehan is the top pro prospect among Sun Belt quarterbacks. He is accurate, agile enough in the pocket, and has an NFL bloodline as his father is the offensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. A 3,500+ yard season this fall could vault Linehan into round three or four of the 2018 draft.
Receiving:
Emanuel Thompson, Troy: 80/820/6TD
Deondre Douglas, Troy: 60/740/6TD
Sheadon Meadors, Appalachian State: 45/716/2TD
Blake Mack, Arkansas State: 34/652/3TD
Glenn Smith, Georgia State: 40/547/3TD
Others to watch: Tevaris McCormick TROY (35/456/5TD), Penny Hart GA STATE (Injured in 2016), Elijah King TEXAS STATE (28/453/2TD), RJ TURNER ULM (23/433/3TD), Xavier Brown ULM (25/425/4TD), Keenan Barnes ULL (3/418/6TD), Alfonso Onunwor IDAHO (39/403/1TD), Thurman Morbley TEXAS STATE (35/400/2TD).
The wide receiver position in the Sun Belt is all over the place. You have explosive tight ends, stars coming back from injury, and a stacked group in Troy. First, the Trojans could have a historic season this year with three of the top six returning receivers in the Sun Belt. Thompson and Douglas should again account for 140-150 catches and McComick could jump to the 45-50 catch range. That is a hell of a trio.
Arkansas State tight end Blake Mack is one of the best-hidden secrets in college football. He is electric with the ball and turns a potent Red Wolves attack into something downright scary. A 19.3 yards per catch average is no joke, but he needs to be at the 50+ catch range this fall.
Finally, Penny Hart. The 2015 Sun Belt freshman of the year is again healthy and ready to run wild in the conference. If Hart can prove he is over his injury woes and return to his 2015 self, the Panthers could be in line for another bowl berth.
Next week, we will take a look at defense and special teams for the Sun Belt before rolling out conference previews.
Another week is in the books for the 2015 college
football season with the Sun Belt going 4-6. Conference play kicked into gear
with three Sun Belt games taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and
ugly of week five Sun Belt football action.
There are always surprises and disappointments in any college football season. Tomorrow we will talk about the biggest surprises, but today is all about disappointment. Here are my choices for the most disappointing G5 teams so far this season.
Another week is in the books for the 2015 college
football season with the Sun Belt going 2-6 with one conference game taking
place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week four Sun Belt
football action.
Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with Sun
Belt going 5-3 with no conference games taking place. Let's take a look at the
good, bad, and ugly of week three Sun Belt football action.
Another week is in the books for the 2015 college football season with the Sun Belt going 6-5 with only one conference game (Ga. St-NMSU) taking place. Let's take a look at the good, bad, and ugly of week two Sun Belt football.
I have 13 games this week in which a G5 and P5 team square off with the legitimate shot of an upset. Do you agree or do you think I am way off base in seeing these games as upset opportunities? **Note: I am not picking all of the games as upsets, I only see them as distinct possibilities.**
When people hear the Sun Belt Conference, they tend to think of the bad and the teams that left for CUSA among other places. In reality, the Sun Belt is an up and coming conference that has been smart in adding Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. Let's take a look at the Sun Belt and how I see things shaking down.
The MAC schedule is full of non-conference games that will pique national interest for great story lines and just overall good football. Here is a look at some of the best non-conference MAC games this fall. **This list is in no particular order.**
