2013 Sun Belt Conference football season |
League |
NCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) |
Sport |
football |
Duration |
August 31, 2013–January 5, 2014 |
Number of teams |
8 |
TV partner(s) |
ESPN, CSS/CST |
Regular season |
Season champions |
Louisiana-Lafayette & Arkansas State |
Runners-up |
WKU, Troy, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama |
Season MVP |
Antonio Andrews, Western Kentucky - Offensive Player
Xavius Boyd, Western Kentucky - Defensive Player
Joey Jones, South Alabama - Coach of the Year |
Football seasons |
|
The 2013 Sun Belt Conference football season was the 13th college football season for the Sun Belt Conference. During the 2013 season, Sun Belt football consisted of eight members: Arkansas State, Georgia State, Louisiana–Lafayette, Louisiana–Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, and WKU.
This was the first season for two teams in Sun Belt football; and the final season of Sun Belt play for a third. Georgia State was one of the six charter members of the Sun Belt Conference in 1976, but left the league in 1981, 20 years before the conference began sponsoring football in 2001 and nearly 30 years before the school started its football program in 2010. The Panthers returned to the Sun Belt in 2013 during a major wave of realignment that dramatically affected the conference. Also joining the Sun Belt in 2013 was Texas State, which left the WAC after only one season in that league. WKU was in its last season of Sun Belt play, as it will join Conference USA in 2014.
Due to NCAA transitional rules, Georgia State, coming from the FCS Colonial Athletic Association, was not eligible for a conference championship or postseason play. South Alabama and Texas State, which both began transitions from FCS in 2011, were now eligible for postseason play and a conference championship.
Preseason
Award watch lists
The following Sun Belt players were named to preseason award watch lists:
Sun Belt Media Day
Coaches Poll
- Louisiana-Lafayette - 57 (4)
- Louisiana-Monroe - 57 (2)
- Arkansas State - 45 (2)
- WKU - 44
- Troy - 35
- Texas State - 23
- South Alabama - 19
- Georgia State -8
Louisiana-Lafayette & ULM tied for conference pre-season champions. Louisiana-Lafayette is listed as #1 because of 1st place votes.
Preseason All–Conference Team
Offense
- QB Kolton Browning (Louisiana-Monroe)
- RB David Oku (Arkansas State)
- RB Antonio Andrews (WKU)
- WR J.D. McKissic (Arkansas State)
- WR Je’Ron Hamm (Louisiana-Monroe)
- WR Eric Thomas (Troy)
- TE Wes Saxton (South Alabama)
- OL Bryce Giddens (Arkansas State)
- OL Andre Huval (Louisiana-Lafayette)
- OL Josh Allen (Louisiana-Monroe)
- OL Terrence Jones (Troy)
- OL Sean Conway (WKU)
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Defense
- DL Ryan Carrethers (Arkansas State)
- DL Christian Ringo (Louisiana-Lafayette)
- DL Kentarius Caldwell (Louisiana-Monroe)
- DL Alex Page (South Alabama)
- LB Qushaun Lee (Arkansas State)
- LB Justin Anderson (Louisiana-Lafayette)
- LB Andrew Jackson (WKU)
- DB Sterling Young (Arkansas State)
- DB Isaiah Newsome (Louisiana-Monroe)
- DB Tyrell Pearson (South Alabama)
- DB Jonathan Dowling (WKU)
|
Specialists
- K Brian Davis (Arkansas State)
- P Will Scott (Troy)
- RS Antonio Andrews (WKU)
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Coaches
NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season
Sun Belt vs. BCS AQ Conference matchups
Regular season
Index to colors and formatting |
Sun Belt member won |
Sun Belt member lost |
Sun Belt teams in bold |
All dates, times, and TV are tentative and subject to change.
All Sun Belt teams are located in the Central Time Zone except for Georgia State, which is in the Eastern Time Zone. Start times for non-conference games are local for the Sun Belt team; for conference games, starting times are local for the home team.
Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll for that week until week eight when the BCS poll will be used.
Week 1
Date |
Time |
Visiting team |
Home team |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
August 29 |
6:30 PM |
Southern Utah |
South Alabama |
Ladd-Peebles Stadium • Mobile, AL |
ESPN3 |
L 21–22 |
15,240 |
August 30 |
6:00 PM |
Samford |
Georgia State |
Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA |
ESPN3 |
L 21–31 |
17,606 |
August 31 |
3:00 PM |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Arkansas |
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR |
FSN |
L 14–34 |
69,801 |
August 31 |
6:00 PM |
Texas State |
Southern Miss |
M.M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS |
|
W 22–15 |
25,729 |
August 31 |
6:00 PM |
UAB |
Troy |
Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL |
ESPN3 |
W 34–31 (OT) |
21,398 |
August 31 |
6:00 PM |
Louisiana-Monroe |
#16 Oklahoma |
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK |
FSN PPV |
L 0–34 |
84,991 |
August 31 |
6:00 PM |
Kentucky |
Western Kentucky |
LP Field • Nashville, TN |
ESPNews |
W 35–26 |
46,723 |
August 31 |
6:00 PM |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff |
Arkansas State |
Liberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR |
ESPN3 |
W 62–11 |
30,451 |
- Players of the Week[10]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Corey Robinson |
Troy |
David Mayo |
Texas State |
Will Scott |
Troy |
Week 2
Date |
Time |
Visiting team |
Home team |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 7 |
11:21 AM |
Western Kentucky |
Tennessee |
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN |
SEC Network |
L 20-52 |
86,783 |
September 7 |
1:00 PM |
Chattanooga |
Georgia State |
Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA |
ESPN3 |
L 14-42 |
14,952 |
September 7 |
2:30 PM |
South Alabama |
Tulane |
Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LA |
CST |
W 41-39 |
19,414 |
September 7 |
5:30 PM |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Kansas State |
Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium • Manhattan, KS |
FS1 |
L 27-48 |
53,073 |
September 7 |
6:00 PM |
Prairie View A&M |
Texas State |
Bobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TX |
ESPN3 |
W 28-3 |
20,136 |
September 7 |
6:00 PM |
Grambling State |
Louisiana-Monroe |
Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA |
ESPN3 |
W 48-14 |
23,600 |
September 7 |
6:00 PM |
Savannah State |
Troy |
Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL |
ESPN3 |
W 66-3 |
20,021 |
September 7 |
6:30 PM |
Arkansas State |
Auburn |
Jordan-Hare Stadium • Auburn, AL |
FSN |
L 9-38 |
83,246 |
- Players of the Week[11]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Ross Metheny |
South Alabama |
Jadarius Garner |
Troy |
Darryl Surgent |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Week 3
Date |
Time |
Visiting team |
Home team |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 12 |
6:30 PM |
Troy |
Arkansas State |
Liberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR |
ESPNU |
ASU 41-34 |
26,012 |
September 14 |
11:00 AM |
Georgia State |
West Virginia |
Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV |
Mountaineers Network |
L 7-41 |
57,440 |
September 14 |
11:30 PM |
Louisiana-Monroe |
Wake Forest |
BB&T Field • Winston-Salem, NC |
ACC Network/ESPN3 |
W 21-19 |
26,505 |
September 14 |
6:00 PM |
Nicholls State |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA |
ESPN3 |
W 70-7 |
28,871 |
September 14 |
6:30 PM |
Western Kentucky |
South Alabama |
Ladd-Peebles Stadium • Mobile, AL |
ESPN3 |
USA 31-24 |
17,721 |
- Open this week: Texas State
- Players of the Week[12]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Kolton Browning |
Louisiana-Monroe |
Tyrell Pearson |
South Alabama |
Aleem Sunanon |
South Alabama |
Week 4
Date |
Time |
Visiting team |
Home team |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 21 |
1:00 PM |
Jacksonville State |
Georgia State |
Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA |
ESPN3 |
L 26-32 |
15,425 |
September 21 |
3:00 PM |
Louisiana-Monroe |
#20 Baylor |
Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX |
FS1 |
L 7-70 |
42,976 |
September 21 |
3:30 PM |
Arkansas State |
Memphis |
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN |
ESPN3 |
L 7-31 |
36,279 |
September 21 |
5:00 PM |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Akron |
InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field • Akron, OH |
ESPN3 |
W 35-30 |
18,809 |
September 21 |
6:00 PM |
Texas State |
#25 Texas Tech |
Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX |
FSN |
L 7-33 |
60,997 |
September 21 |
6:00 PM |
Morgan State |
Western Kentucky |
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY |
ESPN3 |
W 58-17 |
20,973 |
September 21 |
6:30 PM |
Troy |
Mississippi State |
Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS |
FSN/ESPN3 |
L 7-62 |
55,096 |
- Open this week: South Alabama
- Players of the Week[13]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Terrance Broadway |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Xavius Boyd |
Western Kentucky |
Jonathan Dowling |
Western Kentucky |
Week 5
Date |
Time |
Visiting team |
Home team |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 28 |
11:21 AM |
South Alabama |
Tennessee |
Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN |
SEC Network |
L 24-31 |
87,266 |
September 28 |
1:00 PM |
Navy |
Western Kentucky |
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY |
ESPNews |
W 19-7 |
19,813 |
September 28 |
2:00 PM |
Troy |
Duke |
Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC |
ESPN3 |
L 31-38 |
30,126 |
September 28 |
6:00 PM |
Tulane |
Louisiana-Monroe |
Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA |
ESPN3 |
L 14-31 |
20,476 |
September 28 |
6:00 PM |
Wyoming |
Texas State |
Bobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TX |
Longhorn Network |
W 42-21 |
22,150 |
September 28 |
6:30 PM |
Arkansas State |
Missouri |
Faurot Field • Columbia, MO |
CSS/ESPN3 |
L 19-41 |
62,468 |
- Open this week: Georgia State, Louisiana-Lafayette
- Players of the Week[14]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Antonio Andrews |
Western Kentucky |
Xavius Boyd (2) |
Western Kentucky |
Zach Robinson |
Texas State |
Week 6
- Open this week: Arkansas State
- Players of the Week[15]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Eric Thomas |
Troy |
Xavius Boyd (3) |
Western Kentucky |
Brandon Smith |
Texas State |
Week 7
- Open this week: South Alabama, Louisiana-Lafayette, Western Kentucky
- Players of the Week[16]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Adam Kennedy |
Arkansas State |
Isaiah Newsome |
Louisiana-Monroe |
J.D. McKissic |
Arkansas State |
Week 8
- Open this week: Arkansas State, Troy, Louisiana-Monroe
- Players of the Week[17]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Robert Lowe |
Texas State |
Justin Anderson |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Will Johnson |
Texas State |
Week 9
- Players of the Week[18]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Kolton Browning (2) |
Louisiana-Monroe |
Ryan Carrethers |
Arkansas State |
Jason Dann |
Texas State |
Week 10
Date |
Time |
Visiting team |
Home team |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
October 31 |
6:30 PM |
Louisiana-Monroe |
Troy |
Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL |
ESPNU |
ULM 49-37 |
17,013 |
November 2 |
12:00 PM |
Western Kentucky |
Georgia State |
Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA |
Sun Belt Network |
WKU 44-28 |
15,212 |
November 2 |
4:00 PM |
New Mexico State |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA |
Cox4/ESPN3 |
W 49-35 |
30,028 |
November 2 |
4:00 PM |
Texas State |
Idaho |
Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID |
KNVA |
W 37-21 |
15,088 |
November 2 |
6:30 PM |
Arkansas State |
South Alabama |
Ladd-Peebles Stadium • Mobile, AL |
ESPN3 |
ASU 17-16 |
18,228 |
- Players of the Week[19]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Alonzo Harris |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Sterling Young |
Arkansas State |
Justin Manton |
Louisiana-Monroe |
Week 11
- Open this week: Georgia State, South Alabama, Texas State
- Players of the Week[20]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Adam Kennedy (2) |
Arkansas State |
Tyler Roberts |
Troy |
Darryl Surgent |
Louisiana-Lafayette (2) |
Week 12
- Open this week: Louisiana-Monroe, Western Kentucky
- Players of the Week[21]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Elijah McGuire |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Trae Johnson |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
Brian Davis |
Arkansas State |
Week 13
- Open this week : Troy, Louisiana-Lafayette
- Players of the Week[22]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Antonio Andrews (2) |
Western Kentucky |
Cam Thomas |
Western Kentucky |
Brock Barnhill |
Arkansas State |
Week 14
- Players of the Week[23]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Week 15
- Players of the Week[23]
Offensive |
Defensive |
Special teams |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Player |
Team |
Bowl games
In 2013, the SBC placed 2 teams in bowl games, while 5 other teams were bowl-eligible but not selected for bowl games. The conference went 2-0 with Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette both winning.
NOTE: All times are local
All-Sun Belt/American Team
All-Americans
Western Kentucky's Antonio Andrews was named 1st team All-American by SI for All-Purpose team.
Home attendance
Team |
Stadium (Capacity) |
Game 1 |
Game 2 |
Game 3 |
Game 4 |
Game 5 |
Game 6 |
Game 7 |
Total |
Average |
% of Capacity |
Arkansas State |
Liberty Bank Stadium (30,406) |
30,351 |
26,012 |
26,781 |
24,578 |
23,143 |
18,512 |
|
149,377 |
24,896 |
81.9% |
Georgia State |
Georgia Dome (28,155) |
17,606 |
14,952 |
15,425 |
17,732 |
15,212 |
14,415 |
13,697 |
109,039 |
15,577 |
55.3% |
Louisiana–Lafayette |
Cajun Field (31,000) |
28,871 |
23,108 |
30,028 |
22,562 |
25,309 |
|
|
129,878 |
25,976 |
83.8% |
Louisiana–Monroe |
Malone Stadium (30,427) |
23,600 |
20,476 |
16,317 |
11,357 |
13,427 |
|
|
85,177 |
17,035 |
56.0% |
South Alabama |
Ladd Peebles Stadium (33,471) |
15,204 |
17,721 |
14,351 |
18,228 |
13,891 |
|
|
79,395 |
15,879 |
47.4% |
Texas State |
Bobcat Stadium (30,000) |
20,136 |
22,150 |
15,210 |
15,684 |
18,140 |
17,051 |
|
108,371 |
18,062 |
60.2% |
Troy |
Veterans Memorial Stadium (30,000) |
21,398 |
20,021 |
23,024 |
17,013 |
13,073 |
|
|
94,529 |
18,906 |
63.0% |
Western Kentucky |
Houchens Industries – L. T. Smith Stadium (22,113) |
46,723† |
20,973 |
19,813 |
16,359 |
20,110 |
14,417 |
|
91,672 |
18,334 |
82.9% |
†Western Kentucky played first game at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee vs. Kentucky (Counted as home game). Total attendance, average attendance and percent of capacity figure calculated based only on games in L.T. Smith Stadium
References
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Current teams |
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Future teams |
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Championships & awards |
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Seasons |
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Conference seasons |
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Inter-conference |
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All-Americans |
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