The 2018 Sun Belt conference football season began on August 30, 2018, and ended on November 24, 2018. It was a part of the 2018 season of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the top level of NCAA Division I football. The Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game was played on December 1, 2018, with Appalachian State winning the inaugural game. The entire schedule was released on February 27.
Preseason
Coaches predictions The 2018 preseason coaches football poll was released on July 19, voted from the 10 coaches of the conference. Appalachian State and Arkansas State were chosen to be the finalist for their division, with the Red Wolves predicted to win the first ever Sun Belt Championship Game.
East Division Appalachian State (6 first-place votes) Troy (4) Georgia State Georgia Southern Coastal Carolina
West Division Arkansas State (9) Louisiana–Monroe South Alabama (1) Louisiana Texas State
Season This will be the first season with 10 teams as the New Mexico State left the conference to become independent and Idaho downgraded to FCS and compete in the Big Sky Conference. The scheduling format for the ten members were reset for the 2018 season. Each member will play eight other members in the conference with four at home and four away. The conference was split up with five teams representing the east and the other five representing the west division. A team will play each team within their division (4 teams) and four from the other division (two at home and two away). South Alabama (west division) and Troy (east) will be the only two teams to play each other every year due to their rivalry and proximity to each other.
Schedule
Regular season Index to colors and formattingSun Belt member wonSun Belt member lostSun Belt teams in bold
Week One
Players of the week:Week 1 Sun Belt Conference Football Players of the Week Announced. sunbeltsports.org (2018-09-03). Retrieved on 2018-09-06. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Justice Hansen Arkansas State Tomarcio Reese Georgia Southern Darrynton Evans Appalachian State
Week Two
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - September 10. sunbeltsports.org (2018-09-10). Retrieved on 2018-09-10. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Zac Thomas Appalachian State Donald Louis Jr. Louisiana–Monroe James Sherman Texas State
Week Three
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - September 17. sunbeltsports.org (2018-09-17). Retrieved on 2018-09-17. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Jamarius Way South Alabama Tron Folsom Troy Tyler Sumpter Troy
Week Four
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - September 24. sunbeltsports.org (2018-09-24). Retrieved on 2018-09-25. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Kaleb Barker Troy William Bradley-King Arkansas State Steven Jones Appalachian State
Week Five
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - Week 5. sunbeltsports.org (2018-10-01). Retrieved on 2018-10-02. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Jabir Daughtry-Frye Troy Logan Hunt Georgia Southern Marcus Jones Troy
Week Six
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - Week 6. sunbeltsports.org (2018-10-08). Retrieved on 2018-10-08. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Elijah Mitchell Louisiana Monquavion Brinson Georgia Southern Marcus Green Louisiana–Monroe
Week Seven
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - Week 7. sunbeltsports.org (2018-10-15). Retrieved on 2018-10-15. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Andre Nunez Louisiana Jordan Fehr Appalachian State Tra Minter South Alabama
Week Eight
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - Week 8. sunbeltsports.org (2018-10-22). Retrieved on 2018-10-28. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Darrynton EvansJustice Hansen Appalachian StateArkansas State Tajhea Chambers Arkansas StateTyler Bass Georgia Southern
Week Nine
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - Week 9. sunbeltsports.org (2018-10-29). Retrieved on 2018-10-29. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Shai Werts Georgia Southern Kindle Vildor Georgia Southern Kyle Pfau Louisiana
Week Ten
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - Week 10. sunbeltsports.org (2018-11-5). Retrieved on 2018-11-8. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Caleb Evans Louisiana–Monroe Jordan Fehr Appalachian State Tyler Sumpter Troy
Week Eleven
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - Week 11. sunbeltsports.org (2018-11-12). Retrieved on 2018-11-12. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Raymond Calais Louisiana Antione Barker Troy Tyler Sumpter Troy
Week Twelve
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - Week 12. sunbeltsports.org (2018-11-19). Retrieved on 2018-11-28. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Zac Thomas Arkansas State Justin Clifton Arkansas State Tyler Sumpter Troy
Week Thirteen
Players of the week:Football Players of the Week Announced - Week 13. sunbeltsports.org (2018-11-26). Retrieved on 2018-11-28. Offensive Defensive Special teams Player Team Player Team Player Team Tra Minter South Alabama Akeem Davis-Gaither Appalachian State Justin McInnis Arkansas State
Sun Belt Championship Game
Postseason
Bowl games
Legend Sun Belt win Sun Belt loss
Bowls based on contractual tie-ins. Actual bowls attended by Sun Belt members may vary and will be announced following the regular season. Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (CST)Sun Belt teamOpponentScoreAttendanceCure BowlDecember 15Camping World Stadium • Orlando, FLCBSSN1:30 p.m.LouisianaTulane24–4119,066Camellia BowlDecember 15Cramton Bowl • Montgomery, ALESPN4:30 p.m.Georgia SouthernEastern Michigan23–2117,710New Orleans BowlDecember 15Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LAESPN8:00 p.m.Appalachian StateMiddle Tennessee45–1323,942Dollar General BowlDecember 22Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALESPN6:00 p.m.TroyBuffalo42–3231,818Arizona BowlDecember 29Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZCBSSN8:00 p.m.Arkansas StateNevada13–1632,368
Awards and honors
Individual awards
Player of the Year: Justice Hansen, R-Sr., QB, Arkansas State Offensive Player of the Year: Zac Thomas, So., QB, Appalachian State Defensive Player of the Year: Ronheen Bingham, Sr., DL, Arkansas State Freshman of the Year: Marcel Murray, RB, Arkansas State Newcomer of the Year: Kirk Merritt, Jr., WR, Arkansas State Coach of the Year: Scott Satterfield, Appalachian State
All-Conference teams Offense: Pos.NameYr.SchoolPos.NameYr.SchoolPos.NameYr.School First Team Second Team Third TeamQBJustice HansenR-Sr.Arkansas StateQBZac ThomasSo.Appalachian StateQBCaleb EvansJr.Louisiana–MonroeRBDarrynton EvansSo.Appalachian StateRBElijah MitchellSo.LouisianaRBMarcel MurrayFr.Arkansas StateRBB.J. SmithJr.TroyRBWesley FieldsSr.Georgia SouthernRBTrey RagasSo.LouisianaWRKirk MerrittJr.Arkansas StateWRCorey SuttonSo.Appalachian StateWRPenny HartJr.Georgia StateWRMarcus GreenSr. Louisiana–MonroeWRJustin McInnisSr.Arkansas StateWRJa'Marcus BradleyJr.LouisianaWRDamion WillisSr.TroyWRJamarius WaySr.South AlabamaWRDeondre DouglasSr.TroyTEKeenen BrownSr.Texas StateTEJavonis IsaacSo.Arkansas StateTECollin ReedJr.Appalachian StateOLVictor JohnsonJr.Appalachian StateOLChandler GreerSr.Appalachian StateOLHunter AtkinsonJr.Georgia StateOLLanard BonnerSr.Arkansas StateOLNoah HannonSo.Appalachian StateOLT.J. FiailoaSo.Louisiana–MonroeOLCurtis RaineySR.Georgia SouthernOLJeremiah CulbrethSr.Georgia SouthernOLBobby ReynoldsJr.Louisiana–MonroeOLKevin DotsonJr.LouisianaOLRobert HuntJr.LouisianaOLTristan CrowderJr.TroyOLKirk KelleyJr.TroyOLDeontae CrumitieSr.TroyOLJ.L. GastonJr.Troy
Defense: Pos.NameYr.SchoolPos.NameYr.SchoolPos.NameYr.School First Team Second Team Third TeamDLMyQuon StoutSr.Appalachian StateDLWill Bradley-KingR-So.Arkansas StateDLTarron JacksonSo.Coastal CarolinaDLRonheen BinghamSr..Arkansas StateDLForrest MerrillJr.Arkansas StateDLLogan HuntSr.Georgia SouthernDLJeffrey GunterSo.Coastal CarolinaDLRaymond JohnsonSo.Georgia SouthernDLZi'Yon HillR-Fr.LouisianaDLTrevon SandersSr.TroyDLTyree TurnerJr.South AlabamaDLAntione BarkerJr.TroyLBJordan FehrJr.Appalachian StateLBAkeem Davis-GaitherJr.Appalachian StateLBAnthony FlorySr.Appalachian StateLBBryan London IIJr.Texas StateLBDavid GriffithSr.Louisiana–MonroeLBJacques BoudreauxJr.LouisianaLBHunter ReeseSr.TroyLBBull BargeSr.South AlabamaLBNikolas DanielsJr.Texas StateDBClifton DuckJr.Appalachian StateDBJerry JacobsSo.Arkansas StateDBTae HayesSr.Appalachian StateDBDesmond FranklinJr.Appalachian StateDBMonquavion BrinsonJr.Georgia SouthernDBDarreon JacksonR-Jr.Arkansas StateDBJustin CliftonSr.Arkansas StateDBNigel LawrenceSr.South AlabamaDBBlace BrownSr.TroyDBKindle VildorJr.Georgia SouthernDBMarcus JonesSo.TroyDBTyler MurraySo.TroyDBCedarius RookardSr.Troy
Special Teams: Pos.NameYr.SchoolPos.NameYr.SchoolPos.NameYr.School First Team Second Team Third TeamPKTyler BassR-Jr.Georgia SouthernPKTyler SumpterSo.TroyPKMassimo BiscardiFr.Coastal CarolinaPBrandon WrightR-Jr.Georgia StatePCody GraceJr.Arkansas StatePTyler SumpterSo.TroyRSMarcus JonesSo.TroyRSTra MinterJr.South AlabamaRSClifton DuckSr.Appalachian StateAPMarcus GreenSr.Louisiana–MonroeAPTra MinterJr.South AlabamaAPDarrynton EvansSo.Appalachian State
Ref:
Non-conference records
Power Five conferences Power 5 ConferencesRecordACC0–2 Big Ten0–2 Big 121–1 Pac-120–0 SEC0–6 Power 5 Total1–11
Group of Five conferences Group of 5 ConferencesRecordAmerican1–2 C-USA3–2 Mountain West1–1 MAC1–0 Group of 5 Total5–4
FBS independents FBS IndependentsRecordFBS Independents5–1
FCS conferences FCS OpponentsRecordFootball Championship Subdivision10–0
Home attendance TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Total Average% of CapacityAppalachian StateKidd Brewer Stadium30,00021,08425,86227,082 †22,31520,410116,75323,35177.8%Arkansas StateCentennial Bank Stadium30,38220,18418,53721,421 †18,17620,67120,012119,00119,83465.3%Coastal CarolinaBrooks Stadium15,0009,77611,50613,004 †8,1419,88652,31310,46369.8%Georgia StateGeorgia State Stadium24,33323,088 †15,26414,36815,64811,31220,01199,69116,61568.3%Georgia SouthernPaulson Stadium25,00015,26015,07117,32017,62219,252 †16,289100,81416,80267.2%LouisianaCajun Field36,90028,866 †17,12518,13117,06814,94515,168111,30318,55150.3%Louisiana–MonroeMalone Stadium30,42710,13715,72213,23513,78718,167 †71,04814,21046.7%South AlabamaLadd–Peebles Stadium33,47113,45716,05116,23125,878 †14,09610,67096,38316,06448.0%Texas StateBobcat Stadium30,00015,44017,062 †9,54515,04511,48210,11578,68913,11543.7%TroyVeterans Memorial Stadium30,40229,612 †25,76723,81022,90324,63120,437147,16024,52780.7%
Bold: Exceeded capacity †Season High
NFL draft The following list includes all Sun Belt players who were drafted in the 2019 NFL draft.
Round # Pick # NFL team Player Position College 6 203 Atlanta Falcons Marcus Green WR Louisiana–Monroe
References