2013 Sun Belt Conference football season

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LeagueNCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision)
Sportfootball
DurationAugust 31, 2013–January 5, 2014
Teams8
2013 Sun Belt Conference football season
LeagueNCAA Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision)
Sportfootball
DurationAugust 31, 2013–January 5, 2014
Teams8
TV partner(s)ESPN, CSS/CST
2014 NFL Draft
Top draft pickDT Ryan Carrethers, Arkansas State
Picked bySan Diego Chargers, 165th overall
Regular season
Season championsLouisiana-Lafayette & Arkansas State
  Runners-upWKU, Troy, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama
Season MVPAntonio Andrews
Top scorerAntonio Andrews (96 points)
Football seasons
← 2012
2014 →
2013 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Arkansas State $  5 –2   8 –5  
Western Kentucky  4 –3   8 –4  
South Alabama  4 –3   6 –6  
Troy  4 –3   6 –6  
Louisiana–Monroe  4 –3   6 –6  
Texas State  2 –5   6 –6  
Louisiana–Lafayette *  0 –2   1 –4  
Georgia State **  0 –7   0 –12  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • * – Louisiana–Lafayette vacated eight wins due to NCAA violations
    ** – Georgia State ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

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 Western Kentucky.

The departure of Florida Atlantic and Florida International left the league at 8 teams for the first time since 2008, although the league would be back up to 11 teams by the next season.

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 joined 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.

Award watch lists

The following Sun Belt players were named to preseason award watch lists:

Sun Belt Media Day

Coaches Poll

  1. Louisiana-Lafayette - 57 (4)
  2. Louisiana-Monroe - 57 (2)
  3. Arkansas State - 45 (2)
  4. WKU - 44
  5. Troy - 35
  6. Texas State - 23
  7. South Alabama - 19
  8. 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

Coaches

NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season

Team Head coach Years at school Overall record Record at school Sun Belt record
Arkansas State Bryan Harsin 1 0–0 0–0 0–0
Georgia State Trent Miles 1 20–36 0–0 0–0
Louisiana–Lafayette Mark Hudspeth 3 84–29 18-8 12-4
Louisiana–Monroe Todd Berry 4 46–79 17-20 13-11
South Alabama Joey Jones 4 28–21 25–14 1-7
Troy Larry Blakeney 24 168-99-1 168-99-1 45-22
Texas State Dennis Franchione 5 197-115-2 23-23 0-0
WKU Bobby Petrino 1 75-26 0-0 0-0

Sun Belt vs. BCS AQ Conference matchups

DateVisitorHomeConferenceScoreNotes
August 31 Louisiana-Monroe #16 Oklahoma Big 12 L 0-34
August 31 Louisiana-Lafayette Arkansas SEC L 14-34
August 31 Kentucky Western Kentucky SEC W 35-26 Game played at LP Field in Nashville
September 7 Arkansas State Auburn SEC L 9-38
September 7 Louisiana-Lafayette Kansas State Big 12 L 27-48
September 7 Western Kentucky Tennessee SEC L 20-52
September 14 Georgia State West Virginia Big 12 L 7-41
September 14 Louisiana-Monroe Wake Forest ACC W 21-19
September 21 Arkansas State Memphis American L 7-31
September 21 Louisiana-Monroe #20 Baylor Big 12 L 7-70
September 21 Texas State #25 Texas Tech Big 12 L 7-33
September 21 Troy Mississippi State SEC L 7-62
September 28 Arkansas State Missouri SEC L 19-41
September 28 South Alabama Tennessee SEC L 24-31
September 28 Troy Duke ACC L 31-38
October 1 Georgia State Alabama SEC L 3-45
November 6 Troy Ole Miss SEC L 21-51

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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
August 296:30 p.m.Southern UtahSouth AlabamaLadd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALESPN3L 21–2215,240
August 306:00 p.m.SamfordGeorgia StateGeorgia Dome • Atlanta, GAESPN3L 21–3117,606
August 313:00 p.m.Louisiana-LafayetteArkansasDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, ARFSNL 14–3469,801
August 316:00 p.m.Texas StateSouthern MissM.M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MSW 22–1525,729
August 316:00 p.m.UABTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, ALESPN3W 34–31 (OT)21,398
August 316:00 p.m.Louisiana-Monroe#16 OklahomaGaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OKFSN PPVL 0–3484,991
August 316:00 p.m.KentuckyWestern KentuckyLP Field • Nashville, TNESPNewsW 35–2646,723
August 316:00 p.m.Arkansas-Pine BluffArkansas StateLiberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, ARESPN3W 62–1130,451
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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 711:21 a.m.Western KentuckyTennesseeNeyland Stadium • Knoxville, TNSEC NetworkL 20-5286,783
September 71:00 p.m.ChattanoogaGeorgia StateGeorgia Dome • Atlanta, GAESPN3L 14-4214,952
September 72:30 p.m.South AlabamaTulaneMercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LACSTW 41-3919,414
September 75:30 p.m.Louisiana-LafayetteKansas StateBill Snyder Family Football Stadium • Manhattan, KSFS1L 27-4853,073
September 76:00 p.m.Prairie View A&MTexas StateBobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TXESPN3W 28-320,136
September 76:00 p.m.Grambling StateLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LAESPN3W 48-1423,600
September 76:00 p.m.Savannah StateTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, ALESPN3W 66-320,021
September 76:30 p.m.Arkansas StateAuburnJordan–Hare Stadium • Auburn, ALFSNL 9-3883,246
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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 126:30 p.m.TroyArkansas StateLiberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, ARESPNUASU 41-3426,012
September 1411:00 a.m.Georgia StateWest VirginiaMountaineer Field • Morgantown, WVMountaineers NetworkL 7-4157,440
September 1411:30 p.m.Louisiana-MonroeWake ForestBB&T Field • Winston-Salem, NCACC Network/ESPN3W 21-1926,505
September 146:00 p.m.Nicholls StateLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LAESPN3W 70-728,871
September 146:30 p.m.Western KentuckySouth AlabamaLadd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALESPN3USA 31-2417,721
  • 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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 211:00 p.m.Jacksonville StateGeorgia StateGeorgia Dome • Atlanta, GAESPN3L 26-3215,425
September 213:00 p.m.Louisiana-Monroe#20 BaylorFloyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TXFS1L 7-7042,976
September 213:30 p.m.Arkansas StateMemphisLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TNESPN3L 7-3136,279
September 215:00 p.m.Louisiana-LafayetteAkronInfoCision Stadium-Summa Field • Akron, OHESPN3W 35-3018,809
September 216:00 p.m.Texas State#25 Texas TechJones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TXFSNL 7-3360,997
September 216:00 p.m.Morgan StateWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KYESPN3W 58-1720,973
September 216:30 p.m.TroyMississippi StateDavis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MSFSN/ESPN3L 7-6255,096
  • 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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
September 2811:21 a.m.South AlabamaTennesseeNeyland Stadium • Knoxville, TNSEC NetworkL 24-3187,266
September 281:00 p.m.NavyWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KYESPNewsW 19-719,813
September 282:00 p.m.TroyDukeWallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NCESPN3L 31-3830,126
September 286:00 p.m.TulaneLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LAESPN3L 14-3120,476
September 286:00 p.m.WyomingTexas StateBobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TXLonghorn NetworkW 42-2122,150
September 286:30 p.m.Arkansas StateMissouriFaurot Field • Columbia, MOCSS/ESPN3L 19-4162,468
  • 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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 36:30 p.m.Western KentuckyLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LAESPNUWKU 31-1016,317
October 512:00 p.m.South AlabamaTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, ALSun Belt NetworkTroy 34-3323,024
October 512:21 p.m.Georgia StateAlabamaBryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, ALSEC TVL 3-45101,254
October 56:00 p.m.Texas StateLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LACox4/ESPN3ULL 48-2423,108
  • 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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 122:30 p.m.TroyGeorgia StateGeorgia Dome • Atlanta, GASun Belt NetworkTroy 35-2817,732
October 126:00 p.m.Louisiana-MonroeTexas StateBobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TXLHNULM 21-1415,210
October 126:00 p.m.IdahoArkansas StateLiberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, ARESPN3W 48-2426,781
  • 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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 157:00 p.m.Louisiana-LafayetteWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KYESPN2ULL 37-2016,359
October 196:00 p.m.Georgia StateTexas StateBobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TXSun Belt NetworkTXST 24-1715,684
October 196:00 p.m.Kent StateSouth AlabamaLadd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALESPN3W 38-2114,351
  • 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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 227:00 p.m.Louisiana-LafayetteArkansas StateLiberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, ARESPN2ULL 23-724,578
October 263:00 p.m.TroyWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KYESPN3Troy 32-2620,110
October 266:00 p.m.South AlabamaTexas StateBobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TXESPN3TXST 33-3118,140
October 266:00 p.m.Georgia StateLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LAESPN3ULM 38-1011,357
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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
October 316:30 p.m.Louisiana-MonroeTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, ALESPNUULM 49-3717,013
November 212:00 p.m.Western KentuckyGeorgia StateGeorgia Dome • Atlanta, GASun Belt NetworkWKU 44-2815,212
November 24:00 p.m.New Mexico StateLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LACox4/ESPN3W 49-3530,028
November 24:00 p.m.Texas StateIdahoKibbie Dome • Moscow, IDKNVAW 37-2115,088
November 26:30 p.m.Arkansas StateSouth AlabamaLadd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALESPN3ASU 17-1618,228
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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 76:30 p.m.TroyLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LAESPNUULL 41-3622,562
November 911:00 a.m.Western KentuckyArmyMichie Stadium • West Point, NYCBSSNW 21-1736,276
November 96:00 p.m.Arkansas StateLouisiana-MonroeMalone Stadium • Monroe, LAESPN3ASU 42-1413,427
  • 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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 1611:00 a.m.TroyOle MissVaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MSESPNUL 51-2152,931
November 162:00 p.m.Louisiana-LafayetteGeorgia StateGeorgia Dome • Atlanta, GAESPN3ULL 35-2114,415
November 162:30 p.m.South AlabamaNavyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MDCBSSNL 42-1433,086
November 166:30 p.m.Texas StateArkansas StateLiberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, ARSun Belt NetworkASU 38-2123,143
  • 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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 236:00 p.m.Western KentuckyTexas StateBobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TXLHNWKU 38-717,051
November 236:00 p.m.Louisiana-MonroeSouth AlabamaLadd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALSun Belt NetworkUSA 36-1413,891
November 232:00 p.m.Georgia StateArkansas StateLiberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, ARESPN3ASU 35-3318,512
  • 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

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
November 291:00 p.m.Texas StateTroyVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, ALESPN3Troy 28-4213,073
November 301:00 p.m.South AlabamaGeorgia StateGeorgia Dome • Atlanta, GAESPN3USA 38-1713,697
November 303:00 p.m.Arkansas StateWestern KentuckyHouchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KYESPN3WKU 31-3414,417
November 306:00 p.m.Louisiana-MonroeLouisiana-LafayetteCajun Field • Lafayette, LASun Belt Network/ESPN3ULM 31-2825,309
Players of the Week[23]
Offensive Defensive Special teams
Player Team Player Team Player Team

Week 15

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendance
December 77:00 p.m.Louisiana-LafayetteSouth AlabamaLadd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALCox4/ESPN3USA, 30-816,124
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

BowlDateTimeSBC team (Record)Opponent (Record)SiteTVResultAttendance
2013 R+L Carriers New Orleans BowlDecember 218:00 p.m.Louisiana–Lafayette (8-3)Tulane (7-5)Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LAESPNULL 24-2154,728
2014 GoDaddy BowlJanuary 58:00 p.m.Arkansas State (7-5)Ball State (10-2)Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, ALESPNASU 23-2036,119

Players of the Year

2013 Sun Belt Player of the Year awards[24]

Award Player School
Player of the Year Antonio Andrews Western Kentucky
Offensive Player of the Year Antonio Andrews Western Kentucky
Defensive Player of the Year Xavius Boyd Western Kentucky
Freshman of the Year Elijah McGuire Louisiana-Lafayette
Coach of the Year Joey Jones South Alabama

All-Sun Belt/American Team

Home attendance

References

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