Recap
Best/worst performances
Notes
App State/Louisiana
Podcast(s)
Recap
Thursday
No. 15 Coastal Carolina 52
Arkansas State 20
Isaiah Likely (CCU) 8 rec 232 yards 4 TDs
Te’Vailance Hunt (ArkSt) 6 rec 138 yards 1 TD
Saturday
Troy 27
Georgia Southern 24
TJ Harris (Troy) 9 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT
Khaleb Hood (GS) 3 rec 56 yards, 2 att 23 yards 1 TD
Texas State 33
South Alabama 31
4OT
Javen Banks (TXST) 4 rec 104 yards 1 TD
Jalen Tolbert (USA) 5 rec 84 yards 1 TD
Georgia State 55
ULM 21
Darren Grainger (GSU) 18/25 230 yards 4 TD, 12 att 84 yards 1 TD
Chandler Rogers (ULM) 15/23 208 yards 2 TD, 14 att 72 yards
Best Performance
Texas State
It’s been a while since I have disagreed with our fan vote Team of the Week but I’m going with the Bobcats over Georgia State this week. Texas State shook off back-to-back rough losses and stole a four-overtime home win against what was the Sun Belt’s top defense heading into the week.
The Bobcats were the first team to drop 30-plus points on South Alabama this year despite Brady McBride throwing three interceptions and the offense failing to score in the redzone three times. The TXST defense forced three turnovers themselves, including a timely fumble recovery in the extra periods.
Worst Performance
Arkansas State
Welcome back, Red Wolves. Arkansas State was completely overwhelmed by the Chanticleers at home on national television this past Thursday. Coastal Carolina scored the first 31 points of the game. Each of the last three touchdowns the Red Wolves allowed in this one were over 60 yards.
Once again Butch Jones could not keep one quarterback on the field and put Layne Hatcher in the game in the second half. Hatcher led all of Arkansas State’s scoring drives, furthering the conversation around Jonesboro as to who the starting QB should be.
Notes
Arkansas State is now on pace to have the worst total defense in Sun Belt history at 3,504 yards allowed through six games.
Isaiah Likely became just the second player in conference history to have at least eight receptions, 230-plus yards and four touchdowns. He’s the first tight end in Sun Belt history to have a four-touchdown game.
Coastal Carolina is the first team in league history to score 40 touchdowns in the first six games of the season.
Javon Solomon is the third player across all of FBS football since 2000 to have at least 12.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks and one interception in the first six games of a season.
Troy is tied with 2006 Florida International for most tackles for loss by game six of a season (59).
Sun Belt teams who had committed 13 or more penalties in a game were on a seven game winning streak before South Alabama (13) lost to Texas State on Saturday.
Georgia State’s 55 points scored is a school record.
Highlight of the week
Check out the game-sealing play by Troy’s Javon Solomon, as featured on Sportscenter’s top 10 plays.
Tuesday night
Appalachian State at Louisiana
Time: 6:30
TV: ESPN2
Spread: App -4.5
Location: Lafayette, La
What is without a doubt a top two game on the entire Sun Belt slate goes down tonight on ESPN2. The Mountaineers invade the swap for another edition of what has become a classic series between the two teams.
App State comes in with the league’s leader in passing yards per game in Chase Brice, the leader in rushing yards in Nate Noel and the leader in rushing touchdowns in Cam Peoples.
The Cajuns are 4-1 just like the Mountaineers but have not looked as impressive. Louisiana is coming off a tight win over a team that just lost to Texas State. It is middle of the road in nearly every statistical category. Still, Louisiana’s roster is stout and will be ready to create its first ever win streak against App State.
Picks:
We all picked App State to cover in this one, including guest picker and App State alum Parker Stone (shocker).
Podcast(s)
Our weekly podcast is out and features the aforementioned Parker Stone on to help us preview tonight’s game as well as hit a variety of topics. Give it a listen:
We’ve also got a bonus podcast/vlog for you this week. We joined a good friend of ours to discuss Sun Belt bowl projections and possibilities.