Sun Belt Power Rankings: Week 3

Welcome to another edition of the Sun Belt power rankings.

Let’s begin..

1. App State (2-0) No movement: Appalachian State had a much-needed off week after giving up 41 points to the Charlotte 49ers.

App has an interesting match-up this week against Mack Brown’s Tar Heels in Chapel Hill.

UNC had a hot start, getting wins against both Miami and South Carolina. This game should be circled on every App State fan’s calendar.

2. Troy (1-1) No movement: The Trojans fell at home in a offensive battle that ended with Southern Mississippi scoring 47 to Troy’s 42.

Even in a loss, QB Kaleb Barker showed that he is one of the premiere quarterbacks in the Sun Belt. Barker went for 504 yards through the air, completed 29 of his 43 attempts and found a receiver in the end zone on four different occasions.

Running back D.K. Billingsley led the Trojans in rushing with 41 yards on 9 carries and a score. Troy will travel to Akron this week for a 2 p.m. kickoff.

3. Louisiana (2-1) Up one from No. 4: The Cajuns had a dominant showing against FCS Texas Southern at home this week, beating the Tigers, 77-6.

Louisiana QB Levi Lewis went 10 of 13 for 181 yards and found the end zone twice. In the lopsided victory, six different running backs found the end zone.

T.J. Wisham led the Cajuns in rushing with 103 yards with 10 carries. Louisiana will travel north this weekend to face an opponent from the MAC in the Ohio Bobcats.

Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

4. Georgia Southern (1-2) Down one from No. 3: This matchup against Minnesota was one the Georgia Southern faithful had penciled in as an upset. However, this would not be the case, as the Eagles would fall in the last minute and a half to the Golden Gophers, 35-32.

Although the Eagles lost, there are plenty of positives to cling to going into their fourth game. The Eagles defense and special teams were exceptional, as seen when CB Monquavion Brinson recovered a blocked FG attempt for a touchdown.

Backup QB Justin Tomlin also proved that he is more than capable in running the offense in the absence of Shai Werts.

The Eagles will have an open date this week and will open up conference play against Louisiana at home on September 28.

5. Arkansas State (1-2) No movement: The Red Wolves moved to 1-2 on the season after a 55-0 shutout loss at the hands of Georgia.

This game was special to Head Coach Blake Anderson, as Sanford Stadium was adorned with fans wearing pink in honor of Anderson’s wife Wendy, who lost her life in a battle with breast cancer.

Despite the loss, QB Logan Bonner had 124 yards through the air and completed 20 of 35 attempts.

Arkansas State will be back at home this week to take on Southern Illinois before opening up conference play against Troy the following week on the road.

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6. Coastal Carolina (2-1) Up one from No. 7: Coastal found themselves in the win column once again this week with a victory at home over an FCS opponent in Norfolk State.

Leading the charge was RB C.J. Marable who had 101 yards on 19 carries with a score. RB Reese White also found the end zone twice for the Chanticleers.

On top of traveling to UMass this week, Coastal fans will need to keep the momentum going as conference play looms in the near future.

7. ULM (1-1) Up one from No. 8: The Warhawks had an off week to regroup and refocus after a tough loss at Florida State last week.

ULM will need to rely on their QB Caleb Evans to lead the charge when they travel this week to take on Iowa State in Ames.

8. Georgia State (2-1) Down two from No. 6: The Panthers traveled to Kalamazoo this weekend and were humbled by the Western Michigan Broncos in a 57-10 loss.

Through the loss, QB Dan Ellington went 11 of 20 on 181 yards with one score. RB Tra Barnett led the Panthers on the ground with 127 yards on 19 carries.

The Panthers will need this week to improve as they will go on the road again to open conference play against Texas State at 7 p.m.

9. South Alabama (1-2) No Movement: The Jaguars lost to a very good Memphis team at home this week in a 42-6 bruising.

The Jags were dominated defensively as QB Tyler Morton only found the end zone once.

The Jags will have to find a way to get better on both sides of the ball as they will travel to UAB this week and will open conference play on the road the following week at ULM.

10. Texas State (0-3) No movement: The Bobcats took a step back this week against SMU after a 47-17 loss. QB Gresch Jensen continues to show that the Bobcats are doing something right offensively, as he threw for 185 yards and one TD, completing 22 of his 37 pass attempts.

WR Caleb Twyford led the Bobcats in receiving with 53 yards and a score on three receptions.

Texas State welcomes Georgia State to San Marcos this week to open up conference play.