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 .
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.
The following Sun Belt players were named to preseason award watch lists:
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.
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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)
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)
NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season
Sun Belt vs. BCS AQ Conference matchups
edit
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.
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
August 29
6:30 p.m.
Southern Utah South Alabama Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, AL ESPN3 L 21–22
15,240
August 30
6:00 p.m.
Samford Georgia State Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA ESPN3 L 21–31
17,606
August 31
3:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette Arkansas Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR FSN L 14–34
69,801
August 31
6:00 p.m.
Texas State Southern Miss M.M. Roberts Stadium • Hattiesburg, MS W 22–15
25,729
August 31
6:00 p.m.
UAB Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL ESPN3 W 34–31 (OT)
21,398
August 31
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe #16 Oklahoma Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK FSN PPV L 0–34
84,991
August 31
6:00 p.m.
Kentucky Western Kentucky LP Field • Nashville, TN ESPNews W 35–26
46,723
August 31
6:00 p.m.
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 7
11:21 a.m.
Western Kentucky Tennessee Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN SEC Network L 20-52
86,783
September 7
1:00 p.m.
Chattanooga Georgia State Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA ESPN3 L 14-42
14,952
September 7
2:30 p.m.
South Alabama Tulane Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LA CST W 41-39
19,414
September 7
5:30 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette Kansas State Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium • Manhattan, KS FS1 L 27-48
53,073
September 7
6:00 p.m.
Prairie View A&M Texas State Bobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TX ESPN3 W 28-3
20,136
September 7
6:00 p.m.
Grambling State Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA ESPN3 W 48-14
23,600
September 7
6:00 p.m.
Savannah State Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL ESPN3 W 66-3
20,021
September 7
6:30 p.m.
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 12
6:30 p.m.
Troy Arkansas State Liberty Bank Stadium • Jonesboro, AR ESPNU ASU 41-34
26,012
September 14
11:00 a.m.
Georgia State West Virginia Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, WV Mountaineers Network
L 7-41
57,440
September 14
11:30 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe Wake Forest BB&T Field • Winston-Salem, NC ACC Network /ESPN3 W 21-19
26,505
September 14
6:00 p.m.
Nicholls State Louisiana-Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA ESPN3 W 70-7
28,871
September 14
6:30 p.m.
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 21
1:00 p.m.
Jacksonville State Georgia State Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA ESPN3 L 26-32
15,425
September 21
3:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe #20 Baylor Floyd Casey Stadium • Waco, TX FS1 L 7-70
42,976
September 21
3:30 p.m.
Arkansas State Memphis Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN ESPN3 L 7-31
36,279
September 21
5:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette Akron InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field • Akron, OH ESPN3 W 35-30
18,809
September 21
6:00 p.m.
Texas State #25 Texas Tech Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX FSN L 7-33
60,997
September 21
6:00 p.m.
Morgan State Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY ESPN3 W 58-17
20,973
September 21
6:30 p.m.
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 28
11:21 a.m.
South Alabama Tennessee Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN SEC Network L 24-31
87,266
September 28
1:00 p.m.
Navy Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY ESPNews W 19-7
19,813
September 28
2:00 p.m.
Troy Duke Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, NC ESPN3 L 31-38
30,126
September 28
6:00 p.m.
Tulane Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA ESPN3 L 14-31
20,476
September 28
6:00 p.m.
Wyoming Texas State Bobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TX Longhorn Network W 42-21
22,150
September 28
6:30 p.m.
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
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
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
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
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
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 31
6:30 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe Troy Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL ESPNU ULM 49-37
17,013
November 2
12:00 p.m.
Western Kentucky Georgia State Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA Sun Belt Network
WKU 44-28
15,212
November 2
4:00 p.m.
New Mexico State Louisiana-Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA Cox4/ESPN3
W 49-35
30,028
November 2
4:00 p.m.
Texas State Idaho Kibbie Dome • Moscow, ID KNVA W 37-21
15,088
November 2
6:30 p.m.
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
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)
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
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
Players of the Week[ 23]
Offensive
Defensive
Special teams
Player
Team
Player
Team
Player
Team
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
December 7
7:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette South Alabama Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, AL Cox4/ESPN3
USA, 30-8
16,124
Players of the Week[ 23]
Offensive
Defensive
Special teams
Player
Team
Player
Team
Player
Team
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
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
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Coaches All-Conference Selections [ 24]
Position
Player
Class
Team
First Team Offense
QB
Corey Robinson
SR
Troy
RB
Alonzo Harris
JR
Louisiana-Lafayette
RB
Elijah McGuire
FR
Louisiana-Lafayette
RB
Antonio Andrews
SR
Western Kentucky
WR
J. D. McKissic
SO
Arkansas State
WR
Albert Wilson
SR
Georgia State
WR
Eric Thomas
SR
Troy
TE
Wes Saxton
JR
South Alabama
OL
Andre Huval
SR
Louisiana-Lafayette
OL
Josh Allen
SR
Louisiana-Monroe
OL
Chris May
SO
South Alabama
OL
Terrence Jones
JR
Troy
OL
Luis Polanco
SR
Western Kentucky
First Team Defense
DL
Ryan Carrethers
SR
Arkansas State
DL
Romelle Jones
SR
South Alabama
DL
Alex Page
SR
South Alabama
DL
Bar’ee Boyd
SR
Western Kentucky
LB
Qushaun Lee
JR
Arkansas State
LB
Justin Alexander
SR
Louisiana-Lafayette
LB
Xavius Boyd
SR
Western Kentucky
DB
Isaiah Newsome
SR
Louisiana-Monroe
DB
Camren Hudson
SR
Troy
DB
Jonathan Dowling
JR
Western Kentucky
DB
Cam Thomas
JR
Western Kentucky
First Team Special Teams
PK
Brian Davis
SR
Arkansas State
P
Justin Manton
JR
Louisiana-Monroe
RS
Darryl Surgent
SR
Louisiana-Lafayette
AP
J. D. McKissic
SO
Arkansas State
Position
Player
Class
Team
Second Team Offense
QB
Ross Metheny
SR
South Alabama
RB
Michael Gordon
SO
Arkansas State
RB
Robert Lowe
SO
Texas State
WR
Jamal Robinson
JR
Louisiana-Lafayette
WR
Rashon Ceaser
SO
Louisiana-Monroe
WR
Shavarez Smith
JR
South Alabama
TE
Darion Griswold
SO
Arkansas State
OL
Bryce Giddens
SO
Arkansas State
OL
Steven Haunga
SR
Arkansas State
OL
Daniel Quave
JR
Louisiana-Lafayette
OL
Ucambre Williams
SR
South Alabama
OL
Evan McKissack
SR
Troy
Second Team Defense
DL
Justin Hamilton
JR
Louisiana-Lafayette
DL
Gerrand Johnson
SO
Louisiana-Monroe
DL
Antonio Gillespie
SR
Troy
DL
Tyler Roberts
SO
Troy
LB
Cameron Blakes
SR
Louisiana-Monroe
LB
Enrique Williams
SR
South Alabama
LB
Andrew Jackson
SR
Western Kentucky
DB
Rocky Hayes
SO
Arkansas State
DB
Sterling Young
JR
Arkansas State
DB
Trevence Patt
JR
Louisiana-Lafayette
DB
Justin Iwuji
SR
Texas State
Second Team Special Teams
PK
Will Scott
SR
Troy
P
Will Scott
SR
Troy
RS
J. D. McKissic
SO
Arkansas State
AP
Albert Wilson
SR
Georgia State
Honorable Mention: Arkansas State : Adam Kennedy, Chris Stone; Georgia State : Ulrick John , Joseph Peterson; Louisiana-Lafayette : Jacob Maxwell, Dominique Tovell; Louisiana-Monroe : Kolton Browning, Centarius Donald; South Alabama Jay Jones, Aleem Sunanon ; Texas State : David Mayo, Mike Orakpo; Troy : Jordan Chunn, Bryan Holmes; Western Kentucky : Willie McNeal, Forrest Lamp.
Western Kentucky's Antonio Andrews was named 1st team All-American by SI for All-Purpose team.
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
^ "Andrews, Browning on Walter Camp Preseason List" . sunbeltsports.org. July 19, 2013. Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013 .^ "Andrews, Oku on Doak Walker List" . sunbeltsports.org. July 18, 2013. Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2013 .^ "Broadway, Browning on O'Brien Preseason List" . sunbeltsports.org. July 17, 2013. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013 .^ "A-State's Carrethers Adds Outland Trophy Watch List to Preseason Accolades" . sunbeltsports.org. July 11, 2013. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013 .^ "WKU's Jackson Named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List" . sunbeltsports.org. July 11, 2013. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013 .^ "Troy's Scott, ASU's Davis Named to Groza Award Watch List" . sunbeltsports.org. July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2013 .^ "Three on Rimington Trophy Fall Watchlist" . sunbeltsports.org. July 9, 2013. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2013 .^ "Carrethers, Jackson on Bednarik List" . sunbeltsports.org. July 8, 2013. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013 .^ "WKU's Andrews Selected to 2013 Paul Hornung Award Watch List" . sunbeltsports.org. July 5, 2013. Archived from the original on September 15, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2013 .^ With Season Openers in the Books Second Week Next for Sun Belt Football Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine ^ USA Tops Tulane Four SBC Teams Win Saturday ASU Troy Face off Thursday Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine ^ ULM Takes Out Wake Forest USA and ASU Start Conference Play with Wins Archived September 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine ^ "Final Major Weekend of Non Conference Games on Tap" . Archived from the original on September 27, 2013.^ "ULM WKU Set for ESPNU Showdown on Thursday as Conference Play Gears Up" . Sunbeltsports.org. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2012 .^ "Cajuns Flex Muscle Troy Slips Past South Alabama More Sun Belt Action on Tap" . Sunbeltsports.org. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2012 .^ "Sun Belt Conference" .^ Cajuns Red Wolves Ready to Square Off Sun Belt Shines Against Peers Archived October 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine ^ "Sun Belt Teams Chasing Bowl Eligibility" . Archived from the original on October 29, 2013.^ "Sun Belt Conference" . sunbeltsports.org . 2014. Retrieved July 11, 2014 .^ "Sun Belt Ties Non-Conference Win Record; Three Now Bowl Eligible" . Sunbeltsports.org. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013 .^ "Cajuns Keep on Rolling; ASU Makes For Fourth Bowl Eligible Team" . Sunbeltsports.org. Archived from the original on December 1, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013 .^ "Sun Belt Teams Making Late Season Push; Future Member Georgia Southern Defeats Florida" . Sunbeltsports.org. November 25, 2013. Archived from the original on December 1, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013 .^ a b "Week One Sun Belt Conference Football Players of the Week > Sun Belt Conference > Football" . Sunbeltsports.org. Archived from the original on April 16, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2012 .^ a b "WKU's Andrews Headlines All-Sun Belt Football Team After Record-Setting Season" . www.sunbeltsports.org . Sun Belt Conference. December 11, 2013. Retrieved January 3, 2017 .
