The Sun Belt Conference struggled in week 3, yet the top teams in the conference were able to shine. There were no upsets, but multiple teams came close to pulling one off. Some teams moved up in the rankings despite a loss due to how well they played a power conference team.
- James Madison
It is hard to describe how big of a win the Dukes got on the road at San Diego State. James Madison’s starting quarterback, JC Evans was out with injury for the second week in a row, and it didn’t faze the Dukes, cruising to a 26-13 victory. Up next will be the conference opener against Old Dominion.
- App State
The other undefeated team in the conference, App State defeated in-state rival Charlotte after a lightning delay caused the latest kickoff in Kidd Brewer Stadium history. For the second consecutive week, the score was closer than it needed to be, but the Mountaineers got to 3-0. A big test for App State will be next, traveling to Raleigh, North Carolina to take on NC State.
- Troy
- Georgia State
Georgia State lost to UCF Saturday, but put up 30 points, and the offense as a whole continues to be one of the best in the FBS. Another opportunity for a big nonconference win against Northern Illinois presents itself next.
- Louisiana Tech
Another team that put up a strong fight against a power conference team. Louisiana Tech gave LSU struggles, and now Baylor. The Bulldogs are 1-2, but have played the toughest schedule in the conference, and have looked solid in the process.
- Coastal Carolina
- South Alabama
South Alabama has the third most yards in the Sun Belt after three weeks, and an opportunity for an upset against Kentucky. Wide receiver Brendan Jenkins, as well as one of the best running back rooms in the conference, will have to have another big game if the Jaguars want to pull off a shocker.
- Louisiana
- Arkansas State
- Georgia Southern
- Marshall
Slowly but surely for Marshall, who did take down Missouri State to improve to 2-1. The Thundering Herd are still looking to get more from preseason offensive player of the year, quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson.
- Old Dominion
- Southern Miss
- ULM
The bottom two sports are much further down than the rest, but ULM is in a league of its own. A loss to FCS Southeastern Louisiana moves the Warhawks to 0-3 with a brutal start to conference play looming.
Cover picture courtesy South Alabama Athletics.