2016 Sun Belt Conference football season explained

2016 Sun Belt Conference football season
Color:
  1. 003087
Color Text:
  1. F2A900
League:NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport:Football
Pixels:170
Duration:September 1, 2016
through January 2017
Attendance:1,079,575
No Of Teams:11
Tv:ESPN, CST
Draft:2017 NFL Draft
Draft Link:2017 NFL Draft
Top Pick:TE Gerald Everett, South Alabama
Picked By:Los Angeles Rams, 44th overall
Season:Regular season
Season Champs:Appalachian State & Arkansas State
Second Place:Troy & Idaho
Mvp:Ja’Von Rolland-Jones
Top Scorer:Austin Rehkow (120 points)
Seasonslistnames:Football
Prevseason Year:2015
Nextseason Year:2017

The 2016 Sun Belt Conference football season was the 16th season in which the Sun Belt Conference operated a football league, and was part of the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on September 1 with Appalachian State facing Tennessee.[1] This was the third season for the Sun Belt since realignment that took effect in 2014, which added the tenth and eleventh members — Idaho and New Mexico State. Both teams were previously independents before joining the conference. The Sun Belt Conference is a "Group of Five" conference under the College Football Playoff format along with the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, and the Mountain West Conference.

In this season, the Sun Belt football conference included 11 members: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Idaho, Louisiana–Lafayette, Louisiana–Monroe, New Mexico State, South Alabama, Texas State, and Troy. The conference championship was determined by win–loss record within the conference.

Arkansas State entered the season as defending Sun Belt champions, as they went undefeated in 2015 conference play. The Red Wolves went on to lose to Louisiana Tech in the New Orleans Bowl 28–47.[2]

Preseason

2016 predictions

The 2016 preseason coaches predictions were released on July 21, 2016, with the vote conducted by the head football coaches of each conference school. Appalachian State was picked to win the conference for the first time in school history. After coming second in the conference last year which resulted a trip to the Camellia Bowl, the Mountaineers returned 22 starters on the field for the upcoming season. Arkansas State, which had won at least a share of the conference title in four of the previous five seasons and was returning 13 starters (6 on offense, 7 on defense), was tapped to finish second.

Below are the results of the coaches poll with total points received next to each school and first-place votes in parentheses.

References:[3]

Season

For the first time in the 16-year history of Sun Belt football, a team from the conference was ranked in the top 25 of the AP Poll. In Week 11, the Troy Trojans, with a record of 8-1, received the #25 spot in the AP Poll. The Trojans lost their next game, to Arkansas State, to drop back out of the rankings.

Sun Belt vs other Conferences

Sun Belt vs Power Conference matchups

This is a list of the power conference teams (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC) Sun Belt played in non-conference play. (Rankings from the AP Poll):

Date Visitor Home Site Score
September 1 Appalachian State
  1. 9 Tennessee (SEC)
L 13–20 OT
September 3 South Alabama Mississippi State (SEC) W 21–20
September 10 Arkansas State Auburn (SEC) L 14–51
September 10 Idaho
  1. 8 Washington (Pac-12)
L 14–59
September 10 Troy
  1. 2 Clemson (ACC)
L 24–30
September 10 Louisiana–Monroe
  1. 14 Oklahoma (Big 12)
L 17–59
September 17 Miami (ACC) Appalachian State L 45-10
September 17 Georgia State Wisconsin (Big Ten) L 17–23
September 17 Idaho Washington State (Pac-12) L 6–56
September 17 New Mexico State Kentucky (SEC) L 42–62
September 17 Texas State Arkansas (SEC) L 3–42
October 1 Louisiana–Monroe Auburn (SEC) L 7–58
October 15 Georgia Southern Georgia Tech (ACC) L 24–35
October 29 New Mexico State Texas A&M (SEC) L 10–52
November 5 Georgia Southern Ole Miss (SEC) L 27–37
November 19 South Alabama LSU (SEC) Canceled due to Hurricane Matthew[4] [5]
November 19 Louisiana–Lafayette Georgia (SEC) L 21–35

2016 records against non-conference opponents

Regular Season

Power 5 ConferencesRecord
ACC0–3
Big Ten0–0
Big 120–1
Pac-120–2
SEC1–8
Power 5 Total1–14
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American0–2
Conference USA2–1
Independents1–0
MAC2–3
Mountain West3–4
Other FBS Total8–12
FCS OpponentsRecord
Football Championship Subdivision11–1
Total Non-Conference Record20–27

Postseason

Power 5 ConferencesRecord
ACC0–0
Big Ten0–0
Big 120–0
Pac-120–0
SEC0–0
Power 5 Total0–0
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American1–0
Conference USA0–1
Independents0–0
MAC2–0
Mountain West1–1
Other FBS Total4–2
Total Bowl Record4–2

Players of the Year

2016 Sun Belt Player of the Year awards[6]

AwardPlayerSchool
Player of the YearJa'Von Rolland-JonesArkansas State
Offensive Player of the YearJalin MooreAppalachian State
Defensive Player of the YearRashad DillardTroy
Freshman of the YearClifton DuckAppalachian State
Newcomer of the YearAikeem ColemanIdaho
Coach of the YearPaul PetrinoIdaho

All-Sun BeltTeam

Coaches All-Conference Selections[6]

PositionPlayerClassTeam
First Team Offense
QBBrandon SilversJRTroy
RBJalin MooreSOAppalachian State
RBJordan ChunnJRTroy
WRRobert DavisSRGeorgia State
WRAl RilesSRLouisiana-Lafayette
WREmanuel ThompsonJRTroy
TEGerald EverettSRSouth Alabama
OLParker CollinsSRAppalachian State
OLColby GossettJRAppalachian State
OLJermar ClarkSRArkansas State
OLAndy KwonSRGeorgia Southern
OLAntonio GarciaSRTroy
First Team Defense
DLChris OdomSRArkansas State
DLJa'Von Rolland-JonesJRArkansas State
DLRandy AllenSRSouth Alabama
DLRashad DillardSRTroy
LBIronhead GallonSRGeorgia Southern
LBOtha PetersSRLouisiana-Lafayette
LBRodney ButlerSRNew Mexico State
DBClifton DuckFRAppalachian State
DBMondo WilliamsSRAppalachian State
DBMoney HunterSRArkansas State
DBBobby BakerSRGeorgia State
DBJeremy ReavesJRSouth Alabama
First Team Special Teams
PKYounghoe KooSRGeorgia Southern
PAustin RehkowSRIdaho
RSJabir FryeFRTroy
APJordan ChunnJRTroy
PositionPlayerClassTeam
Second Team Offense
QBMatt LinehanJRIdaho
RBMarcus CoxSRAppalachian State
RBElijah McGuireSRLouisiana-Lafayette
WRShaedon MeadorsJRAppalachian State
WRJosh MageeSRSouth Alabama
WRDeondre DouglasSOTroy
TEBlake MackJRArkansas State
OLBeau NunnSRAppalachian State
OLColton JacksonSRArkansas State
OLSteve MatlockSRIdaho
OLJeff SavageSRLouisiana-Monroe
OLTyler LassiterSRTroy
Second Team Defense
DLTyler LassiterSRAppalachian State
DLTee SimsJRAppalachian State
DLAikeem ColemanJRIdaho
DLTueni LupeamanuSRIdaho
LBJoe DillonFRLouisiana-Lafayette
LBEric BoggsJRAppalachian State
LBKennan GilchristSRAppalachian State
LBXavier Woodson-LusterSRArkansas State
DBCody BrownSRArkansas State
DBJustin CliftonSOArkansas State
DBJaden WrightJRNew Mexico State
DBJalen RountreeSRTroy
Second Team Special Teams
PKAustin RehkowSRIdaho
PBrandon McKeeSRSouth Alabama
RSBlaise TaylorJRArkansas State
APWarren WandSOArkansas State

Honorable Mention: Appalachian State: Barrett Burns, A. J. Howard, Taylor Lamb, Myquon Stout; Arkansas State: Justice Hansen, Chris Humes, Waylon Roberson, Kendall Sanders; Georgia Southern: Kevin Ellison, Darius Jones, Jr., Ukeme Eligwe, B. J. Johnson III; Georgia State: Shawanye Lawrence, Alonzo McGee, Keith Rucker, Chandon Sullivan; Idaho: Trent Cowan, Kaden Elliss, Tony Lashley, Jordan Rose; Louisiana-Lafayette: Keenan Barnes, Karmichael Dunbar, Eddie Gordon, Tre'maine Lightfoot; Louisiana-Monroe: Justin Backus, David Griffith, Ajalen Holley, Frank Sutton, Jr.; New Mexico State: Kourtland Busby, Greg Hogan, Anthony McMeans, Tyler Rogers; South Alabama Roman Buchanan, Kalen Jackson, Xavier Johnson, Kevin Kutchera; Troy: Ryan Kay, William Lloyd, Kamryn Melton, Baron Poole; Texas State: Aaron Brewer, Bryan London, Gabe Loyd, Jordan Mittie.

Home attendance

TeamStadium (Capacity)Game 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7TotalAverage% of Capacity
Appalachian StateKidd Brewer Stadium (24,050)23,37434,65824,78226,93128,47218,699156,91626,152108.74%
Arkansas StateCentennial Bank Stadium (30,382)26,18228,01219,38122,27720,17020,178136,20022,70074.72%
Georgia SouthernPaulson Stadium (25,000)21,25025,73523,47416,78616,850104,09520,81983.28%
Georgia State Georgia Dome (28,155)12,23313,17915,22313,36313,10623,51390,61715,10253.64%
IdahoKibbie Dome (16,000)11,98713,39210,2789,04911,24255,94811,19069.94%
Louisiana–LafayetteCajun Field (36,900)22,66126,89119,20816,96021,36714,259121,34620,22454.81%
Louisiana–MonroeMalone Stadium (30,427)24,7189,52412,73516,07363,05015,76251.8%
New Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium (30,343)17,8528,14210,0856,2805,36647,7259,54531.46%
South AlabamaLadd–Peebles Stadium (33,471)17,69113,08614,74130,83711,56511,01798,93716,48949.26%
Texas StateBobcat Stadium (30,000)33,13322,84518,27815,3148,01097,58019,56065.05%
TroyVeterans Memorial Stadium (30,000)18,88521,14623,91321,76325,78223,764135,25322,54275.14%

Bold – Exceed capacity
†Season High

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016 Sun Belt Football Schedule Announced. sunbeltsports.org. 2016-03-03. 2016-08-24.
  2. News: Louisiana Tech, Kenneth Dixon topple Arkansas State in New Orleans Bowl, 47-28. August 24, 2016. NOLA.com. The Times-Picayune. December 20, 2015. New Orleans.
  3. News: Mountaineers Picked to Win League Title in 2016 . August 24, 2016. Sun Belt Conference. July 21, 2016.
  4. Web site: LSU vs Florida Rescheduled After Hurricane Matthew. Bleacher Report. October 13, 2016. October 13, 2016.
  5. Web site: Football to Host Florida Nov. 19 in Tiger Stadium. LSUSports.net. October 13, 2016. October 13, 2016. October 14, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161014060727/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=211226935. dead.
  6. Web site: Sun Belt announces 2016 Football All-Conference teams and individual awards . December 7, 2016 . Sun Belt Conference . www.sunbeltsports.org . January 4, 2017.

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