2011 College Football Preview: Sun Belt

As usual, my 2011 College Football Preview includes information compiled from a variety of sources, most notably the work of Phil Steele. Check out his preview publications and material on his website. I also scour local newspapers and school websites for updated information, but it should be noted that all information contained in team and conference previews is only current up to the date of that post's publication.

SUN BELT CONFERENCE
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Florida International
2. Troy
3. Louisiana-Monroe
4. Arkansas State
5. Middle Tennessee State
6. North Texas
7. Florida Atlantic
8. Western Kentucky

Top Storylines to Watch in the Sun Belt

The rise of FIU. In 2006 and 2007, Florida International combined for one win in 24 games. The Golden Panthers lost 17 of those 23 games by at least ten points. 2007, though, started the Mario Cristobal era, and the former Miami tight ends and offensive line coach has turned the FIU program around very quickly. Last year, FIU went 7-6, advancing to a bowl game for the first time in their short FBS history. A team that couldn't matriculate the ball down the field for three years finally fielded a passable offensive attack last season, averaging nearly 400 yards and 30 points per game. Reigning league player of the year T.Y. Hilton is back, as is senior quarterback Wesley Carroll. Senior running back Darriet Perry returns after scoring 16 touchdowns a year ago. The Golden Panthers have seven starters back on defense, including leading tackler Jonathan Cyprien, who was first-team All-Sun Belt last year. For once, FIU doesn't have a BCS tour of doom this year, with Louisville the only team from an AQ league on the schedule ... and that's a winnable game. Cristobal's team could win nine or ten games if things go right this year.

Troy stays consistent. Since a 4-7 hiccup in 2005, Troy has been the most consistent team in the league. The Trojans have won 41 games over the last five seasons, including two bowl wins and a win over Big 12 member Oklahoma State in 2007. This year, Troy has eight starters back on a defense that was uneven for most of last year. They'll look to linebacker Xavier Lamb, cornerback Jimmie Anderson, and safety Brynden Trawick to lead the way this year. Corey Robinson earned the starting quarterback job as a freshman last year, and he thrived for the most part, throwing for over 3,700 yards. The offense needs more out of junior back Shawn Southward, but Robinson will improve as he becomes more of a leader and more experienced in the offense. A road game at FIU in late October will probably decide the league title.

Can Arkansas State break through? After another disappointing season under Steve Roberts, the school decided to make a coaching change. The Red Wolves didn't look far to replace Roberts, as they hired offensive coordinator Hugh Freeze to take over the program. ASU will continue the transition to a pass-happy attack under Freeze, one that set a school FBS record with 30 points per game last year (joined FCS in 1992). He has the right quarterback in Ryan Aplin, a dual-threat who totaled 32 touchdowns last year (21 pass), and he will improve on his 61.5 percent completions in his second year as the starter. His top three targets are back, and the Red Wolves have seven starters back on defense. Arkansas State has to play early-season games at Illinois and Virginia Tech, but they get FIU and Troy at home in league play and could be a threat.

Dan McCarney lands in Denton. After former high-school coach Todd Dodge bombed, North Texas took a safe route with its latest coaching hire. Former Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney, a longtime defensive coach, got the job. Expect immediate improvement in many areas, including a defense that made strides last year and returns seven starters. Dodge's spread offense never caught on, largely because the Mean Green had too many issues with injuries at quarterback. The offense won't change much, as coordinator Mike Canales was retained. Sophomore quarterback Derek Thompson returns after his 2010 was ruined by injuries. If the transition is as smooth as expected, the Mean Green could christen their new stadium with a bowl-eligible campaign.

The Rest of the Story

17 starters return for Louisiana-Monroe, and the Warhawks could contend for the league title. Quarterback Kolton Browning played like a freshman at times last year, which made sense because he was a freshman. With so many pieces back, Browning is looking to have a huge season. ... A largely disappointing season ended poorly for Middle Tennessee last year, as the Blue Raiders fell to Miami in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. MTSU loses eight starters on defense, and projects to start a lot of freshmen and sophomores there. It could be a tough season ... Howard Schnellenberger's last season at Florida Atlantic features a new stadium, which the Owls will open against Western Kentucky after a five-game road swing to start the season. FAU won only four times last year, but could improve if the coaches can find a comfort zone with a starting quarterback. ... It's been a struggle for Western Kentucky since joining the FBS, but Willie Taggart has things pointed in the right direction. The Hilltoppers won twice last season in Taggart's first year, but return 15 starters and have a more manageable schedule. Four or five wins might not be out of reach for WKU.

College Football 2010: Sun Belt

Yes, we're doing a College Football Preview again. Yes, you know I love Phil Steele's work. Order from his plethora of preview options here. I'm also armed with The Sporting News College Football 2010, and I picked up the Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook this year, too. I've also done research through local newspapers and school websites to try to get the most up-to-date information on the teams.

Sun Belt Conference
1. Middle Tennessee State
2. Troy
3. Arkansas State
4. North Texas
5. Louisiana
6. Florida Atlantic
7. Florida International
8. Louisiana-Monroe
9. Western Kentucky

Stories to Watch in the Sun Belt

Will the overall competitiveness improve? We keep waiting for the Sun Belt to get over the hump, in a way. Member schools play a lot of "guarantee" games, where they get a large paycheck in exchange for traveling to a big school to get their asses kicked. And those ass-kickings are still happening. Last year, league champion Troy lost by 17 to Bowling Green, 50 to Florida, and 36 to Arkansas. Middle Tennessee State lost by 23 to Clemson and by 21 to non-bowl Mississippi State. Florida Atlantic lost to Nebraska by 46 and South Carolina by 22. Louisiana lost to LSU by 28 and Nebraska by 55. It's a problem, and it's going to continue to be a problem. Even the best the Sun Belt has to offer simply can't compete with the nation's top teams. The best that the Sun Belt can hope for is to get a lower-rung team from a major conference to visit one of their campuses, at which point the league has a chance to pick up a much-needed non-conference win. This year, Minnesota travels to Middle Tennessee State, North Texas hosts Kansas State, Oklahoma visits Lafayette, FIU gets Rutgers at home, Western Kentucky hosts Indiana, and Florida Atlantic plays a "home" game in Detroit against Michigan State. Good luck.

MTSU "dashes" to top. While Troy tries to reload at quarterback, Middle Tennessee State hits the ground running. Senior Dwight Dasher needs to improve his mediocre accuracy, but he brings every other tool the Blue Raiders could possibly want. He led the team with over 1,100 yards rushing last year, and also threw for 2,800 while accounting for 36 total touchdowns. The running game will be dynamic this year, thanks to the return of senior Phillip Tanner from injury. He's joined in the backfield by D.D. Kyles, who ended up running for over 800 yards in his place last year. Wide receiver Garrett Andrews returns, but the Blue Raiders do have to reload a bit on the perimeter. Elsewhere on offense, things look great. The defense brings back six starters, including leading sacker Jamari Lattimore and All-Sun Belt safety Jeremy Kellem. The Blue Raiders look the part of league favorite this year, and they might be able to reach ten wins for a second straight season.

North Texas is back. This is the year fourth-year head coach Todd Dodge has been waiting for. The Mean Green have talented players all over the field. The major question comes at quarterback, where fifth-year senior Nathan Tune starts after Riley Dodge was moved to receiver after suffering another serious injury to his throwing arm. Dodge -- the coach's son -- was one of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the country coming out of high school, but he couldn't stay healthy. The offense around Tune looks to be very good. Star back Lance Dunbar returns after a 1,400-yard season with 17 touchdowns. Leading receivers Jamaal Jackson and Darius Carey return, and four starters are back on the offensive line. After a disastrous 2008 season for the defense, it got a bit better last year. With eight starters back, more is expected this year. The Mean Green have to both make more big plays on defense and take better care of the football on offense. UNT has averaged a minus-14 turnover differential in the last four seasons, which won't get them to a bowl game.

Best of the rest
I mentioned above that Troy has to reload a bit. The Trojans lost starting quarterback Levi Brown and eight defensive starters, including leading tacklers Bear Woods and Boris Lee, along with sack leader Brandon Lang. That's a lot, but Troy has proven in the past they have more depth than anyone in the Sun Belt. ... Departed quarterback Corey Leonard and running back Reggie Arnold didn't get it done for Arkansas State last year. Now, the Red Wolves have a new quarterback in Ryan Aplin and a new running back in Derek Lawson. Don't be surprised if the athletic duo get plenty of room to maneuver behind an offensive line that returns intact. ... Louisiana has a nasty non-conference schedule this year (at Georgia, at Mississippi, at Ohio), and could struggle overall if quarterback Chris Masson continues to improve. The Ragin Cajuns bring back eight starters on defense, and junior cornerback Dwight Bentley could be a star. ... Venerable coach Howard Schnellenberger has built the Florida Atlantic program from scratch, and he's done well, getting the Owls to two bowl games. This year will be a challenge, as the Owls return two offensive starters and play a brutal non-conference schedule. ... Mississippi State transfer Wesley Carroll and Syracuse transfer Jeremiah Harden have emerged in the Florida International backfield. FIU continues to improve under Mario Cristobal, and better days are ahead. Those days are probably not imminent, though. Carroll and Harden should improve the Golden Panthers' offense, but not enough to get them to a bowl. ... Former Army coach Todd Berry -- who engineered some total disasters there -- takes over at Louisiana-Monroe. The Warhawks were awfully close to a bowl last year, but now are faced with overhauling their offense and replacing seven starters on defense. ... Western Kentucky is still building a program that can compete in I-A (FBS, whatever). Former Stanford assistant Willie Taggart takes over after an 0-12 season, and there is promise in sophomore quarterback Kawaun Jakes.

Preseason Sun Belt Superlatives
Best QB: Dwight Dasher, Middle Tennessee State
Best RB: Lance Dunbar, North Texas
Best WR: Jamaal Jackson, North Texas
Best offense: Middle Tennessee State
Best defense: Arkansas State
Best coach: Larry Blakeney, Troy
Coach in the most trouble: Rickey Bustle, Louisiana
Best non-conference game: Minnesota at Middle Tennessee State, Sept. 2
Worst non-conference game: Austin Peay at Middle Tennessee State, Sept. 11

College Football 2009: Sun Belt

This year's College Football Preview uses information gathered from many sources. As usual, my full endorsement goes to Phil Steele and his College Football Preview, which is the most comprehensive publication of its kind available. I also used The Sporting News College Football Preview, along with school websites and local newspapers, in my research for these preview posts. Please contact me ASAP if you have updated information that can be used to make this work more accurate.

1. Troy
2. Arkansas State
3. Middle Tennessee
4. Florida Atlantic
5. Florida International
6. Louisiana-Monroe
7. Louisiana-Lafayette
8. North Texas
9. Western Kentucky

Fab Four: Top Storylines in Sun Belt

Tony Franklin's arrival in Murfreesboro. It wasn't exactly as big as Lane Kiffin in Knoxville, but Franklin's hire by Middle Tennessee made headlines, and it could create a change atop the Sun Belt. The Blue Raiders will now run Franklin's wide-open spread, and he won't have to worry about alumni, administrators, or head coaches getting in the way (hi, Auburn!). He also won't have to worry about finding any talent. Philip Tanner ran for 15 touchdowns last year, the top receivers are all back, and Franklin simply needs to groom the right quarterback. That guy could end up being Dwight Dasher, if he improves his horrific accuracy from last season. On defense, the Blue Raiders bring back leading tackler Danny Carmichael and all-conference safety Jeremy Kellem. Early trips to Clemson and Maryland are survivable, and MTSU might be able to split those. An Oct. 6 Tuesday night game at Troy could define the Blue Raiders' title chances.

FIU's continued improvement. Just two years ago, the Golden Panthers were a laughingstock of college football. They were coming off a season where they averaged under ten points per game, went 0-12, and were involved in a humilating on-field fight at Miami. Mario Cristobal has changed much of the perception surrounding this program. They won just once in 2007, but went through some of the growing pains necessary to build a program the right way. Last year, FIU won a non-conference road game for the first time since their move to Division I-A (er, FBS), as they beat Toledo 35-16. FIU opened a new on-campus stadium, played competitively for much of the season, and look to be even better this season. The next hump is the toughest one to get over, as Cristobal looks to get Florida International into bowl eligibility. Senior quarterback Paul McCall needs to take even better care of the ball, and FIU has to find a running game somehow. The defense features a lot of youth, especially in the front seven, but it's a group that played some of its best football down the stretch last year.

Beating on the new guy. Last year, Western Kentucky played five games against Sun Belt teams, the final year before becoming a full member of the league. The Hilltoppers went 0-5 as part of their 2-10 season, and they were outscored 140-80, an average margin of 12 points per game. Things should get better this year, but don't look for WKU to crack the upper half of the league. A defense that got pounded last year lost seven starters, including leading tackler Travis Watters and two cornerbacks. With a freshman (Kawaun Jakes) possibly taking over at quarterback, the onus is on running back Tyrell Hayden to stay healthy and have a productive senior season. The schedule is a bit lighter, with trips to Tennessee and Navy the only daunting roadies, as opposed to the Indiana/Alabama/Kentucky/Virginia Tech gauntlet they had to deal with last year. WKU is still probably a year or two away from being seriously competitive in the Sun Belt.

Troy's dominance continues. There are teams like Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee ready to knock them off, but can they? Troy sports a top quarterback in Levi Brown and a solid running back in DuJuan Harris. Not only that, but leading receiver Jerrel Jernigan is now joined by Oklahoma transfer Josh Jarboe, who could be lighting up SBC defenses pretty quickly. An experienced offensive line should keep Brown well-protected (Troy quarterbacks took just 13 sacks last year, and the line kept a clean sheet in five games) while opening plenty of lanes for Harris, who is also becoming a solid receiving option out of the backfield. Defensively, the Trojans have to replace six starters, but they've always been pretty good at rebuilding on that side of the ball. Linebacker Boris Lee and cornerback Jorrick Calvin should emerge as the leaders this year. The Trojans don't have much of a shot to be a BCS buster because of the Sun Belt's stature, but they do have a shot to shock the world Sept. 12, when they play at Florida. Remember, Troy led LSU 31-3 in the third quarter last year before giving up 37 straight points.

Best of the rest

15 starters are back at Arkansas State after last year's team fell just short of a bowl. Seniors Corey Leonard and Reggie Arnold lead the way from the offensive backfield. ... If Rusty Smith can stay healthy and continue to be effective, Florida Atlantic should be able to challenge for a top spot. The Owls get Middle Tennessee and Arkansas State at home, but early trips to Nebraska and South Carolina could hurt their confidence. ... Leader Kinsmon Lancaster is gone, but Louisiana-Monroe brings back 17 starters. Finding a quarterback is a key to bowl eligibility, as is finding a way to diversify the offense. Too much was placed on Lancaster's shoulders. ... Louisiana-Lafayette also loses their offensive stars, as quarterback Michael Desormeaux and running back Tyrell Fenroy are gone. The Ragin' Cajuns face long odds if they want to overcome these losses, as the two combined for over 4,000 total yards and 37 touchdowns. ... After years of respectable defense under Darrell Dickey, Todd Dodge has seen North Texas become a joke on that side of the ball. They've won three games in two years under Dodge, and they've allowed fewer than 30 points exactly twice in those 24 games. It doesn't matter how good the Mean Green become at running the spread with quarterback Riley Dodge (Todd's son). They have to learn how to stop people. Now.

Preseason Sun Belt Honors and Notables
Offensive Player of the Year: Rusty Smith, QB, Florida Atlantic
Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Carrington, DE, Arkansas State
Coach of the Year: Rick Stockstill, Middle Tennessee
Coach on the Hot Seat: Todd Dodge, North Texas
Best non-conference game: Mississippi State at Middle Tennessee, October 17
Worst non-conference game: Mississippi Valley State at Arkansas State, September 5

COLLEGE FOOTBALL '08: SUN BELT

Welcome to The Ciskie Blog's 2008 College Football Preview. As usual, you can expect a rundown of every Division I-A (or "Football Bowl Subdivision", if you prefer) conference, as well as a brief look at the independents. Some of the information used to compile these previews came from various football preview publications that I took the time to review this summer. I give a full endorsement to Phil Steele's College Football Preview (the national edition, as well as his various regional magazines). I also have looked at Sporting News, Athlon Sports, and Blue Ribbon (via ESPN Insider). Information was also gathered from local newspapers and school websites. Please use the comments section or e-mail for feedback, questions, and any corrections you feel need to be noted.

1. Florida Atlantic
2. Louisiana-Monroe
3. Arkansas State
4. Louisiana-Lafayette
5. Troy
6. Middle Tennessee
7. North Texas
8. Florida International

TOP FIVE STORYLINES IN SUN BELT
Florida Atlantic is the class of the league. After their first conference title and first bowl berth last season, the Owls appear poised for a run at serious respect this year. I'm sure that the administration had visions of a successful program when they started up in 2001, but the fact they've come so far so fast is a tribute to legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger. Junior QB Rusty Smith (see photo) is the star of the show on the field, off a 32-touchdown season a year ago. Smith will be helped a great bit by the returns of feature back Charles Pierre and the top ten receivers from last year's team. Junior Cortez Gant is the top pass-catcher, as he topped 1,000 yards last year. FAU does need to get better on defense, where the Owls allowed well over 30 points per game while giving up 4.7 yards per carry and a 64.0 completion percentage to opponents. Schnellenberger is working on the team's ratcheted expectations this year by saying he feels they have a real chance in the opener at Texas. They might not win that game, but the schedule sets up well for nine or ten regular-season wins.

Can Louisiana-Monroe keep going after a 5-1 finish to 2007? Oh, and one of those wins was over Alabama. Not Alabama-Birmingham, Alabama State, or Alabama A&M. Alabama. The Crimson Tide. Anyway, the Warhawks did indeed finish the season 5-1, including that huge upset. For Charlie Weatherbie's club to carry it over, they have to replace three key players who have moved on. RB Calvin Dawson ran for over 1,400 yards and scored 12 times. CBs Darrius Battles and Quintez Secka combined for 20 pass breakups and played well in coverage for a good chunk of the season, standing out on a rather poor defense. QB Kinsmon Lancaster (right) returns after showing real progress a year ago, and the new spread offense incorporated by coordinator Steve Farmer really suits Lancaster's mobility and short-passing talents. If Weatherbie can steer this team through early-season games at Auburn and Arkansas, the Warhawks are poised to make a run at a bowl bid.

Biggest shoes to fill: Omar Haugabook. In 2005, Troy managed just 16 points per game on offense. They added a touchdown to that total in 2006, Haugabook's junior year. Last year, it ballooned to 34, as Haugabook accounted for 29 total touchdowns (18 passing). Only a home loss to Florida Atlantic in the season finale kept Troy from going to a bowl game. Now, Haugabook is gone, and the coaching staff is left with three candidates to replace him. Based on what I've read, sophomore Jamie Hampton has the upper hand on the job, and he'll be fortunate to be surrounded by a strong, experienced offensive line. In Troy's spread, Hampton's mobility will be a key, as will the play of new starting RB Maurice Greer, a Colorado transfer. Quickly reloading the offense will be a huge key to success for Troy, as will their ability to replace another first-round NFL draft pick on defense (CB Leodis McKelvin).

Experienced QBs all over. Yes, Haugabook is gone, but other teams are in great shape under center. Smith returns at FAU, and we already mentioned Lancaster at ULM. Also back are Michael Desormeaux at Louisiana-Lafayette, Corey Leonard from Arkansas State, Dwight Dasher and Joe Craddock (Middle Tennessee), Giovanni Vizza of North Texas, and Paul McCall from Florida International. The most intriguing position battle in the league may be at North Texas, where Vizza - off a solid freshman season - faces a serious challenge from freshman Riley Dodge. Riley's father, Todd Dodge, is the UNT head coach and architect of the Mean Green's version of the spread. It's an offense Riley knows well from his time playing for his dad at Southlake Carroll High School in Texas.

Desormeaux developing as a passer. For Louisiana-Lafayette to make a move this year, the senior has to continue improving as a throwing QB. With over 1,100 yards rushing last year and over 2,000 yards rushing in his ULL career, there's no question Desormeaux can run the ball. If he can't pass it, the Ragin Cajuns will not do much better than last year's 3-9 record. ULL has two experienced wideouts to work with, and coach Rickey Bustle has talked openly about improving the passing game this year. If they can find a way to get even a good passing game going, a rushing attack that averaged 252 yards per game last year will only improve, and so will Lafayette's record.

BEST OF THE REST
Arkansas State sports a new nickname (Red Wolves), but the same backfield they had last year. Leonard and RB Reggie Arnold (right) return after helping the offense improve by ten points per game over a miserable 2005. The Craddock-Dasher battle for the QB job at Middle Tennessee is going to be entertaining, and it might not be decided in fall camp. Craddock is a better passer, and Dasher a better athlete, leading MTU with 530 rushing yards last year. Besides Vizza vs. Dodge, the other top storyline at North Texas is the defense. They allowed a ghastly 45 points per game last year, giving up almost 500 yards per game. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that it needs to improve if UNT is to make any kind of move back up the standings. A new on-campus stadium will probably be the highlight of the season for Florida International. They'll play five games in the new digs, and while the building process is underway, there is still much work to be done for Mario Cristobal. He gets 18 starters back, and many of them are quite young.

PRESEASON AWARDS AND NOTABLES
Offensive Player of the Year: Rusty Smith, QB, FAU
Defensive Player of the Year: Frantz Joseph, LB, FAU
Coach of the Year: Charlie Weatherbie, Louisiana-Monroe
Coach on the Hot Seat: Rickey Bustle, Louisiana-Lafayette
Best Non-Conference Game: UTEP at Louisiana-Lafayette, November 8
Worst Non-Conference Game: Alcorn State at Troy, September 13

COLLEGE FOOTBALL '07: SUN BELT

1. Troy
2. Louisiana-Monroe
3. Arkansas State
4. Florida Atlantic
5. Louisiana-Lafayette
6. Middle Tennessee
7. Florida International
8. North Texas

-->TOP FIVE STORYLINES IN THE SUN BELT

5. Will a Sun Belt team pull an upset? If not, it won't be for a lack of opportunity. Troy plays Oklahoma State at home, Florida Atlantic "hosts" Minnesota at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, Middle Tennessee gets Virginia at home, and Florida International entertains Maryland. Troy upset Missouri in 2004, but it's been a struggle for the Sun Belt teams against BCS foes since then. For a change, it looks like more of the SBC schools are getting home games against the big boys, which will help the upset cause. But it'll take more than one upset of a clearly overrated ranked team three years ago before people are going to take this league seriously.

4. Who will rise from the middle of the pack to be a league contender? In 2004, it was Troy, a first-year member of the league. In 2005, Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette rose from near the bottom to battle Louisiana-Monroe for the league title. Last year, Middle Tennessee went from 3-4 in league play to 6-1, earning a bowl bid in the process. If the trend holds, it probably predicts good fortune for someone among the group of Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Monroe, and Louisiana-Lafayette. Thanks to a returning back who topped 1,000 yards as a freshman, I'm giving the nod to Arkansas State. Reggie Arnold should continue his solid running, and coach Steve Roberts appears to have the tools necessary to field a more balanced offense this year.

3. Will Rusty Smith get FAU's offense going? Howard Schnellenberger has a potential contender on his hands. If it doesn't happen this year, it surely will next year. The Owls have ten starters back on defense, including four seniors who will be in their third year starting. Where Florida Atlantic doesn't have seniors, they have experienced juniors like MLB Frantz Joseph. Smith is expected to get the snaps at quarterback, where he shared time with Sean Clayton last year. Smith was the more accurate of the two, but the Owls need better playmaking out of that position if they're going to improve upon the 15 points per game average from 2006. The running game will be better, thanks to an experienced offensive line and junior Charles Pierre, who was honorable mention All-Sun Belt last year.

2. Can Louisiana-Monroe play enough defense to win games? The Warhawks were decent defensively last year, allowing just 22 points per game against a pretty tough schedule. That unit loses five players, including leading tackler Kevin Payne. Coach Charlie Weatherbie expects to have a very good offense, with all eleven starters back. The Warhawks averaged 34 points per game over their last four, going 3-1 in that stretch to finish 4-8. ULM will spread out opponents and attack both with the run and pass, relying on senior Calvin Dawson to run it while improved junior Kinsmon Lancaster throws. A defensive front that is short on athleticism could hurt ULM, especially early in the season. Their first four games are all tough (Tulsa at home, followed by games at Clemson, Texas A&M, and Troy).

1. Could Troy have a better setup for a repeat? After a 7-1 finish took the Trojans from the outhouse to the penthouse, they're back to try it again this year. An 0-3 start wouldn't surprise anyone, thanks to games against Arkansas, Florida, and Oklahoma State. However, the Trojans have a fast, experienced defense, and they possess the league's best player in senior QB Omar Haugabook. He hurts opponents both with his arm and his legs. The Trojans also have a favorable league schedule, getting ULM, Middle Tennessee, and FAU all at home. If Troy can overcome a deadly non-conference schedule (add a late-season game against Georgia to the earlier list), they should have plenty of ammunition for a run at the SBC crown.

CISKIE BLOG PRESEASON SUN BELT AWARDS AND NOTABLES
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Omar Haugabook, QB, Troy
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Eric Walden, DE, Middle Tennessee
Preseason Coach of the Year: Charlie Weatherbie, Louisiana-Monroe
Coach on the Hot Seat: Rickey Bustle, Louisiana-Lafayette
Bowl Bound: Troy
Bowl Bubble: Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State
Best Non-Conference Game: Tulsa at Louisiana-Monroe, August 30
Worst Non-Conference Game: Grambling at Louisiana-Monroe, November 10