College Football '09: A look at this year's Sun Belt Conference

Does the Sun Belt Conference make any BCS noise in '09. Who would a candidate be for '09? How does the conference breakdown in '09 for Sun Belt?

• The Sun Belt is ranked by Jeff Sagarin as a lowest conference in FBS

• The Sun Belt is ranked lower than the Colonial Conference, which is in the FCS

Ranked teams in the AP and Coaches' preseason polls:

none, with Troy receiving one vote in each poll

Preseason magazines don't like any Sun Belt teams in the Top 25 preseason:

none

Teams rebuilding in the Sun Belt in '09

• UL - Lafeyette

Teams rated below the FBS mark of #120 in 2009?

• UL -Lafayette
• UL -Monroe
• Western Kentucky
• FIU
• North Texas

Will the Sun Belt Conference finish this way in 2009??

1. Troy * (6-1 in '08) (1-2 in bowls)
2. Arkansas State (4-3) (0-1)
3. Middle Tennessee (3-4) (0-1)
4. Florida Atlantic (4-3) (2-0)
5. Florida International (3-4) (none)
6. Lousisiana - Monroe (3-4) (none)
7. Louisisiana - Lafayette (5-2) (none)
8. North Texas (0-7) (1-5)
9. Western Kentucky # (0-5) (none)

* denotes 2008 Sun Belt Conference champs (source for above list)

# New full member in 2009, after moving to FBS in 2008.

Last BCS title winner

• No Sun Belt team has ever participated in a BCS bowl.

Kickoff Game of the Season

Thursday, September 4Th
Troy @ Bowling Green

Bowling Green, Ohio

TV: none

Final Look at the Sun Belt teams, using the preseason Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings:

1. Troy (# 70 in Sagarin ratings) - Coach Larry Blakeney enters his 19Th season at the helm for the Trojans. The Trojans are the most competetitive and consistent program of late in the Sun Belt. The 8-5 team in '08 return 52 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 5 DEF plus both kickers from a team coming off a 27-30 loss to Southern Miss to close out the season in the New Orleans. Troy opens in OOC @ Bowling Green @ Florida, vs. UAB, then a huge Sun Belt opener @ Arkansas State. Final OOC game is at Arkansas on 11/14.
2. Middle Tennesse (# 106) - Coach Rick Stockstill enters 4Th year after a 5-7 record in '08. The Blue Raiders return 45 letterwinners, with 10 OFF and 6 DEF plus both kickers. The Blue Raiders open the '09 seaon @ Clemson, vs. Memphis, @ Maryland, then enter Sun Belt play. Final OOC game is vs. Mississippi State on 10/17 coming off bye week.
3. Florida Atlantic (# 112) - Coach Howard Schnellenberger enters his 9Th season and is the only coach in FAU history for the Owls, who started football in '01. The Owls 7-6 team from '08 return 46 letterwinners, 8 OFF and 3 DEF plus their punter, from the team that defeated Central Michigan 24-21 in the Motor City. The Owls open '09 @ Nebraska, bye week, @ South Carolina, the Sun Belt opener vs. ULM, vs. Wyoming. Final OOC game is @ UAB to open November.
4. Arkansas State (# 119) - Coach Steve Roberts enters his 8Th year for the Red Wolves coming off a 6-6 record in '08. The Red Wolves return 51 letterwinners, including 7 OFF and 8 DEF plus their placekicker. They open '09 vs. Mississippi Valley State, @ Nebraska, bye week before the Sun Belt opener vs. Troy, @ Iowa and travel on Halloween @ Louisville.
5. Louisiana - Lafayette (# 123) - Coach Ricky Bustle is entering 8Th season at the helm of the Ragin' Cajuns. The Ragin' Cajuns return 50 letterwinners, including 7 OFF and 9 DEF plus punter from their 6-6 squad from '08. They open '09 season vs. Southern, vs. Kansas State, @ LSU and @ Nebraska, before a bye week and the run in the Sun Belt Conference.
6. Louisiana - Monroe (# 127) - Coach Charlie Weatherbie is entering his 7Th year at the helm for the Warhawks. Last year the Warhawks finished 4-8. They return 40 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 9 DEF plus both kickers. They open in '09 @ Texas, vs. Texas Southern, @ Arizona State and later play @ Kentucky on 10/24 for their OOC games.
7. Western Kentucky (# 133) - Coach David Elson begins his 7Th year and will enter a full slate of Sun Belt games finally in '09. The Hilltoppers return 33 letterwinners, with 8 OFF and 4 DEF plus their punter from last year's 2-10 team. The Hilltoppers open '09 play @ Tennessee, vs. USF, vs. Central Arkansas and @ Navy, before a bye week and play in the conference.
8. Florida International (# 147) - Coach Mario Cristobal enters his 3Rd season in Miami at the Golden Panthers' helm. They finished 5-7 last year and return 55 letterwinners, with 10 OFF and 6 DEF plus PK Dustin Rivest will take over both duties in '09. The Golden Panthers open the '09 season a week later than most teams @ Alabama, @ Rutgers, vs. Toledo, then enter conference play. On 11/21, FIU will travel to face preseason #1 Florida.
9. North Texas (# 165) - Coach Todd Dodge enters his 3Rd season at the helm for the Mean Green after leaving head coaching at the Texas high school level. The Mean Green were 1-11 last year and return 47 letterwinners, with 7 OFF and 9 DEF plus their PK. North Texas opens the '09 season @ Ball State, vs. Ohio U., @ Alabama, then opens Sun Belt play vs. Middle Tennessee. The final OOC game is 11/21 vs. Army.

A look back at last year's statistics in the Sun Belt.

peace