Bilo's College Football PASS/FAIL Report Week 7: Sun Belt

Sun Belt

PASS: Troy, Idaho, Appalachian State, UL-Monroe, Arkansas State

Neal brown’s plan is coming to fruition this season at Troy, as the Trojans are all alone at the top of the Sun Belt at 3-0 after a 31-21 win over Georgia State. The Trojans now enjoy a half game lead heading into week 8, but also have to be wondering if Brown will be hired away this off-season.

Idaho destroyed fellow SBC outcast New Mexico State 55-23 this week, and they are making the most of their Sun Belt and FBS swan song this season, as they have won 4 games. It really would be strange to see them bowling one season before playing FCS football in the Big Sky in 2017.

Appalachian State is now a half game behind Troy and are coming back from a rough start, beating UL-Lafayette 24-0 last week. The Mountaineers still must win out until they can jump Troy for the conference title, but this is becoming a race.

Matt Viator picked up his first SBC win in 2016, beating Texas State 40-34. It’s not a lot, but it is a start for this suffering program. I still contend that Viator was the right guy at the right time for this program.

After a miserable start to the season, Arkansas State is now 2-0 in league play after wins over Georgia Southern and South Alabama. Blake Anderson has done a great job holding the Red Wolves together this season.

FAIL: Georgia Southern, Georgia State, New Mexico State, UL-Lafayette, Texas State

Georgia Southern dropped to just 3-3 after a non con loss to Georgia Tech this week. The Eagles need to get back into league play and start grinding away, as they are now just a game out of the lead. GSU cannot afford many more losses, or any more at this rate.

Georgia State is now just 1-5, and are 2 games back in SBC play. This has to be the year where Trent Miles is bounced after the Panthers started the season with so much hope and promise.

New Mexico State is not taking advantage of their swan song in SBC play after losing by 32 to Idaho. Even if Martin is fired as coach, it may not matter. In my 35 years of following and direct involvement in college football, NMSU has had one winning (6-5) record. Futility is an Aggie.

Mark Hudspeth is losing his football team right now. The Cajuns were streaking a couple of short years ago, but the wheels somehow fell off the wagon, and they are in full regression. ULL is just 2-4 this fall.

Everett Withers will likely have a hard time explaining the loss to ULM this week, but he has to get the focus back. That’s how it goes as a first year head coach at a place like Texas State. You take steps forward and back.