NEW ORLEANS – Four Sun Belt teams will participate in Bowl Season following a historic 2021 campaign that saw three team accumulate double-digit wins during the regular season for the first time in conference history. 
 
Coastal Carolina (10-2, 6-2 Sun Belt) is headed to the Tailgreeter Cure Bowl for its second-ever bowl appearance and will be in search of its first-ever bowl victory. The Chanticleers will square off against MAC champion Northern Illinois (9-4, 6-2 MAC) at 5:00 p.m. CT on Friday, Dec. 17, in Orlando, Fla., with the game being nationally broadcast on ESPN2. 
 
App State (10-3, 7-1 Sun Belt) will make its seventh-straight bowl appearance and will attempt to make it seven-straight bowl victories in the RoofClaim.com

Louisiana (12-1, 8-0 Sun Belt), which defeated App State, 24-16, in Saturday’s Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Game, is bound for its fourth-straight bowl game in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The Sun Belt champion Ragin’ Cajuns will face future conference foe Marshall (7-5, 5-3 Conference USA) at 8:15 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 18, in New Orleans, La. 

Georgia State (7-5, 6-2 Sun Belt) will round out the Sun Belt’s postseason lineup, with its third-straight and fifth all-time bowl appearance coming in the TaxAct Camellia Bowl. The Panthers will match up against Ball State (6-6, 4-4 MAC) at 1:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Dec. 25, in Montgomery, Ala. 

The RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and TaxAct Camellia Bowl will each be broadcast nationwide on ESPN. 

The Sun Belt has won 69 percent of its bowl games over the past five seasons—including 4-of-5 a year ago—to lead all FBS conferences.

The post Four Sun Belt football programs going bowling appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2021 Football Postseason Honors on Monday morning. The all-conference teams and individual award winners were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Alabama A&M’s Aqeel Glass was selected Offensive Player of the Year while Florida A&M’s Isaiah Land was tabbed Defensive Player of the Year. Jackson State’s James Houston was named Newcomer of the Year. Jackson State’s Shedeur Sander was selected for Freshman of the Year accolades while JSU’s Deion Sanders was tabbed Coach of the Year to round out the list of individual award winners.

Offensive Player of the Year

Alabama A&M’s Glass closed one of the most impressive careers in league history with a fitting final campaign, recording 3,568 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 356.8 yards per game along with a 160.8 passing efficiency in ten games. He recorded five games of at least 400 passing yards in Fall 2021, including resetting the program’s NCAA Division I Era record with 462 yards in a single game. Additionally, he has been named one of 25 finalists for the Walter Payton Award representing the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and was the first selection to the Inaugural HBCU Legacy Bowl.

Defensive Player of the Year

Florida A&M’s Land was one of the top players in the nation this past season as he was selected as one of 25 players named to the Buck Buchanan Award Finalist list. At the conclusion of regular season play he led the nation with 25.5 tackles for loss and 19 sacks. Land also added three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. He was named Week 4 BOXTOROW Player of the Week after a three-sack performance. Land was also named SWAC Defensive Player of the Week after setting a Rattlers’ record five sacks versus South Carolina State. He recorded a sack or tackles for loss in ten of the 11 games this season and recorded two or more sacks in five games and did the same for tackles for loss in six games.

Newcomer of the Year

Jackson State’s Houston concluded regular season play as one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the SWAC. During regular season play he totaled 59 tackles (44 solo) and 20.5 tackles for loss for -125 yards. Houston also contributed 14.5 sacks for -102 yards, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one defensive touchdown, and eight QB hurries. The Tigers featured the top-ranked defense at the conclusion of regular season play and allow just 13.8 points and 258.3 yards per game.

Freshman of the Year

Jackson State’s Sanders had a stellar debut season for the Tigers as he has been named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Jerry Rice award. At the conclusion of regular season play he led the SWAC with a 68.7 completion percentage while passing for 2,971 yards (2^nd in SWAC), 28 touchdowns (2^nd in SWAC) and only five interceptions. Sanders averaged 270.1 passing yards (2^nd in SWAC) per game while leading the Tigers to an undefeated 8-0 record in league play and their first SWAC Championship appearance since 2013.

Coach of Year

Jackson State’s Sanders led the Tigers to a 10-1 overall record and a perfect 8-0 mark in SWAC regular season play. Under Sanders’ leadership the Tigers are currently ranked in the top 15 of the FCS Coaches Poll and are also ranked in the top 25 of the Stats FCS Poll. The Tigers claimed the SWAC East Division title for the first time since the 2013 season. For his efforts Sanders has been named a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson award.

A complete listing of all-conference selections and individual award winners is listed below.

2021 SWAC Football Postseason Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Aqeel Glass- Alabama A&M

Defensive Player of the Year
Isaiah Land- Florida A&M

Newcomer of the Year
James Houston- Jackson State

Freshman of the Year
Shedeur Sanders- Jackson State

Coach of the Year
Deion Sanders- Jackson State 

All-SWAC First Team Offense
Quarterback: Aqeel Glass- Alabama A&M
Running Back: Bishop Bonnett- Florida A&M
Running Back: Gary Quarles- Alabama A&M
Offensive Lineman: Keenan Forbes- Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Dallas Black- Southern
Offensive Lineman: Mark Evans II- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Offensive Lineman: Johnathan Bishop- Southern
Offensive Lineman: Drake Centers- Texas Southern
Wide Receiver: Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim- Alabama A&M
Wide Receiver: Odieu Hilaire- Alabama A&M
Tight End: Kemari Averett- Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC First Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: James Houston- Jackson State
Defensive Lineman: Jason Dumas- Prairie View A&M
Defensive Lineman: Sundiata Anderson- Grambling State
Defensive Lineman: Antwan Owens- Jackson State
Linebacker: Isaiah Land- Florida A&M
Linebacker: Untareo Johnson- Bethune-Cookman
Linebacker: Aubrey Miller- Jackson State
Defensive Back: Markquese Bell- Florida A&M
Defensive Back: Drake Cheatum- Prairie View A&M
Defensive Back: BJ Bohler- Florida A&M
Defensive Back: Omari Hill-Robinson- Bethune-Cookman

All-SWAC First Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Jose Romo-Martinez- Florida A&M
Punter: Josh Sanchez- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Return Specialist: Isaiah Bolden- Jackson State 

All-SWAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Shedeur Sanders- Jackson State
Running Back: Caleb Johnson- Mississippi Valley State
Running Back: Niko Duffey- Alcorn State
Offensive Lineman: Tony Gray- Jackson State
Offensive Lineman: Ja’Tyre Carter- Southern
Offensive Lineman: Danny Garza- Prairie View A&M
Offensive Lineman: Jay Jackson-Williams- Florida A&M
Offensive Lineman: Robert Alston- Alabama State
Wide Receiver: Keith Corbin- Jackson State
Wide Receiver: Dee Anderson- Alabama A&M
Tight End: Jyrin Johnson- Texas Southern

All-SWAC Second Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Ronnie Thomas- Mississippi Valley State
Defensive Lineman: Savion Williams- Florida A&M
Defensive Lineman: Michael Badejo- Texas Southern
Defensive Lineman: Deonte Williams- Florida A&M
Linebacker: Monroe Beard III- Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Linebacker: Keonte Hampton- Jackson State
Linebacker: Tarik Cooper- Texas Southern
Defensive Back: Irshaad Davis- Alabama State
Defensive Back: Keonte’ Daniels- Mississippi Valley State
Defensive Back: Darius Campbell- Prairie View A&M
Defensive Back: Shilo Sanders- Jackson State

All-SWAC Second Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Garrett Urban- Grambling State
Punter: Garrett Urban- Grambling State
Return Specialist: Darnell Deas- Bethune-Cookman

The post SWAC announces 2021 postseason football honors appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

NEW ORLEANS – Coastal Carolina’s Reese White and Josaiah Stewart and South Alabama’s Diego Guajardo claim Sun Belt weekly awards after propelling their teams to 2-0 starts. 

Football Offensive Player of the Week
Reese White, Coastal Carolina
(Jr., RB – Sandy Springs, Ga.)

Chanticleers junior running back Reese White rushed for a career-high 102 yards and three touchdowns in Coastal Carolina’s 49-22 victory over Kansas. The 100-yard rushing game was the first of the Sandy Springs, Ga., native’s career, while his three rushing touchdowns are the most by a Sun Belt running back in a single game this season. 

Football Defensive Player of the Week
Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina
(Fr., DL – Everett, Mass.) 

Chanticleers freshman defensive lineman Josaiah Stewart set a single-game program record with 3.5 sacks and tied the Coastal Carolina high-water mark with 3.5 tackles-for-loss. The Everett, Mass., product tallied eight total tackles to lead the Chanticleer defense that accumulated 11.0 tackles-for-loss, 6.0 sacks, a blocked punt and a blocked extra-point in a 49-22 win over Kansas.

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Diego Guajardo, South Alabama
(So., K – Spanish Fort, Ala.) 

Jaguars sophomore kicker Diego Guajardo kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to lift South Alabama to a 22-19 win over Bowling Green. The Spanish Fort, Ala., native also connected from 22 and 41 yards out, as part of a 10-point effort. Guajardo’s three field goals tied his career high, while his walk-off kick provided the Jaguars their first win on the final play of the game since Oct. 20, 2012. 

2021 Sun Belt Football Offensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Corey Rucker, Arkansas State
Week 2 – Reese White, Coastal Carolina

2021 Sun Belt Football Defensive Players of the Week
Week 1 – Zion Williams, Troy
Week 2 – Josaiah Stewart, Coastal Carolina

2021 Sun Belt Football Special Teams Players of the Week
Week 1 – Britton Williams, Georgia Southern
Week 2 – Diego Guajardo, South Alabama

The post Sun Belt releases weekly football honors appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference has named Jackson State’s Shedeur Sanders, James Houston, and Warren Newman along with Florida A&M’s Deonte Williams its SWAC Football Players of the Week for their outstanding performances during games played this past week of competition.

Offensive – It was a record-breaking performance for Jackson State freshman quarterback Sanders at the Southern Heritage Classic. The Canton, Texas product completed 30-of-40 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns. Sanders’ 30 completions set a new Southern Heritage Classic record as he distributed the ball to a total of nine different JSU receivers.

Defensive- Houston led the Jackson State defensive effort on Saturday in the Tigers’ win over Tennessee State. The rush specialist totaled 10 tackles to go along with 4.5 sacks for negative 33 yards. Houston also added five total tackles for loss during Jackson State’s 38-16 win.

Specialist– Newman’s 81-yard punt return in the fourth quarter proved to be a key score in Jackson State’s 38-16 win over Tennessee State at the Southern Heritage Classic. The punt return was the longest in the history of the Southern Heritage Classic. Newman also tallied a game-high seven receptions for 26 yards.

Newcomer – Williams found his way into the backfield often as he recorded three tackles for loss, two sacks and forced a fumble during Florida A&M’s 34-7 win over Fort Valley State at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Saturday. He was a key contributor for a Rattlers defense that held FVSU to 35 total rushing yards for the game.

The post SWAC weekly football honors announced appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

In light of conference realignment talk throughout the country, Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill released this statement on Friday.

“The Sun Belt Conference could not have positioned itself better for this moment as the landscape shifts across conferences,” Gill said. “We have never been stronger.

“The Sun Belt is the best non-autonomy FBS conference in the country. We were the only non-A5 conference with two teams ranked in both preseason polls. We finished last year with two teams ranked in the final CFP and we’ve led the FBS in postseason winning percentage the last five years. 

“I spoke to our conference CEOs and ADs yesterday about the current realignment in a few FBS conferences and how it puts us in a more advantageous position for our programs to thrive. Throughout this process, if we identify a school that adds value to the Sun Belt, we’ll certainly consider them for membership.

“We feel very good about the quality of our schools, we take pride in who we are, and will continue to build our programs and our great conference.”

The post Sun Belt Commissioner Gill gives statement about conference realignment appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

NEW ORLEANS – After leading the FBS in non-conference victories in 2020, the Sun Belt Conference picked up six wins against non-conference foes in Week 1 action. 
 
In front of the second-largest crowd in Brooks Stadium history—16,236 fans—No. 22/24 Coastal Carolina tallied 610 yards of total offense in a dominant 52-14 season-opening victory over The Citadel on Thursday evening. 
 
Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year redshirt sophomore quarterback Grayson McCall posted a 16-for-19 performance for 262 yards and a touchdown through the air, as the Chanticleers scored on 8-of-10 offensive possessions. 
 
Behind a pair of 100-yard rushers—sophomore running back Nate Noel (126 yards) and junior running back Camerun Peoples (100 yards, 2 touchdowns)—App State bested East Carolina, 33-19, in the Duke’s Mayo Classic on Thursday night. 
 
In head coach Terry Bowden’s debut, ULM jumped out to a 7-0 advantage over Kentucky, its first lead since the 2019 campaign, before succumbing 45-10 to the Wildcats. 
 
Georgia State dropped its season opener to Army, 43-10. Senior running back Destin Coates, who scored the lone touchdown for the Panthers, rushed for 48 yards to reach the 1,500-yard plateau for his career. Coates is now tied with Travis Evans for second place in Georgia State history, trailing only Tra Barnett (2,156 yards). 
 
No. 23/23 Louisiana fell to No. 21/19 Texas, 38-18, in its first-ever Top 25 clash before an announced crowd of 91,113 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Senior quarterback Levi Lewis completed 28-of-40 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown in the losing effort. 
 
Georgia Southern, Troy and Arkansas State each defended its home field against an FCS opponent on Saturday. The Eagles outlasted Gardner-Webb, 30-25, to earn their 28th-straight home victory against a non-conference foe—a streak that dates back to Nov. 18, 2006. The Trojans toppled Southern, 55-3, in the first-ever meeting of the two clubs, while the Red Wolves posted a 40-21 victory over Central Arkansas for the first win of the Butch Jones era in Jonesboro. 
 
Texas State failed to recover an onside kick in a one-possession game with 1:19 to play and took a safety on the final play, allowing Baylor to escape San Marcos with a 29-20 win. 
 
South Alabama left no doubt in Kane Wommack’s first game at the helm, besting Southern Miss, 31-7. Junior wide receiver Jalen Tolbert recorded his fourth career 100-yard receiving effort in the victory. 
 
SUN BELT FOOTBALL — WEEK 1 RESULTS
No. 22/24 Coastal Carolina def. The Citadel, 52-14
App State def. East Carolina, 33-19
Kentucky def. ULM, 45-10
Army def. Georgia State, 43-10
No. 21/19 Texas def. No. 23/23 Louisiana, 38-18
Georgia Southern def. Gardner-Webb, 30-25
Troy def. Southern, 55-3
Arkansas State def. Central Arkansas, 40-21
Baylor def. Texas State, 27-20
South Alabama def. Southern Miss, 31-7

The post Sun Belt football earns six non-conference wins in Week One appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

NEW ORLEANS — The Sun Belt Conference has awarded Louisiana softball outfielder Ciara Bryan and Georgia Southern baseball outfielder Mason McWhorter as the 2020-21 Sun Belt Athletes of the Year.

The Sun Belt Athlete of the Year award, which annually recognizes one female and one male student-athlete, is the highest individual honor bestowed by the Conference, based on athletic performance, academic success, outstanding leadership and character.

“The Sun Belt Conference is delighted to recognize Ciara and Mason for their amazing academic and athletic achievements. They epitomize what it means to excel,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. “It’s such a pleasure to shine a spotlight on these two individuals as our Athletes of the Year.”

Bryan is the fourth Ragin’ Cajun female student-athlete to receive this honor, and she is the first softball honoree since fellow softball outfielder Aleah Creighton received the distinction in 2017. 

Following her transfer to Louisiana after four seasons at Georgia from 2017-20, Bryan powered the Ragin’ Cajuns to the 2021 Sun Belt Conference title during her lone season in Lafayette. No. 1-seeded Louisiana conceded just nine runs during the Sun Belt Conference Championship en route to the title, before posting a 3-2 mark at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional. 

This super senior led the Sun Belt Conference in numerous categories, including batting average (.418), hits (87), runs scored (63), triples (4), total bases (126) and stolen bases (37). Her 87 hits ranked No. 3 nationally. Born in Covington, Georgia, she also brought home the Sun Belt’s Player and Newcomer of the Year awards, and was named an All-American by Softball America and a First Team NFCA All-Central Region selection.

McWhorter is the second Eagles student-athlete to earn this honor, following Georgia Southern golfer Steven Fisk in 2019. He is the first baseball player to earn the award since South Alabama’s Kevin Hill in 2016. 

Born in Cumming, Georgia, McWhorter completed his fifth season in Statesboro—and has started nearly every game during his five years. 

In 2021, he led the Eagles to the Sun Belt Conference Championship final and belted a home run to open the scoring in the title game. He paced the conference in batting average (.372), hits (84), home runs (18) and total bases (156).

McWhorter was named the 2021 Sun Belt Player of the Year, along with collecting multiple All-America nods.

The post Louisiana’s Bryan and Georgia Southern’s McWhorter named 2020-2021 Sun Belt Athletes of the Year appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

NEW ORLEANS — Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill announced during his annual State of the Conference on Thursday that the conference has extended its media rights deal with ESPN. The deal now runs through the 2030-31 academic year. The new agreement will result in a more than 50 percent increase in the number of Sun Belt football games that appear on ESPN’s linear offerings (ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU), with 40 percent of those new opportunities being broadcast on a Saturday.  

“This new agreement is a recognition of our success and value. It will expand our reach and provide a vast amount of exposure for our members which will allow them to showcase the incredible athletic and academic accomplishments,” Gill said. “On behalf of the entire Sun Belt family, I want to thank Nick Dawson, ESPN Vice President of Programming and Acquisitions, and the entire ESPN college football team for their support of the Sun Belt Conference. I am looking forward to continuing our wonderful partnership.”

“We are excited to extend our relationship with the Sun Belt and its member institutions,” Dawson said. “The Sun Belt is a valued partner and ESPN viewers have truly connected with the conference’s teams and storylines over the years. We look forward to our continued and enhanced coverage of Sun Belt football across ESPN networks and ESPN+ for many years to come.”

Since its move to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level in 2001, the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) has established itself among intercollegiate athletic leagues, earning national acclaim. 2020, however, was a breakout year. The SBC led FBS with 21 non-conference wins in 2020, including a 3-0 record against Big 12 opponents. Two teams (Coastal Carolina and Louisiana) finished in the final AP Poll, Coaches Poll, and College Football Playoff Rankings.

The Sun Belt’s athletic success has never been more prominent or visible. In addition to the conference’s accomplishments on the football field during 2020, the conference boasted a 135 percent increase in TV viewership, with seven of the conference’s games surpassing 1 million viewers.

The Sun Belt Football Championship game, slated for Saturday, December 4, 2021 will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. Click here for the ESPN/SBC 2021 Schedule.

The post Sun Belt and ESPN expand media rights agreement appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football selections and Predicted Order of Finish on Tuesday during the league’s media day. The preseason all-conference teams, individual award winners, and predicted order of finish were voted on by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

Alabama A&M’s Aqeel Glass was named SWAC Football Preseason Player of the Year while Southern’s Jordan Lewis was tabbed SWAC Football Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Alabama A&M’s Glass rewrote the record books this past season as he went 67-of-113 for 1,084 yards passing and 13 touchdowns during the regular season. One of 16 finalists for the prestigious Walter Payton Award as the national’s top FCS player, Glass was also twice named Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Week.

He would also add National Player of the Week honors from Stats Perform FCS and BOXTOROW. In large part due to his performance, the Bulldogs delivered the first undefeated regular season for the program since 1966, won the SWAC East Division for the first time since 2011, while also winning the league championship game with a 40-33 win over UAPB.

Southern’s Lewis proved to be a matchup nightmare for opposing offensive lines this past season with his quickness off the end leading the SWAC in sacks with 10.5 for 73 yards and tackles for loss with 15.0 for 82 yards.

He completed the Spring season with 27 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and one forced fumble. For his efforts Lewis was named the Buck Buchanan Defensive Player of the Year. The two-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Week also garnered BOXTOROW National Player of the Week and LSWA Defensive Player of the Week this past season.

The league’s 2021 Predicted Order of Finish has Alabama A&M tabbed to win the SWAC Eastern Division tallying a total of 122 points. Alcorn State (109) was picked to finish second followed by Jackson State (80), Alabama State (76), Bethune-Cookman (71), and Mississippi Valley State (25).

Alcorn State (128) was picked to finish in first place in what will be the Braves debut season in the SWAC Western Division. Southern (108) was projected to finish in second place followed by Grambling State (85), Prairie View A&M (78), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (68) and Texas Southern (37).

A complete listing of the preseason all-conference teams, individual award winners, and predicted order of finish is listed below.

SWAC Eastern Division
Alabama A&M (122)
Florida A&M (109)
Jackson State (80)
Alabama State (76)
Bethune-Cookman (71)
Mississippi Valley State (25)

SWAC Western Division
Alcorn State (128)
Southern (108)
Grambling State (85)
Prairie View A&M (78)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (68)
Texas Southern (37)

Player of the Year
Aqeel Glass- Alabama A&M

Defensive Player of the Year
Jordan Lewis- Southern

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Offense

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Defense

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football First Team Specialist

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Offense

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Defense

2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Second Team Specialist

The post SWAC announces 2021 Preseason All-SWAC Football Team and predicted order of finish appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

“The Sun Belt Conference supports College Football Playoff expansion, including the working group’s recommendation to have the six highest-ranked conference champions in the field,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill.

“Playoff spots should be earned and not given. Under the proposed system, if you are a deserving team, you should have no concerns of being left out of the playoff. I look forward to continuing this conversation next week with the CFP Board of Managers.”

The post Sun Belt issues statement about CFP expansion appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.