{"id":213,"date":"2016-09-01T05:57:02","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T09:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordoncollegefootball.com\/?p=213"},"modified":"2018-01-13T00:42:41","modified_gmt":"2018-01-13T05:42:41","slug":"week-1-sun-belt-power-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/2016\/09\/01\/week-1-sun-belt-power-rankings\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 1: Sun Belt Power Rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teams in the Sun Belt Conference<\/strong> combined to go 6-5 this weekend against varying degrees of competition.<\/p>\n

Two\u00a0teams began the year against\u00a0teams from Power Five Conference,<\/strong> and one of them won. The conference had three match-ups with the Mid-American Conference;<\/strong> they went 1-2 in those games.<\/p>\n

Here are ranking for all 11 Sun Belt teams based on their performances this past weekend.<\/p>\n

11. New Mexico State (0-1, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Aggies<\/strong>\u00a0did not\u00a0play too poorly in their 38-22 loss to UTEP,<\/strong> but they are the team climbing from last place.<\/p>\n

Next game: Saturday, September 10th<\/sup> vs. New Mexico<\/strong><\/p>\n

10. Idaho (1-0, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

They won their season opener, but it was against FCS Montana State<\/strong> 20-17.<\/p>\n

Next game: Saturday, September 10th<\/sup> at Washington<\/strong><\/p>\n

9. Louisiana-Lafayette (0-1, 0-0)<\/b><\/h3>\n

The Ragin’ Cajuns<\/strong> suffered the most lopsided loss in the conference, losing 45-10 to Boise State.<\/strong> Their goal this year is to get back to around nine\u00a0wins and compete for the conference title again. Being a non-conference loss, it doesn’t hurt them too much, but it’s better to start the year off in more impressive fashion.<\/p>\n

Next game: Saturday, September 10th<\/sup>\u00a0vs. McNeese State<\/strong><\/p>\n

8. Georgia State (0-1, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Sun Belt Conference had three meetings with the Mid-American Conference this weekend. The Sun Belt went 1-2 starting with Georgia State’s<\/strong> 31-21 loss to Ball State.<\/strong> But unlike the other loss, the Panthers<\/strong> kept the game close.<\/p>\n

Next game: Saturday, September 10th\u00a0<\/sup>at Air Force<\/strong><\/p>\n

7. Louisiana Monroe (1-0, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Warhawks<\/strong> had their hands full with Southern<\/strong> on Saturday, but they can mark the game down as a 38-21 victory and move on.<\/p>\n

Next game: Saturday, September 10th<\/sup>\u00a0at Oklahoma<\/strong><\/p>\n

6. Texas State\u00a0(1-0, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

They needed three overtimes, but Texas State<\/strong> trumped Ohio<\/strong> 56-54 to win their season opener.<\/p>\n

Next game:\u00a0Bye<\/p>\n

5. Arkansas State (0-1, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The reigning conference champions did not begin the year ideally. They were thumped by Toledo<\/strong> 31-10. Their strength going into the season was supposed to be their fast, high-powered offense. Being held to only 10 points shows that the Red Wolves<\/strong> have a lot to work on moving forward.<\/p>\n

Next game:\u00a0Saturday, September 10th\u00a0<\/sup>at Auburn<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Troy (1-0, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Trojans<\/strong> had the second biggest blowout win in the conference with a 57-17 win over Austin-Peay.<\/strong> It’s not too impressive, but they played the way they were supposed to play in this game.<\/p>\n

Next game: Saturday, September 10th<\/sup>\u00a0at Clemson<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Appalachian State (0-1, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The 2015 Sun Belt runner-up nearly defeated Tennessee<\/strong> to produce\u00a0the biggest week one upset since they defeated Michigan<\/strong> nine years ago. The ran the ball well, and their defense was dominant. If they hadn’t\u00a0missed a PAT attempt in the first half, they probably would have beat Tennessee. Out of all the games Sun Belt teams lost this weekend, the Mountaineers<\/strong>\u00a0displayed\u00a0the most impressive performance by far.<\/p>\n

Next game: Saturday, September 10th<\/sup>\u00a0vs. Old Dominion<\/strong><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0South Alabama (1-0, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Where Appalachian State nearly shocked the college football world, South Alabama<\/strong> did so with a 21-20 upset win over Mississippi State.<\/strong> The Jaguars<\/strong> have been getting better and better each year, and this season they are trying to make their record reflect it. They now have the confidence to make that happen.<\/p>\n

Next game: Saturday, September 10th<\/sup>\u00a0vs. Georgia Southern<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Georgia Southern (1-0, 0-0)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Eagles<\/strong> enjoyed the most disproportionate\u00a0win out of all Sun Belt victories this weekend. They defeated the clearly over-matched Savannah State Tigers<\/strong> 54-0. Georgia Southern played like they were supposed to, which is a good way to begin a campaign for the conference title.<\/p>\n

Next game: Saturday, September 10th\u00a0<\/sup>at South Alabama<\/strong><\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n