How this conference is even in D1-A is beyond me.  They have never had a ranked team or two teams in a bowl game until last year.  These teams never suprise anyone.  There is nothing special about these teams.  Appalachian State, Montana, New Hampshire, and North Dakota State, who aren't even in D1-A, would win this conference.  Don't expect a BCS bowl or even a ranked team from this conference.  Troy is the only school that should even be considered to be ranked.  The best pro out of this conference is probably DeMarcus Ware from Troy.  So their best prospect isn't amazing.  These schools have to recruit in SEC country, killing any chances of them ever becoming good.  Most of the good mid-majors over the past few years, Hawaii, Boise State, Utah, are in the middle of nowhere where they can recruit without any competition.  Troy has to compete with Alabama and Auburn.  Florida Atlantic and Florida International have to compete with Florida, Florida State, Miami, and South Florida.  L-MU and L-LA have to compete with LSU.  North Texas has to compete with Texas.  Arkansas State has to compete with Arkansas.  These teams will have a tough task to be able to compete in Division 1.

Sun Belt Standings
1. Troy Trojans
2. Florida Atlantic Owls
3. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
4. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks
5. Arkansas State Indians
6. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
7. North Texas Mean Green
8. Florida International Golden Panthers

All-Sun Belt Standings
QB-Omar Haugabook, TROY
RB-Jamario Thomas, NTU
RB-Calvin Dawson, ULM
WR-Gary Banks, TROY
WR-Derrick Smith, ULL
TE-Stephen Chicola, MTST
OT-Kyle Cunningham, ULM
OG-Chad Rose, NTU
C-Adam Hill, ULM
OG-Jarrid Smith, FAU
OT-Jesse Newman, ULL

DE-Rodney Hardeway, ULL
DT-Trevor Jenkins, MTST
DT-Erick Walden, MTST
DE-Josh Pinnick, FAU
LB-Cardia Jackson, ULM
LB-Josh Thompson, ULM
LB-Maurice Holman, NTU
CB-Kyle Ward, ULL
CB-Brad Robinson, MTST
FS-Damon Nickson, MTST
SS-Trevor Ford, TROY

K-Drew Edmiston, ULL
P-Truman Spencer, NTU
RS-Frantz Simeon, FAU

Key In-Conference Game-Florida Atlantic @ Troy, Dec. 1-This is the last game of the season, and it will probably decide the conference championship.  Troy will probably be undefeated in conference play, and Florida Atlantic will have one loss at most.  Troy will win this game because of its overpowering offense that is returning 4 skill position starters.  If the offensive line, which has four new starters, can hold up, they will have a very powerful offense.  Florida Atlantic is returning all of their front seven on defense, so they will be up for the challenge of the Troy offense.  Expect FAU to try to take advantage of the young offensive line.

Upset Alert-Oklahoma State @ Troy, Sep. 14-The Cowboys will have a tough test in the Trojans.  Not only will Troy have the homefield advantage, they will be playing a defensive line with no returning starters.  The Cowboys will overlook the Trojans, which will hurt them.  Let's face it.  Oklahoma State will care more about their in-conference play than a Sun Belt school.  Troy will care about this game.  They want the national attention.  This will give it to them.