Division Play Begins In 2018 For First Time In Conference History

Appalachian State was predicted to win the East Division with 46 points and six first-place votes. Troy was slotted second with 44 points and the other four first-place votes.

NEW ORLEANS – The Texas State football team was selected to finish fifth in the West Division of the 2018 Sunbelt Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the league announced Thursday afternoon in advance of the SBC’s annual media day that begins Sunday.

The Bobcats collected 13 points to land just ahead of Coastal Carolina for ninth overall in the league. Arkansas State was picked atop the West Division with 49 points and nine first-place votes.

The Red Wolves were also projected to win the inaugural SBC Championship Game. Others ahead of TXST in the West were ULM (37 points), South Alabama (1 first-place vote, 26 points) and Louisiana (25 points).

Appalachian State was predicted to win the East Division with 46 points and six first-place votes. Troy was slotted second with 44 points and the other four first-place votes. Georgia State (26), Georgia Southern (22) and Coastal Carolina (12) rounded out the East Division.

For the first time in the league’s 18-year history, the Sun Belt will move to a divisional format to determine a champion. The first SBC Championship Game in league history will be held on Dec. 1 and will be played at the site of the divisional team with the best overall conference winning percentage.

Sun Belt Media Day is being held in New Orleans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome July 22-23. The Sun Belt Fais-DoDo will be July 22 at Mardi Gras World.

The formal portion of Media Day will be July 23, with live coverage of the event running from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Matt Stewart and John Gregory will host the two-hour ESPN3 telecast from 1-3 p.m., which will feature Commissioner Karl Benson and all 10 football head coaches.

Texas State coach Everett Withers will field questions from the media along with juniors Aaron Brewer and Bryan London II from 1-1:25 p.m. live on YouTube inside the Bienville Lounge. Withers is also slated for the ESPN3 broadcast at 1:53 p.m., while London II will be on YouTube in a separate breakout session at 10:15 a.m.

Additionally, long-time Bobcat announcers Bill Culhane and Brant Freeman will have a live radio show on-site from 10 am-noon on KTSW 89.9 FM.

The Bobcats will open their 2018 campaign on the road at Rutgers on Sept. 1. The home opener is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 8 against Texas Southern.

2018 SBC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

first-place votes in parentheses

WEST DIVISION

1. Arkansas State (9)           49
2. ULM                            37
3. South Alabama (1)           26
4. Louisiana                      25
5. Texas State                        13

EAST DIVISION

1. Appalachian State (6)     46
2. Troy (4)                            44
3. Georgia State                      26
4. Georgia Southern              22
5. Coastal Carolina                12

2018 Sun Belt Football Coaches Predicted Championship Game Winner

Arkansas State