Ranking Sun Belt Football Bowl Performances In 2023

The Sun Belt sent a record 12 teams to bowl games in the 2023 season. Southern Miss and ULM failed to reach a bowl game. 

Over the course of the last month, the SBC produced a 5-7 record in postseason games. Only While there were a few exceptionally good days, more than half ended up being fairly disappointing. We took the liberty of ranking all 12 of the Sun Belt's performances this season. 

12 - Marshall

Marshall came out swinging against a good UTSA team, but leaving out Rasheen Ali in the second half was a massive factor in them being shutout in the third and fourth quarters. UTSA won the Frisco Bowl 35-17. 

11 - Arkansas State

Arkansas State mounted a nice comeback in a 21-19 loss to Northern Illinois, but several mistakes in critical moments ensured another losing season for the Red Wolves. That included allowing a kicker to run right up the gut for a 32-yard touchdown.

10 - Georgia Southern 

Five turnovers put a giant damper on the day Georgia Southern. Four of those, Davis Brin was personally responsible for - three interceptions and a lost fumble. GS also allowed Ohio running back Rickey Hunt to score four touchdowns and run for 115 yards in a 20-point loss at the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

9 - Troy

Several members of the SBC champions were dealing with symptoms of a stomach virus throughout their loss to Duke in the Birmingham Bowl. Star running back Kimani Vidal was kept out of the end zone and held below 80 rushing yards.

8 - JMU

In their first appearance in an FBS bowl game, the Dukes came up short. JMU had been stout against the the run all year, but didn't perform to those expectations against Air Force in a 31-21 loss at the Armed Forces bowl. The Falcons rushed for 351 yards in that game.

7 - Old Dominion

The Monarchs looked great to start the Famous Toastery Bowl, building a 28-0 lead early. However, they then allowed Western Kentucky to come back and win 38-35 in one of the biggest comebacks in CFB postseason history.

6 - Louisiana

The Cajuns scored three defensive touchdowns, but still managed to lose the New Orleans Bowl to FBS newcomers Jacksonville State 34-31.

5 - Appalachian State

Despite a rainy day in the Cure Bowl, App State hung on for a 13-9 victory over Miami (OH). Running back Anderson Castle delivered with 20 carries for 119 yards. In a game with 13 total fumbles between the two sides, App State looked a little more prepared for the elements than their counterparts.

4 - Coastal Carolina

The Chanticleers were short a few important pieces, but redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Vasko stepped up at quarterback, throwing three touchdowns and leading the team in rushing. CCU won the Hawaii Bowl over San José State 24-14 

3 - Georgia State

Even far from home in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, the Panthers' offense was near-impossible to stop. Darren Grainger accounted for five total touchdowns and the Panthers' offense gained 643 yards in a 45-22 win against Utah State.

2 - Texas State

G.J. Kinne led the Bobcats to the best season of football San Marcos has seen at the FBS level. Ismail Mahdi and Jahmyl Jeter led a rushing attack that scored four touchdowns in a 45-21 win over Rice.

1 - South Alabama

The Jaguars won their first-ever FBS bowl game with a convincing 59-10 victory over the Eastern Michigan Eagles. USA allowed just 150 total yards in a complete team win for Kane Wommack's squad.