NEW ORLEANS — Old Dominion dominated in-state foe Virginia Tech, racing out to a 31-0 lead in an eventual 45-26 win—its first-ever road victory over an autonomy conference opponent. The Monarchs are 3-4 all-time against the Hokies, with home victories in 2018 and 2022.
 
The victory is the Sun Belt’s 23rd over an autonomy conference foe over the past 10 seasons, with 12 of those wins coming since 2022, when the league expanded to 14 football-playing members.  
 
Monarchs redshirt sophomore quarterback Colton Joseph completed 16-of-22 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 63 yards and a score in the ground game. Junior running back Trequan Jones posted a second-straight 100-yard rushing game (101 yards, 1 touchdown). Redshirt senior linebacker Jeremy Mack Jr. amassed a team-best nine tackles, a tackle for loss and a key forced fumble in the red zone. 
 
After conceding the first touchdown of the game to App State, Southern Miss rattled off 24-straight points to turn the tide in a 38-22 Sun Belt Conference-opening win in Hattiesburg. Three red zone interceptions by the Nasty Bunch defensive unit—including a 99-yard pick six by redshirt sophomore defensive back Ian Foster—tilted the game in favor of the Golden Eagles. Foster (12) was 1-of-3 Southern Miss defenders with 12-or-more tackles, alongside junior linebacker Michael Montgomery (13) and sophomore linebacker Chris Jones (12). Redshirt junior defensive lineman J’Mond Tapp added seven tackles, three tackles for loss and three sacks. On offense, redshirt senior quarterback Braylon Braxton completed 22-of-30 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns through the air and redshirt junior running back Jeffery Pittman added two scores on the ground. 
 
Junior wide receiver Jaden Barnes (10 catches, 132 yards, 1 touchdown) and senior running back Rashod Dubinion (24 carries, 95 yards, 1 touchdown) highlighted the App State performances in the losing effort. 
 
Behind a career-high 128-yard, two-touchdown day from senior running back OJ Arnold—including the go-ahead touchdown with 6:23 to play—Georgia Southern outlasted Jacksonville State, 41-34. Redshirt junior quarterback JC French IV also accounted for two touchdowns in the win, completing 16-of-24 passes for 191 yards and a score and adding another 33 yards and a touchdown in the ground game. A 95-yard kickoff return touchdown by senior wide receiver Dalen Cobb, who accumulated 211 all-purpose yards, ignited the crowd of 24,585—the fifth-largest in Paulson Stadium history. Redshirt junior linebacker Brandon Tyson led the Eagles defense with 11 tackles, while junior defensive back Ayden Jackson added eight tackles and an interception. 
 
A staunch defensive effort and a coming out party for redshirt junior quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson helped Marshall secure the first victory of the Tony Gibson era in Huntington. The Thundering Herd defense held the Colonels to just 102 yards of total offense—11 rushing and 91 passing—as senior defensive back Boogie Trotter turned in a two-interception performance. Del Rio-Wilson completed 7-of-9 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 58 yards and a third score. 
 
There was no answer for Georgia State senior wide receiver Ted Hurst, as the Panthers ran away from Murray State, 37-21. Hurst caught 10 passes for 172 yards—one yard shy of his career-high—and two touchdowns—matching his career-high. Two different Panther quarterbacks threw for 100-or-more yards in the matchup, with redshirt senior TJ Finley completing 11-of-18 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown and redshirt junior Cameran Brown connecting on 9-of-11 throws for 101 yards and three scores. With nine tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery, redshirt junior linebacker Josiah Robinson paced the Georgia State defense
 
A strip sack by junior linebacker Donnie Smith set up senior defensive lineman Taleeq Robbins’ 15-yard scoop and score for Troy’s lone points in a 28-7 loss to Memphis. After losing redshirt junior starting quarterback Goose Crowder to an injury on its first possession, Troy managed just 112 yards of total offense. Trojans redshirt junior punter Evan Crenshaw averaged 48.2 yards on 11 punts, with five landing inside the 20-yard line, to help Troy flip the field. 
 
In its first-ever visit to Jordan-Hare Stadium, South Alabama held No. 24 Auburn to three second-half points in a 31-15 loss. Jaguars redshirt junior quarterback Bishop Davenport completed 18-of-26 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while graduate student wide receiver Devin Voisin caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season. A career-high eight tackles—all solo—by senior safety Christopher Wallace headlined the defensive effort in defeat. 
 
A career-long 84-yard touchdown run by redshirt junior running back Zylan Perry was the lone spark in Louisiana’s 52-10 loss to No. 25 Missouri. Defensively, senior linebacker Jaden Duggar carded 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack and redshirt senior linebacker Cameron Whitfield had an interception that set up a Ragin’ Cajuns field goal. 
 
Junior quarterback Jaylen Raynor threw for 222 yards and rushed for a team-high 83 yards and a touchdown, as Arkansas State gave No. 14/14 Iowa State all it could handle in a 24-16 one-possession loss. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Chauncy Cobb hauled in a career-high seven catches for 81 yards, while redshirt senior defensive back Avante Dickerson tallied a career-high seven tackles and an interception. Junior kicker Clune Van Andel led the Red Wolves in scoring with 10 points, converting on field goals of 45, 36 and 40 yards and making his lone extra-point try. 
 
Coastal Carolina drew a crowd of 21,634—the third-largest in Brooks Stadium history—but was shut out for the first time since 2011 in a 38-0 loss to East Carolina. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Tad Hudson threw for 172 yards and super senior linebacker Shane Bruce tallied seven tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception in defeat. 
 
Texas State was outscored 31-6 in the second and third quarters in a 34-15 loss to No. 24 Arizona State. Redshirt freshman quarterback Brad Jackson had a hand in both Bobcats touchdowns. He completed 25-of-36 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown through the air and added nine yards and a touchdown on the ground. Redshirt senior running back Lincoln Pare tallied 97 all-purpose yards (61 rushing, 36 receiving), while junior wide receiver Beau Sparks led the team with 70 receiving yards on 10 catches. Redshirt senior defensive end Kalil Alexander and senior linebacker Treylin Payne each carded six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the losing effort. 
 
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SUN BELT FOOTBALL – WEEK 3 RESULTS
Memphis def. Troy, 28-7
No. 24 Auburn def. South Alabama, 31-15
No. 25 Missouri def. Louisiana, 52-10
No. 14/14 Iowa State def. Arkansas State, 24-16
Marshall def. Eastern Kentucky, 38-7
Georgia State def. Murray State, 37-21
Georgia Southern def. Jacksonville State, 41-34 
Southern Miss def. App State, 38-22
Old Dominion def. Virginia Tech, 45-26
East Carolina def. Coastal Carolina, 38-0 
No. 24 Arizona State def. Texas State, 34-15