NEW ORLEANS — App State knocked James Madison from the ranks of the unbeaten in an overtime thriller on Thursday night, before Louisiana Tech recorded its second-straight shutout to secure its place as the last remaining unbeaten team in Sun Belt play. The Bulldogs’ shutout was the only Sun Belt Week 8 contest not decided by one possession.
 
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Khalil Wilkins and sophomore running back Judah Price led Marshall 75 yards on eight-consecutive runs to score what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown in a 20-13 victory over South Alabama with 1:49 to play. Wilkins accumulated 69 rushing yards on Tuesday night, while Price had 30 yards and the game-winner. Redshirt senior quarterback Zion Turner threw for 181 yards and rushed for 45 yards and the other Thundering Herd touchdown, directly following a diving interception by redshirt freshman defensive lineman Cole Funderburk. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Kelvon McBride carded four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble to headline the Marshall defensive performances alongside Funderburk. 

Junior running back Keenan Phillips finished with 100 all-purpose yards, including a South Alabama team-high 70 rushing yards in defeat. Senior running back PJ Martin scored the Jaguars lone touchdown, while junior kicker Davis Little converted a career-long 42-yard field goal as time expired at halftime. 
 
For the second time in four seasons, App State unseated an undefeated James Madison team in walk-off fashion in overtime. After a James Madison 47-yard field goal attempt clanged off the left upright on the opening possession of overtime, Mountaineers senior kicker James London converted from 40 yards out to send the sellout crowd of 33,322 at Kidd Brewer Stadium spilling onto the field to celebrate the 34-31 App State victory on Thursday night. App State capitalized on a fourth-quarter interception by senior linebacker Colton Phares to take a 31-24 lead with 5:52 to play. James Madison manufactured a 15-play, 71-yard scoring drive—including a fourth-and-3 completion with six seconds remaining and a six-yard rushing touchdown by fourth-year quarterback Camden Coleman on the ensuing play—to force overtime. 
 
London went 4-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-2 on point-after attempts. App State senior quarterback Malachi Singleton threw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, with junior quarterback Henry Hasselbeck adding a touchdown throw for the second-straight week. Phares led the Mountaineer defensive unit with a career-high 13 tackles and a tackle for loss to go along with his interception and 21-yard return. 
 
Coleman threw for 232 yards and a touchdown in defeat and ran for 11 yards and the game-tying score in regulation. Third-year Dukes quarterback JC Evans also threw for 99 yards and a score. 
 
ULM scored three times over the final 2:34 to snap a 14-game losing streak and earn a 21-14 win over Troy. Fourth-year quarterback Aidan Armenta led ULM on back-to-back scoring drives—the first a 10-play, 75-yard march and the second a six-play, 86-yard attack, capped by a 16-yard go-ahead touchdown connection with third-year wideout Darrion Gilliam with 15 seconds to play. Fifth-year linebacker Billy Pullen recovered a Troy fumble in the end zone after multiple Trojan laterals on the final play to produce the 21-14 margin. Armenta completed 13-of-22 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns, while the Warhawk defense held Troy to just 200 yards of total offense. Leading the charge were fourth-year linebacker Noah Flemmings with 15 tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble and fifth-year defensive lineman Kevontay Wells with four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks—which both came on Troy’s final drive. 
 
Third-year running back Gavin Griffin scored both Trojan touchdowns—one through the air and one on the ground—in the losing effort. 
 
Louisiana Tech pitched its second-straight shutout, defeating Old Dominion 26-0, to remain unbeaten in Sun Belt Conference play. The Bulldogs recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1959, holding the Monarchs to just 141 yards of total offense. Fourth-year quarterback Blake Baker completed 28-of-34 passes for 303 yards and a touchdown and added another score in the ground game. Fellow fourth-year quarterback Trey Kukuk also found the end zone on the ground. Familiar targets fourth-year tight end Eli Finley (128 receiving yards, 1 touchdown) and second-year wide receiver Jalen Mickens (110 receiving yards) each eclipsed the century mark. The Bulldog defense carded 13 tackles for loss and six sacks, highlighted by second-year linebacker Zheric Hill’s team-high 10 tackles, team-high 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks and third-year linebacker Jadon Mayfield’s five tackles, team-high 2.5 tackles for loss and team-high 2.0 sacks. Louisiana Tech’s current six-game home winning streak and four-game overall winning streak are its longest since 2019. 
 
Redshirt senior linebacker Ja’Mez Drummer tallied a career-high 15 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss for the Monarchs in defeat.
 
Southern Miss redshirt freshman running back Jamarice Wilder carried the ball 13 times for 154 yards—none bigger than his go-ahead 16-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds to play in an eventual 35-31 homecoming win over Louisiana. Wilder joined redshirt junior running back Steven Robinson, who posted 145 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries, in a banner day for the Golden Eagles backfield. A 30-yard pick-six from redshirt junior defensive back Kolby Peavy headlined the Southern Miss defensive effort. With the win, Southern Miss has proven victorious in 13 of the last 14 head-to-head matchups with the Ragin’ Cajuns. 
 
Redshirt junior quarterback Lunch Winfield threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns for Louisiana in the loss. 
 
Arkansas State withstood a late Georgia State surge to hold on for a 38-32 homecoming win. Third-year quarterback Trey Owens accounted for four touchdowns, throwing for 309 yards and two scores and rushing for 36 yards and two touchdowns. Two targets, fourth-year wide receiver Jaylen Bonelli (150 receiving yards, 1 touchdown) and sixth-year wide receiver Nana Burris (114 receiving yards, 1 touchdown), went over the century mark and hauled in touchdown receptions. The Red Wolves defense carded two interceptions—one that led directly to Burris’ 54-yard touchdown on the ensuing play and one that sealed the victory with 20 seconds remaining. Fourth-year defensive backs Brandon Greil and Makai Shahid had the interceptions for Arkansas State, while second-year linebacker Joe Drew led the unit with 10 tackles. 
 
Freshman running back Qwantavius Wiggins accumulated 146 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns—one rushing and one receiving—for Georgia State in the losing effort. 
 
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SUN BELT FOOTBALL – WEEK 8 RESULTS
Marshall def. South Alabama, 20-13
App State def. James Madison, 34-31 (OT)
ULM def. Troy, 21-14
Louisiana Tech def. Old Dominion, 26-0
Southern Miss def. Louisiana, 35-31
Arkansas State def. Georgia State, 38-32