NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana Tech extended its winning streak to seven games, remained unbeaten in Sun Belt play and clinched the Sun Belt West Division title and a berth into the Credit Union 1 Sun Belt Football Championship presented by Visit Pensacola.
Georgia Southern—for the eighth time over the past nine seasons—and App State—for the 10th time in 12 seasons—each clinched bowl eligibility with rivalry wins. Louisiana and South Alabama also proved victorious in in-state rivalry clashes in Sun Belt football Week 11 play.
Louisiana secured its fourth-straight win over in-state rival ULM, 42-21, in front of a national television audience on ESPN2 on Thursday night. The Ragin’ Cajuns scored 28-straight points to turn a 14-7 deficit into a 35-14 lead it would never relinquish. Louisiana was buoyed by 100-yard rushing days from redshirt sophomore running back Steven Blanco (113 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown) and redshirt freshman running back JJ Garner (104 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns). The tandem became the first Louisiana pairing to rush for at least 100 yards in a game since 2023. Redshirt junior linebacker Micah Johnson headlined the defensive effort, with nine tackles and an 18-yard fumble return touchdown on 1-of-2 recoveries on the day.
Second-year running back Bryson Roland (111 rushing yards) and second-year quarterback Austin Carlisle (102 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown) gave the Warhawks a pair of 100-yard rushers for the first time since 2023 in the losing effort.
James Madison fell to UConn, 46-22, in its non-conference finale, its first loss in regulation this season. Third-year quarterback JC Evans accounted for all three Dukes touchdowns in defeat. He threw for 236 yards and a score and rushed for a team-high 49 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, fifth-year linebacker Nakian Jackson was the headliner with nine tackles, a tackle for loss and a sack.
Coastal Carolina scored 21 points off five turnovers in a 28-21 victory over Arkansas State, its fourth-straight over the Red Wolves. The Chanticleers recovered four fumbles and added an interception. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Ibrahim Diawara led the way with a tackle for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Reggie Jean returned the first fumble 55 yards for a touchdown, while the second was recovered by junior defensive back Azarel Juste on the final play to seal the victory. Redshirt freshman Deuce Bailey completed 21-of-24 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown and added another score in the ground game.
Red Wolves third-year quarterback Trey Owens threw for 217 yards and second-year linebacker Joe Drew carded a career-high 14 tackles in defeat.
Georgia Southern used a 17-point second quarter to build a lead it would never relinquish in a 34-17 win over in-state rival Georgia State in the Georgia Grown Bowl. The victory was the Eagles’ fourth-straight over the Panthers and clinched bowl eligibility for the eighth time over the past nine seasons. Seventh-year quarterback Max Johnson connected with sixth-year tight end River Helms from 52 yards out and fifth-year wide receiver Josh Dallas from 13 yards out in the all-important second quarter, as part of a 203-yard, two-touchdown outing. A 54-yard fourth-quarter rushing touchdown by second-year quarterback Weston Bryan salted away the win. Fifth-year linebacker Brandon Tyson headlined the Eagles defensive effort with 14 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
Georgia State scored all 17 of its points off of three turnovers, with senior running back Lanear McCrary Jr. rushing for 86 yards and a score in the loss.
Louisiana Tech scored early and often in a 63-31 win over Southern Miss to clinch the Sun Belt West Division title and a berth into the Credit Union 1 Sun Belt Football Championship presented by Visit Pensacola. The Bulldogs amassed four interceptions, including a 36-yard pick-six from third-year linebacker Jadon Mayfield and an 89-yard pick-six from third-year defensive back Jordan McRae on back-to-back second-quarter possessions. Offensively, fourth-year quarterback Blake Baker completed 21-of-28 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns, with fourth-year tight end Eli Finley going over the century mark (104 receiving yards, 1 touchdown).
Golden Eagles redshirt senior wide receiver Mario Sanders caught eight passes for a game-high 119 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt junior running back Steven Robinson (94 rushing yards) and redshirt freshman running back Jamarice Wilder (83 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown) starred in the ground game in defeat.
App State used two first-half field goals from senior kicker James London and a pair of second-half touchdown runs from junior quarterback Henry Hasselbeck to earn its first road win at Marshall since 1995, 20-16. The victory helped the Mountaineers clinch bowl eligibility for the 10th time in 12 seasons. Sophomore running back Jaquari Lewis ran for 137 yards on 23 carries, with Hasselbeck adding 49 on eight attempts. Defensively, senior linebacker Colton Phares registered 12 tackles and a forced fumble.
Thundering Herd redshirt senior quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson threw for 106 yards and ran for 66 in the losing effort. Marshall redshirt senior running back Jo’Shon Barbie went over the century mark with 108 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Behind a pair of 40-or-more yard touchdown runs from junior running back Trae’von Dunbar, South Alabama defended its home turf with a 27-14 win over Troy in the Battle for the Belt rivalry game. Dunbar rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns and also caught two passes for 30 yards. Jaguars fifth-year quarterback Bishop Davenport threw for 122 yards and ran for 39 yards—including a 28-yard touchdown scamper.
Trojans sixth-year quarterback Goose Crowder threw for 231 yards and rushed for a team-high 48 yards in defeat. Forty-five of his rushing yards came on a second-quarter touchdown run.
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SUN BELT FOOTBALL – WEEK 11 RESULTS
Louisiana def. ULM, 42-21
UConn def. James Madison, 46-22
Coastal Carolina def. Arkansas State, 28-21
Georgia Southern def. Georgia State, 34-17
Louisiana Tech def. Southern Miss, 63-31
App State def. Marshall, 20-16
South Alabama def. Troy, 27-14