2023 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game

2023 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game
5th SBC Championship Game
Appalachian State Mountaineers Troy Trojans
(8–4) (10–2)
23 49
Head coach: 
Shawn Clark		 Head coach: 
Jon Sumrall
1234 Total
Appalachian State 07106 23
Troy 014728 49
DateDecember 2, 2023
Season2023
StadiumVeterans Memorial Stadium
LocationTroy, Alabama
MVPRB Kimani Vidal, Troy
FavoriteTroy by 5.5
RefereeWayne Winkler
Attendance20,183
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersJohn Schriffen, Kirk Morrison and Stormy Buonantony
Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game
 < 2022  2024 > 
2023 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
James Madison* x   7 – 1     11 – 2  
Appalachian State y   6 – 2     9 – 5  
Coastal Carolina   5 – 3     8 – 5  
Old Dominion   5 – 3     6 – 7  
Georgia State   3 – 5     7 – 6  
Marshall   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Georgia Southern   3 – 5     6 – 7  
West Division
Troy xy$   7 – 1     11 – 3  
Texas State   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Arkansas State   4 – 4     6 – 7  
South Alabama   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Louisiana   3 – 5     6 – 7  
Southern Miss   2 – 6     3 – 9  
Louisiana–Monroe   0 – 8     2 – 10  
Championship: Troy 49, Appalachian State 23
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

The 2023 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game was a college football game that was played on December 2, 2023 at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Troy University in Troy, Alabama. It was the fifth edition of the Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game and determined the champion of the Sun Belt Conference for the 2023 season. The game began at 4:00 p.m. EST on ESPN. The game featured the Troy Trojans, the West Division champions, and the Appalachian State Mountaineers, the East Division runner-up. Troy defeated App State 49–23. Sponsored by Hercules Tires, the game was officially named as the 2023 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship.[1]

Teams

[edit]

Troy Trojans

[edit]
Main article: 2023 Troy Trojans football team

Troy clinched a spot in the championship game following its defeat of ULM on November 11.[2] Troy secured hosting rights with its win over Southern Miss on November 25.[3] Troy running back Kimani Vidal secured the championship game MVP award after becoming the first player ever to rush for 5 touchdowns in an FBS conference championship game.[4]

Appalachian State Mountaineers

[edit]
Main article: 2023 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team

With the NCAA having denied a request by James Madison for a waiver from rules that prohibit teams transitioning from Division I FCS to FBS from appearing in conference championship games, the Trojans' opponent in the championship game was determined to be Appalachian State.[5] App State secured the East Division spot after beating Georgia Southern and having James Madison defeat Coastal Carolina in the final week of college football regular season.

Game summary

[edit]
2023 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship
Appalachian State Mountaineers (8–4, 6–2) vs. Troy Trojans (10-2, 7–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Appalachian State 0 7 10623
Troy 0 14 72849

at Veterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL

Game information
First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter
  • (5:33) TROY – Kimani Vidal 7 yard rush, Scott Taylor Renfroe kick (Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:45; Troy 7–0)
  • (3:15) TROY – Kimani Vidal 36 yard rush, Scott Taylor Renfroe kick (Drive: 4 plays, 55 yards, 1:18; Troy 14–0)
  • (0:39) APPST – Kanye Roberts 1 yard rush, Michael Hughes kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 2:36; Troy 14–7)
Third Quarter
  • (10:11) APPST – Kanye Roberts 6 yard rush, Michael Hughes kick (Drive: 11 plays, 82 yards, 4:49; Tied 14–14)
  • (8:31) TROY – Chris Lewis 51 yard pass from Gunnar Watson, Scott Taylor Renfroe kick (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:40; Troy 21–14)
  • (3:50) APPST – Michael Hughes 41 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 0 yards, 2:56; Troy 21–17)
Fourth Quarter
  • (10:57) TROY – Kimani Vidal 2 yard rush, Scott Taylor Renfroe kick (Drive: 10 plays, 81 yards, 3:57; TROY 28–17)
  • (10:51) TROY – Don Callis 10 yard fumble return, Scott Taylor Renfroe kick (Troy 35–17)
  • (5:34) APPST – Eli Watson fumble recovery in end zone , two-point rush conversion failed (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:17; Troy 35–23)
  • (4:30) TROY – Kimani Vidal 6 yard rush, Scott Taylor Renfroe kick (Drive: 4 plays, 38 yards, 1:04; Troy 42–23)
  • (2:42) TROY – Kimani Vidal 49 yard rush, Scott Taylor Renfroe kick (Drive: 2 plays, 49 yards, 0:56; TROY 49–23)
Statistics ASU TROY
First downs 22 25
Plays–yards 80–383 60–463
Rushes–yards 41–108 35–271
Passing yards 275 192
Passing: comp–att–int 28–39–0 16–25–0
Time of possession 35:29 24:31
Team Category Player Statistics
Appalachian State Passing Joey Aguilar 28/39, 275 yards
Rushing Kanye Roberts 13 carries, 53 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Kaedin Robinson 6 receptions, 70 yards
Troy Passing Gunnar Watson 16/24, 192 yards, TD
Rushing Kimani Vidal 26 carries, 233 yards, 5 TD
Receiving Chris Lewis 3 receptions, 98 yards, TD

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "About the Championship Game". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Stephenson, Creg (November 14, 2023). "Troy looking to maintain focus after clinching Sun Belt West title". al.com. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  3. ^ "Troy to Host 2023 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  4. ^ Griffin, Nick (December 4, 2023). "Troy repeats as Sun Belt champions". The Cullman Tribune. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Stuckey, George (November 20, 2023). "Week 13 College Football Conference Championship Scenarios & Bowl Eligibility Tracker". Action Network. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
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