Sports season
The 2009 Sun Belt Conference football season was an NCAA football season that was played from September 3, 2009, to January 6, 2010. The Sun Belt Conference consists of 9 football members: Arkansas State , Florida Atlantic , Florida International , Louisiana-Lafayette , Louisiana-Monroe , Middle Tennessee , North Texas , Troy , and Western Kentucky who becomes a full-time member in 2009 after 2 seasons as an independent and conditional member who played a limited Sun Belt schedule after transitioning from the Football Championship Subdivision . Troy won the Sun Belt Championship and played in the GMAC Bowl where they lost in two overtimes to Central Michigan . Middle Tennessee was the only other Sun Belt member to be invited to a bowl game, the New Orleans Bowl , where they defeated Southern Mississippi .
Troy (8–5) were the Sun Belt champions and lost to Southern Mississippi in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl 30–27.
Three other Sun Belt teams, Arkansas State , Florida Atlantic , and Louisiana-Lafayette , were bowl eligible with records of 6-6, but only Florida Atlantic was invited to a bowl game, the Motor City Bowl defeating Central Michigan 24–21.
The 2009 Sun Belt coaches preseason poll was announced during a two-day media web-based event on July 20 and 21.[ 1]
Sun Belt Coaches Poll [ edit ] Troy – 72 (5)Arkansas State – 69Florida Atlantic – 61 (1)Middle Tennessee – 52Florida International - 43 (1)Louisiana-Lafayette – 39 (1)Louisiana-Monroe – 34 (1)North Texas – 18Western Kentucky - 17
Index to colors and formatting
Sun Belt member won
Sun Belt member lost
Sun Belt teams in bold
All times reflect the local time for that team (Central Time-Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, North Texas and Troy. Eastern Time- Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Western Kentucky). Conference games times are that of the home team.
Rankings reflect that of the USA Today Coaches poll for that week until week eight when the BCS rankings will be used.
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 3
6:00 p.m.
Troy Bowling Green Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH L 31-1414,514
September 3
6:30 p.m.
North Texas Ball State Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, IN ESPNU W 20-1016,054
September 5
12:20 p.m.
Western Kentucky Tennessee Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, TN L 63-798,761
September 5
5:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee Clemson Memorial Stadium • Clemson, SC L 37-1475,000
September 5
6:00 p.m.
Mississippi Valley State Arkansas State ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, AR W 61-021,056
September 5
6:00 p.m.
Southern Louisiana-Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA W 42–1941,357
September 5
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe #2 Texas
Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX FSN L 59-20101,096
September 5
7:00 p.m.
Florida Atlantic #22 Nebraska
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE FSN
L 49-385,719
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 12
11:20 a.m.
Troy #1 Florida
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL L 56-690,349
September 12
1:00 p.m.
Arkansas State #18 Nebraska
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE
FSN
L 38-985,035
September 12
6:00 p.m.
Kansas State Louisiana-Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA
W 17-1516,431
September 12
6:00 p.m.
Texas Southern Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA W 58-09,330
September 12
6:00 p.m.
Memphis Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN W 31-1428,105
September 12
6:00 p.m.
Ohio North Texas Fouts Field • Denton, TX L 31–30 in 2OT16,674
September 12
7:00 p.m.
Florida International #4 Alabama
Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 40-1492,012
September 12
7:30 p.m.
South Florida Western Kentucky Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY ESPNU
L 35-1320,568
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 19
12:20 p.m.
North Texas #4 Alabama
Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL
SEC Network L 53-792,012
September 19
2:30 p.m.
Middle Tennessee Maryland Byrd Stadium • College Park, MD W 32-3143,167
September 19
2:30 p.m.
Alabama-Birmingham Troy Movie Gallery Stadium • Troy, AL W 27-1421,182
September 19
5:00 p.m.
Florida International Rutgers Rutgers Stadium • Piscataway, NJ L 23-1545,273
September 19
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette Louisiana State Tiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA ESPNU
L 31-392,443
September 19
7:00 p.m.
Florida Atlantic South Carolina Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC L 38-1672,017
September 19
7:00 p.m.
Central Arkansas Western Kentucky Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY
L 28-719,044
September 19
9:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe Arizona State Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ FSN
L 38-1443,780
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
September 26
3:30 p.m.
Troy Arkansas State ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, AR CST TROY 30-2723,641
September 26
4:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe Florida Atlantic Lockhart Stadium • Ft. Lauderdale, FL ULM 27-2514,229
September 26
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette #24 Nebraska
Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE
FSN
L 55-086,304
September 26
6:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee North Texas Fouts Field • Denton, TX MTSU 37-2122,346
September 26
6:00 p.m.
Western Kentucky Navy Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MD L 38-2229,009
September 26
7:00 p.m.
Toledo Florida Atlantic FIU Stadium • Miami, FL L 41-3111,047
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 3
11:00 a.m.
Arkansas State #17 Iowa
Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA ESPN2 L 24-2167,989
October 3
2:30 p.m.
Florida International Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA
Sun Belt Network ULM 48-3517,610
October 3
4:00 p.m.
Wyoming Florida Atlantic Lockhart Stadium • Ft. Lauderdale, FL
L 30-2815,744
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 6
7:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee Troy Movie Gallery Stadium • Troy, AL
ESPN2
TROY 31-717,108
October 10
6:00 p.m.
North Texas Louisiana-Lafayette Cajan Field • Lafayette, LA
Sun Belt Network
ULL 38-3412,141
October 10
7:00 p.m.
Florida International Western Kentucky Houchens Industries - L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY
FIU 37-2013,574
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 13
7:00 p.m.
Arkansas State Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA
ESPN2
ULM 16-1014,378
October 17
11:30 a.m.
Mississippi State Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
ESPNU
L 27-623,882
October 17
5:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette Western Kentucky Houchens Industries Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY
ULL 30-2211,919
October 17
6:00 p.m.
Florida Atlantic North Texas Fouts Field • Denton, TX
Sun Belt Network
UNT 40-4423,319
October 17
7:00 p.m.
Troy Florida International FIU Stadium • Miami, FL
TROY 42-3310,142
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 24
2:30 p.m.
North Texas Troy Movie Gallery Stadium • Troy, AL
TROY 50-2620,032
October 24
2:30 p.m.
Western Kentucky Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
MTSU 62-2417,787
October 24
4:00 p.m.
Florida Atlantic Louisiana-Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA
FAU 51-2921,135
October 24
6:00 p.m.
Florida International Arkansas State ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, AR
ASU 27-1018,779
October 24
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe Kentucky Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY L 36-1368,203
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
October 31
12:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette Florida International FIU Stadium • Miami, FL
FIU 20–17 in OT8,593
October 31
2:30 p.m.
Arkansas State Louisville Papa John's Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, KY L 21-1321,497
October 24
3:15 p.m.
Western Kentucky North Texas Fouts Field • Denton, TX
Sun Belt Network
UNT 68-4911,214
October 31
4:00 p.m.
Middle Tennessee Florida Atlantic Lockhart Stadium • Ft. Lauderdale, FL
MTSU 27-2015,568
October 31
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe Troy Movie Gallery Stadium • Troy, AL
TROY 42-2117,106
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
November 7
2:00 p.m.
Florida Atlantic Alabama Birmingham
Legion Field • Birmingham, AL L 56-2917,283
November 7
2:30 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette Arkansas State ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, AR
Sun Belt Network
ULL 21-1816,215
November 7
3:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe North Texas Fouts Field • Denton, TX
ULM 33-612,167
November 7
3:30 p.m.
Florida International Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
MTSU 48-2117,808
November 7
5:00 p.m.
Troy Western Kentucky Houchens Industries Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY
TROY 40-2016,747
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
November 14
3:00 p.m.
Western Kentucky Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA
ULM 21-1816,229
November 14
3:15 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Sun Belt Network
MTSU 34-1716,411
November 14
4:00 p.m.
Arkansas State Florida Atlantic Lockhart Stadium • Ft. Lauderdale, FL
FAU 35-1816,218
November 14
6:30 p.m.
Troy Arkansas Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, AR L 56-2066,442
November 14
7:00 p.m.
North Texas Florida International FIU Stadium • Miami, FL
FIU 35-2811,128
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
November 21
12:30 p.m.
Florida International #1 Florida
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium • Gainesville, FL
L 62-390,473
November 21
3:00 p.m.
Army North Texas Fouts Field • Denton, Texas
L 17-1323,647
November 21
3:15 p.m.
Florida Atlantic Troy Movie Gallery Stadium • Troy, AL
TROY 47-2116,638
November 21
3:30 p.m.
Arkansas State Middle Tennessee Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Sun Belt Network
MTSU 38-1419,111
November 21
6:00 p.m.
Louisiana-Monroe Louisiana-Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA
ULL 21-178,689
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
November 28
2:00 p.m.
North Texas Arkansas State ASU Stadium • Jonesboro, AR
ARST 30-268,754
November 28
3:30 p.m.
Middle Tennessee Louisiana-Monroe Malone Stadium • Monroe, LA
MTSU 11,896
November 28
4:00 p.m.
Western Kentucky Florida Atlantic Lockhart Stadium • Ft. Lauderdale, FL
FAU 29-2314,671
November 28
6:00 p.m.
Troy Louisiana-Lafayette Cajun Field • Lafayette, LA
TROY 48-3112,245
Date
Time
Visiting team
Home team
Site
TV
Result
Attendance
December 3
7:00 p.m.
Arkansas State Western Kentucky Houchens Industries - L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY
ARST 24-204,513
December 5
7:00 p.m.
Florida Atlantic Florida International FIU Stadium • Miami, FL
FAU 28-2110,108
Bowl Game
Date
Stadium
City
Television
Matchup/Results
Attendance
Payout (US$ )
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
December 20, 2009
Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, LA
ESPN
Middle Tennessee 42, Southern Miss 32
30,228
$325,000
GMAC Bowl
January 6, 2010
Ladd–Peebles Stadium
Mobile, AL
ESPN
Central Michigan 44, Troy 41 2OT
34,486
$750,000
Players of the Year [ edit ] 2009 Sun Belt Player of the Year awards[ 12]
Coaches All-Conference Selections [ 12]
Position
Player
Class
Team
Second Team Offense
QB
Dwight Dasher
JR
Middle Tennessee
RB
Frank Goodin
JR
Louisiana-Monroe
RB
Bobby Rainey
SO
Western Kentucky
WR
T. Y. Hilton
SO
Florida International
WR
Jamaal Jackson
JR
North Texas
TE
Ladarius Green
SO
Louisiana-Lafayette
OL
Derek Newton
JR
Arkansas State
OL
David Matlock
SR
Florida Atlantic
OL
Brad Serini
JR
Florida International
OL
Esteban Santiago
JR
North Texas
OL
Mark Fisher
JR
Middle Tennessee
Second Team Defense
DL
Bryan Hall
JR
Arkansas State
DL
Jamari Lattimore
JR
Middle Tennessee
DL
Cameron Sheffield
SR
Troy
DL
Kevin Dixon
SR
Troy
LB
Antwyne Zanders
SR
Louisiana-Lafayette
LB
Danny Carmichael
SR
Middle Tennessee
LB
Cam Robinson
SR
Middle Tennessee
DB
Anthony Gaitor
JR
Florida International
DB
James Truxillo
SR
Louisiana-Monroe
DB
Courtland Fuller
SR
Troy
DB
Bryan Willis
FR
Troy
Second Team Special Teams
PK
Josh Arauco
SR
Arkansas State
P
Carlos Munera
SR
Florida International
RS
Jerrel Jernigan
JR
Troy
AP
Bobby Rainey
SO
Western Kentucky
Team
Stadium (capacity)
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Total
Average
% of Capacity
Arkansas State
ASU Stadium (30,964)
21,056
23,631
18,779
16,215
8,754
88,435
17,687
57.1
Florida Atlantic
Lockhart Stadium (20,450)
14,229
15,744
15,568
16,218
14,671
76,460
15,286
74.7
Florida International
FIU Stadium (20,000)
11,047
10,142
8,593
11,128
10,108
51,018
10,204
51.0
Louisiana-Lafayette
Cajun Field (31,000)
41,357
16,431
12,141
21,135
8,689
12,245
111,998
18,666
60.2
Louisiana-Monroe
Malone Stadium (30,427)
9,330
17,610
14,378
16,229
11,896
69,443
13,889
45.6
Middle Tennessee
Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium (31,000)
28,105
23,882
17,787
17,808
16,411
19,111
120,104
20,017
64.6
North Texas
Fouts Field (30,000)
16,674
22,346
23,319
11,214
12,167
85,720
17,144
57.1
Troy
Movie Gallery Stadium (30,000)
21,182
17,108
20,032
17,106
16,638
92,066
18,413
61.4
Western Kentucky
Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium (22,000)
20,568
19,044
13,574
11,919
16,747
4,513
86,365
14,394
65.4
^ "College Football Preview, 2009 Preseason Sun Belt Conference Football Poll" . Archived from the original on January 2, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2009 .^ "The Bronko Nagurski Charlotte Touchdown Club" . Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved October 2, 2009 .^ "Rimington Trophy" . Archived from the original on May 22, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2009 .^ Hugo Aguilar. "The Rotary Lombardi Award Website - 2009 Contenders" . Archived from the original on December 14, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2009 . ^ "News / Allstate Sugar Bowl" . Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. Retrieved October 24, 2009 .^ "PB Sports Commission - Lou Groza" .^ "FWAA > News > Outland Trophy Watch List" .^ "Home" . biletnikoffaward.com .^ "News – Walter Camp Football Foundation" .^ "Archived copy" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2009 .{{cite web }}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )^ "2009 O'Brien Quarterback Award Watch List Announced - Davey O'Brien" . Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved October 24, 2009 .^ a b "Three Hilltoppers Earn All-Sun Belt Conference Honors" . Retrieved December 6, 2024 .
East Division West Division Championships & awards Seasons
Conference seasons Inter-conference All-Americans
