Sun Belt Recap: Georgia Southern Gets League Win, Troy Pulls Near-Upset

Louisiana's 30-22 win over McNeese State Saturday was one of nine games featuring Sun Belt teams.  In case you missed the other scores:

GEORGIA SOUTHERN 24, SOUTH ALABAMA 9--Favian Upshaw rushed for 108 yards and threw for 127, while Georgia Southern's defense kept the opposition offense out of the end zone for the second straight game in the league's first conference game of the season.

#2 CLEMSON 30, TROY 24--The Trojans gave the Tigers everything they wanted, but came up short Saturday.  Deondre Douglas had a big day for the Trojans, with eleven catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns.  Heisman Trophy candidate DeShaun Watson was 27-53 for 292 yards and three scores, but the Trojans also intercepted him twice.

APPALACHIAN STATE 31, OLD DOMINION 7--Marcus Cox carried 18 times for 133 yards and three touchdowns in the Mountaineers' home opener.  Taylor Lamb completed 14-21 passes for 181 yards.

NEW MEXICO STATE 32, NEW MEXICO 31--A Terrill Hanks interception set up the winning drive and Tyler Rogers hit Greg Hogan for the go-ahead touchdown with 5:46 remaining as the double-digit underdog Aggies beat their long-time rivals in the NMSU home opener.  Preseason Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year Larry Rose III missed hiis second consecutive game.

#14 OKLAHOMA 59, ULM 17--The Sooners rolled up 459 yards in the first half alone in running away from the outmanned Warhawks.  Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 244 yards in one half of action.  ULM quarterback Garrett Smith threw for a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter.

AUBURN 51, ARKANSAS STATE 14--The Tigers' offense, which struggled mightily against Clemson int the opener, got untracked against the Red Wolves.  The Tigers racked up 452 yards and five touchdowns in the first half.  Chad Voytik scored a pair of touchdowns for Arkansas State.

#8 WASHINGTON 59, IDAHO 14---Another one that was over in the first half as the Huskies roared out to a 35-0 halftime lead.  Matt Linehan threw a touchdown pass in the third quarter to get the Vandals on the board.

AIR FORCE 48, GEORGIA STATE 14--The Panthers took an early 7-0 lead, and trailed just 20-14 late in the second quarter.  But the Falcons got a touchdown just before halftime and scored on their first three possessions of the third quarter, rolling up 455 yards rushing.

Texas State had the night off.

There are two league games on tap next week as ULM travels to Georgia Southern and Louisiana hosts South Alabama