The 2010 Sun Belt Conference football season is a NCAA football season that will be played from September 2, 2010, until January 6, 2011 when the GMAC Bowl will be played. 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.

Previous Season

Troy (9-4) was the Sun Belt champions and lost to Central Michigan in the GMAC Bowl 44-41 in an overtime thriller. Although Troy was the conference champion, the team decided to accept an invitation to play in the GMAC Bowl, giving another Sun Belt team the privilege of playing in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. That team was Middle Tennessee (10-3), who became the Sun Belt's first ever 10 win team since the league began playing FBS football in 2001. The 10-3 record earned Middle Tennessee a trip to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl where they faced Southern Miss and won 42-32.

One other Sun Belt team, Louisiana-Monroe, was bowl eligible with record of 6-6 but wasn't invited to a bowl game.

Pre-Season

Sun Belt Coaches Poll ^[1]

The 2010 Sun Belt coaches preseason poll was announced during a two day media web-based event on July 19 and 20. Middle Tennessee was selected as the favorite to win the conference.

First Place Votes in Parenthesis

1. Middle Tennessee  75 (5)
2. Troy  73 (3)
3. Arkansas State  53
4. Louisiana-Lafayette  49 (1)
5. Florida Atlantic - 45
6. Florida International  42
7. Louisiana-Monroe  32
8. North Texas  27
9. Western Kentucky - 9

Pre-Season All-Sun Belt Team ^[2]

Offense

• Dwight Dasher (MT, Sr., QB)
• Alfred Morris (FAU, Jr., RB)
• Lance Dunbar (NT, Jr., RB)
• T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Jr., WR)
• Jerrel Jernigan (Troy, Sr., WR)
• Ladarius Green (ULL, Jr., TE)
• Derek Newton (ASU, Sr., OL)
• Brad Serirni (FIU, Sr., OL)
• Mark Fisher (MT, Sr., OL)
• Esteban Santiago (NT, Sr., OL)
• Tyler Clark (Troy, Sr., OL)

Defense

• Bryan Hall (ASU, Sr., DL)
• Troy Evans (ULM, Jr., DL)
• Jamari Lattimore (MT, Sr., DL)
• Brandon Akpunku (NT, Jr., DL)
• Demario Davis (ASU, Jr., LB)
• Grant Fleming (ULL, Sr., LB)
• Craig Robertson (NT, Sr., LB)
• Tavious Polo (FAU, Sr., DB)
• Anthony Gaitor (FIU, Sr., DB)
• Jeremy Kellem (MT, Sr., DB)
• Bryan Willis (Troy, So., DB)

Special Teams

• Alan Gendreau (MT, Jr., Place Kicker)
• Spencer Ortego (ULL, Sr., Punter)
• T.Y. Hilton (FIU, Jr., Return Specialist)

Offensive Player of the Year

• Dwight Dasher (MT, Sr., QB)

Defensive Player of the Year

• Bryan Hall (ASU, Sr., DL)

References