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College football game
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 fourth 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]
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 ]
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.
2023 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship Appalachian State Mountaineers (8–4, 6–2) vs. Troy Trojans (10-2, 7–1)
Period
1
2
3 4 Total
Appalachian State
0
7
10 6 23
Troy
0
14
7 28 49
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 0 yard rush, 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
^ "About the Championship Game" . sunbeltsports.org . Retrieved November 18, 2023 .
^ Stephenson, Creg (November 14, 2023). "Troy looking to maintain focus after clinching Sun Belt West title" . al.com . Retrieved November 18, 2023 .
^ "Troy to Host 2023 Hercules Tires Sun Belt Football Championship" (Press release). Sun Belt Conference. November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 25, 2023 .
^ Griffin, Nick (December 4, 2023). "Troy repeats as Sun Belt champions" . The Cullman Tribune . Retrieved December 5, 2023 .
^ Stuckey, George (November 20, 2023). "Week 13 College Football Conference Championship Scenarios & Bowl Eligibility Tracker" . Action Network . Retrieved November 20, 2023 .
Division I FBS Division I FCS
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold