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(Top) 1 Teams 1.1 Troy Trojans 1.2 Appalachian State Mountaineers 2 Game summary 3 References

2023 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game

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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

	1	2	3	4	Total
Appalachian State	0	7	10	6	23
Troy	0	14	7	28	49

Date

December 2, 2023

Season

2023

Stadium

Veterans Memorial Stadium

Location

Troy, Alabama

MVP

RBKimani Vidal, Troy

Favorite

Troy by 5.5

Referee

Wayne Winkler

Attendance

20,183

United States TV coverage

Network

ESPN

Announcers

John Schriffen, Kirk Morrison and Stormy Buonantony

Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game
< 2022	2024 >

2023 Sun Belt Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
East Division
James Madison* x	7	–	1	11	–	2
Appalachian Statey	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 UniversityinTroy, 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. ESTonESPN. 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]

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 FCStoFBS 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)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Appalachian State	0	7	10	6	23
Troy	0	14	7	28	49

atVeterans Memorial Stadium • Troy, AL

Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023
Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
TV announcers (ESPN): John Schriffen, Kirk Morrison, Stormy Buonantony

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)

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

References[edit]

^ "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.

2023 NCAA football conference championship games

Division I FBS

Division I FCS

SWAC

Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game

Years

2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Venues

Broadcasters

v t e Appalachian State Mountaineers football
Venues	College Field (1928–1961) Kidd Brewer Stadium (1962–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Georgia Southern Marshall Western Carolina (Battle for the Old Mountain Jug)
Culture & lore	"Hi Hi Yikas" Marching Mountaineers 2007 Michigan game Miracle on the Mountain Yosef
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders NFL draftees
Seasons	1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Troy Trojans football
Venues	Pace Field (1930–1949) Veterans Memorial Stadium (1950–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Jacksonville State: Battle for the Ol' School Bell Middle Tennessee: Battle for the Palladium South Alabama
Culture & lore	Trojan "Trojans One & All" Sound of the South Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

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