# 2010 Sun Belt Conference football season

The 2010 Sun Belt Conference football season was the 10th season of college football play for the Sun Belt Conference. The season began September 2, 2010 and concluded January 6, 2011 as part of the 2010-11 NCAA Division I FBS football season. 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 overtime. 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 was not invited to a bowl game.

## Preseason
### Sun Belt Coaches Poll

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 Parentheses
* Middle Tennessee – 75 (5)
* Troy – 73 (3)
* Arkansas State – 53
* Louisiana-Lafayette – 49 (1)
* Florida Atlantic - 45
* Florida International – 42
* Louisiana-Monroe – 32
* North Texas – 27
* Western Kentucky - 9

### Pre-Season All-Sun Belt Team

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)

## Postseason

All three bowl-eligible Sun Belt teams were invited to participate in bowl games. These teams compiled a 2-1 record in postseason play.
| Bowl | Date | Time | SBC team (Record) | Opponent (Record) | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| 2010 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl | December 18 | 9:00 p.m. | Troy (7-5) | Ohio (8-4) | Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans | ESPN | W 48-21 | 29,159 |
| 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl | December 26 | 8:30 p.m. | Florida International (6-6) | Toledo (8-4) | Ford Field • Detroit | ESPN | W 34-32 | 32,431 |
| 2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl | January 6 | 8:00 p.m. | Middle Tennessee (6-6) | Miami (OH) (9-4) | Ladd–Peebles Stadium • Mobile, Alabama | ESPN | L 21-35 | 38,168 |

## Players of the Year

2010 Sun Belt Player of the Year awards
| Award | Player | School |
| Player of the Year | T. Y. Hilton | Florida International |
| Offensive Player of the Year | Bobby Rainey | Western Kentucky |
| Defensive Player of the Year | Jamari Lattimore | Middle Tennessee |
| Freshman of the Year | Corey Robinson | Troy |
| Coach of the Year | Mario Cristobal | Florida International |

## All-Sun Belt Team

Coaches All-Conference Selections
| Position | Player | Class | Team |
| First Team Offense ||||
| QB | Ryan Aplin | SO | Arkansas State |
| RB | Lance Dunbar | JR | North Texas |
| RB | Bobby Rainey | JR | Western Kentucky |
| WR | T. Y. Hilton | JR | Florida International |
| WR | Jerrel Jernigan | SR | Troy |
| TE | Ladarius Green | JR | Louisiana-Lafayette |
| OL | Brad Serini | SR | Florida International |
| OL | Tyler Clark | SR | Troy |
| OL | Victor Gill | SR | North Texas |
| OL | Derek Newton | SR | Arkansas State |
| OL | Esteban Santiago | SR | North Texas |
| First Team Defense ||||
| DL | Bryan Hall | SR | Arkansas State |
| DL | Jamari Lattimore | SR | Middle Tennessee |
| DL | Jonathan Massaquoi | SO | Troy |
| DL | Jarvis Wilson | SR | Florida International |
| LB | Demario Davis | JR | Arkansas State |
| LB | Toronto Smith | SR | Florida International |
| LB | Craig Robertson | SR | North Texas |
| DB | M. D. Jennings | SR | Arkansas State |
| DB | Anthony Gaitor | SR | Florida International |
| DB | Rod Issac | SR | Middle Tennessee |
| DB | Jeremy Kellem | SR | Middle Tennessee |
| First Team Special Teams ||||
| PK | Alan Gendreau | JR | Middle Tennessee |
| P | Mickey Groody | JR | Florida Atlantic |
| RS | T. Y. Hilton | JR | Florida International |
| AP | Jerrel Jernigan | SR | Troy |
| Position | Player | Class | Team |
| Second Team Offense ||||
| QB | Corey Robinson | FR | Troy |
| RB | Phillip Tanner | SR | Middle Tennessee |
| RB | Darriet Perry | JR | Florida International |
| WR | Lestar Jean | SR | Florida Atlantic |
| WR | Luther Ambrose | JR | Louisiana-Monroe |
| TE | Rob Housler | SR | Florida Atlantic |
| OL | Tom Castilaw | SR | Arkansas State |
| OL | Sifa Etu | SR | Arkansas State |
| OL | Ian Burks | SR | Louisiana-Lafayette |
| OL | Mark Fisher | SR | Middle Tennessee |
| OL | James Brown | JR | Troy |
| Second Team Defense ||||
| DL | Dorvus Woods | JR | Arkansas State |
| DL | Tourek Williams | SO | Florida International |
| DL | Ken Dorsey | JR | Louisiana-Monroe |
| DL | Mario Addison | SR | Troy |
| LB | Javon McKinnon | SR | Arkansas State |
| LB | Michael Lockley | SR | Florida Atlantic |
| LB | Thomas Majors | SR | Western Kentucky |
| DB | Marcus Bartels | JR | Florida Atlantic |
| DB | Tavious Polo | SR | Florida Atlantic |
| DB | Johnathan Cyprien | SO | Florida International |
| DB | Darius Prelow | JR | Louisiana-Monroe |
| Second Team Special Teams ||||
| PK | Zach Olen | FR | North Texas |
| P | Josh Davis | FR | Middle Tennessee |
| RS | Jerrel Jernigan | SR | Troy |
| AP | T. Y. Hilton | JR | Florida International |