New Orleans – The Texas State football team was picked to finish in sixth place in the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Coaches Preseason Poll that was released Monday at the league's annual media day.
 
The Bobcats were picked to finish behind 2012 bowl teams Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State and Western Kentucky. In addition, Troy was picked to finish fifth. In addition, South Alabama and Georgia State was picked to finish behind the Bobcats.
 
Much of the preseason chatter around the SBC has focused on the lack of a clear-cut favorite to capture the league's football championship. That was demonstrated in the preseason poll as Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe both earned 57 points in the poll of eight SBC coaches.
Two-time defending champion Arkansas State was picked third with 45 total points and Western Kentucky trails by just one point for fourth place with 44 points.  
 
2013 Preseason Sun Belt Poll
As voted on by the league's eight head coaches.


School                                                                 Points
T-1. Louisiana-Lafayette                                  57 (4)
T-1. Louisiana-Monroe                                     57 (2)
3. Arkansas State                                              45 (2)
4. WKU                                                                44
5. Troy                                                                  35
6. Texas State                                                    23
7. South Alabama                                             19
8. Georgia State                                                 8
First place votes in parentheses.
 
2013 Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
As voted on by the league's eight head coaches and eight selected media members.
Offense
Kolton Browning (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., QB)
David Oku (Arkansas State, Sr., RB)
Antonio Andrews (WKU, Sr., RB)
J.D. McKissic (Arkansas State, So., WR)
Je'Ron Hamm (ULM, Sr., WR)
Eric Thomas (Troy, Sr. WR)
Wes Saxton (South Alabama, Jr., TE)
Bryce Giddens (Arkansas State, So., OL)
Andre Huval (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., OL)
Josh Allen (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., OL)
Terrence Jones (Troy, Jr., OL)
Sean Conway (WKU, Sr., OL)
 
Defense
Ryan Carrethers (Arkansas State, Sr., DL)
Christian Ringo (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., DL)
Kentarius Caldwell (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., DL)
Alex Page (South Alabama, Sr., DL)
Qushaun Lee (Arkansas State, Jr., LB)
Justin Anderson (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., LB)
Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)
Sterling Young (Arkansas State, Jr., DB)
Isaiah Newsome (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., DB)
Tyrell Pearson (South Alabama, Sr., DB)
Jonathan Dowling (WKU, Sr., DB)
 
Special Teams
Brian Davis (Arkansas State, Sr., K)
Will Scott (Troy, Sr., P)
Antonio Andrews (WKU, Sr., Return Specialist)
 
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Kolton Browning (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., QB)
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)