If someone asked you to name the only two programs this season to successfully defend a conference title, would you have come up with Troy in addition to Michigan?

Head coach Jon Sumrall sparked the Trojans in his 2022 debut, leading them to a 12-2 record and Sun Belt crown.

The encore was arguably even better.

Troy, on paper, notched a lesser 11-3 mark. However, running back Kimani Vidal became the program's first AP All-American since 2000, and the defense piled up the fifth-most tackles for loss in the country. Longtime quarterback Gunnar Watson had a career-best season, and Troy's success led to Sumrall accepting the Tulane job.

Sure, there's a James Madison-sized asterisk. NCAA transition rules prevented the team—which, by record, won the Sun Belt's East Division again—from playing in the league championship game. JMU, on the road, defeated Troy in September.