2023 Troy Trojans football team

The 2023 Troy Trojans football team represented Troy University as a member of the West Division of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by second-year head coach Jon Sumrall, the Trojans played home games at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama.

2023 Troy Trojans football
Sun Belt champion
Sun Belt West Division champion
Birmingham Bowl, L 10–17 vs. Duke
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record11–3 (7–1 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJoe Craddock (2nd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorGreg Gasparato (1st season)
Base defenseMultiple 4–2–5
Home stadiumVeterans Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Sun Belt Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
James Madison* x 71  112 
Appalachian State y 62  95 
Coastal Carolina 53  85 
Old Dominion 53  67 
Georgia State 35  76 
Marshall 35  67 
Georgia Southern 35  67 
West Division
Troy xy$ 71  113 
Texas State 44  85 
Arkansas State 44  67 
South Alabama 44  76 
Louisiana 35  67 
Southern Miss 26  39 
Louisiana–Monroe 08  210 
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

Preseason

Media poll

In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Trojans were picked to finish in first place in the West division.[1]

Media poll (West division)
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Troy92 (10)
2South Alabama85 (4)
3Louisiana64
4Southern Miss62
5Texas State36
6Arkansas State33
7ULM20

Defensive linemen TJ Jackson and Richard Jibunor and defensive back Reddy Steward were named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team. Running back Kimani Vidal, offensive lineman Daniel King, defensive lineman Javon Solomon, defensive back Dell Pettus, and all purpose back Kimani Vidal were named to the second team.[1]

Schedule

The football schedule was announced February 24, 2023.[2]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 26:00 p.m.Stephen F. Austin*ESPN+W 48–3028,179
September 911:00 a.m.at No. 15 Kansas State*FS1L 13–4251,940
September 166:00 p.m.James Madison
  • Veterans Memorial Stadium
  • Troy, AL
NFLNL 14–1626,634
September 2311:00 a.m.Western Kentucky*
  • Veterans Memorial Stadium
  • Troy, AL
ESPNUW 27–2426,124
September 306:00 p.m.at Georgia StateESPN+W 28–716,536
October 73:00 p.m.Arkansas State
  • Veterans Memorial Stadium
  • Troy, AL
ESPN+W 37–326,957
October 142:30 p.m.at Army*CBSSNW 19–027,829
October 282:00 p.m.at Texas StateESPN+W 31–1322,369
November 26:30 p.m.South Alabama
ESPN2W 28–1028,212
November 111:00 p.m.at Louisiana–MonroeESPN+W 45–147,683
November 186:00 p.m.Louisiana
  • Veterans Memorial Stadium
  • Troy, AL
NFLNW 31–2426,621
November 2511:00 a.m.at Southern MissESPNUW 35–1719,766
December 23:00 p.m.Appalachian State
ESPNW 49–2320,183
December 2311:00 a.m.vs. DukeABCL 10–1720,023

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRVRVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV
CFPNot releasedNot released

References