Arkansas State football has real shot at Sun Belt title in 2020

How will Arkansas State football fare in 2020?

Arkansas State is a program that competes with the top teams in the Sun Belt and some of the best Group of Five programs. Arkansas State has not gotten an opportunity to play for the Sun Belt title as a member of the West division.

With a solid offense but reloading defense, they will to have find their momentum through early and often. With the all conferences still looking into whether conference games only or keep the non-conferences for the 2020 season, the schedule will be based on all 12 games.

Here is the breakdown of the Red Wolves schedule for 2020:

• Game 1: at Memphis (L) – The Red Wolves travel to play one of the most prolific and explosive passers in the nation in Tigers quarterback Brady White.
• Game 2: vs. Howard (W) – Arkansas State gets their first win of the season in the first home of the season against a Howard Bisons team that went 2-10 last season.
• Game 3: at Michigan (L) – Provided that the Wolverines keep their game with the Red Wolves, they will find an easy win against the Red Wolves are still looking for consistency on the defensive side of the ball.
• Game 4: vs. Tulsa (L) – With the Golden Hurricanes returning nine starters on a more focused offense, the Red Wolves might have problems stopping keeping up in a potential shootout.
• Game 5: at Coastal Carolina (W) – The Red Wolves start Sun Belt Conference with a Chanticleers with a weak secondary.
• Game 6: vs. Georgia State (W) – Arkansas State will have a more disciplined team and the home-field advantage their 52-38 loss to the Panthers last season.
• Game 7: at Appalachian State (L) – A potential high-scoring game goes to the Mountaineers’ favor as they return nine starters from their ninth-nationally ranked scoring offense.
• Game 8: vs. Troy (W) – With the Trojans still trying to find their starting quarterback for 2020, they will have problems with efficiency.
• Game 9: at Louisiana (L) – The Ragin Cajuns will return their top players from their sixth-ranked rushing offense in senior running back Elijah Mitchell.
• Game 10: vs. ULM (W) – The Red Wolves rebound with an easy win against a declining Warhawks team.
• Game 11: at Texas State (W) – Arkansas State had no problems scoring this Bobcats team last season as they won with a 38-14 score.
• Game 12: vs. South Alabama (W) – The Red Wolves look for revenge from last year’s regular-season finale against a 2-10 South Alabama team as they lost 34-30.

Prediction: 7-5, 6-2 Sun Belt

The Red Wolves have the potential to make to their first-ever Sun Belt title game. To do so, they will need to beat two highly-talented and more experienced teams in the Appalachian State Mountaineers and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. The most winnable game the Red Wolves have in five projected regular-season losses is against Tulsa.

They have the offensive firepower to match the efficiency and productivity with the Mountaineers and the Ragin’ Cajuns. Whether Bonner or Hatcher starts, the Red Wolves will be very good shape. Finding starters at the receiving corps will be important as well as continually build the experienced offensive line to keep from giving some much pressure.

It will be on the defensive side of the ball that the Red Wolves will struggle with. With only a handful of players with multiple high-value and multiple games of starting experience, they could find themselves in deficits that they should not be in.

Look for coach Duggan to utilize multiple different formations and multiple different starters to see which players are the most consistent.