MOBILE, Ala. — The South Alabama BCS rankings debut came Sunday, when the Bowl Championship Series released its first standings of the 2013 season with the Jaguars at No. 78.
The first BCS rankings of the year rate every eligible Football Bowl Subdivision program. South Alabama, which competes in the Sun Belt Conference under head coach Joey Jones, came in one spot behind Louisiana-Monroe and two spots ahead of Arkansas State.
Where the Sun Belt Stands
Louisiana-Lafayette is the highest-rated Sun Belt program in the first release, sharing the No. 39 position. The conference’s eligible teams were placed as follows:
- No. 39: Louisiana-Lafayette
- No. 72: Western Kentucky
- No. 73: Louisiana-Monroe
- No. 78: South Alabama
- No. 80: Arkansas State
- No. 84: Troy
- No. 91: Texas State
Georgia State, the league’s newest football member, does not appear in the standings because it is not eligible this season. Penn State and Texas-San Antonio are also listed as ineligible.
South Alabama’s Opponents
Several of the Jaguars’ 2013 opponents from outside the conference appear in the first rankings as well. Tennessee, which South Alabama visited earlier this season, is tied with Louisiana-Lafayette at No. 39. Tulane is No. 51.
Kent State, which South Alabama defeated 38-21 on Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in the Jaguars’ homecoming game, is No. 103.
What Comes Next
The BCS standings will be updated weekly through the remainder of the regular season. South Alabama’s remaining schedule includes a Nov. 2 game against Arkansas State, the team directly behind the Jaguars in the first release.
