Following an opening weekend where the Sun Belt posted a 10-4 record and a victory over an autonomy five program, Texas State’s TJ Finley, Coastal Carolina’s Clayton Isbell and Southern Miss’ Andrew Stein earned the conference’s weekly accolades.

Football Offensive Player of the Week
TJ Finley, Texas State 
(RS So., QB – Ponchatoula, La.) 
 
Bobcats redshirt sophomore quarterback TJ Finley accounted for four touchdowns to lead Texas State to a statement 42-31 victory over in-state foe Baylor in its season-opener. The victory was Texas State’s first over Baylor (0-9 entering the game) and first over an autonomy five program (0-26 entering the game). The Ponchatoula, La., native connected on 22-of-30 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns through the air and rushed for 18 yards and a score. Finley propelled the Bobcats to their most points in a regulation road game since 2014 and became the first Texas State quarterback to win his debut in the team’s season-opener since 2017.

Football Defensive Player of the Week
Clayton Isbell, Coastal Carolina
(Super Sr., S – St. Charles, Ill.)
 
Chanticleers super senior safety Clayton Isbell tied the single-game program record with three interceptions in Coastal Carolina’s season-opening 27-13 defeat at UCLA. The St. Charles, Ill., product also added nine tackles—five solo—in his debut outing in a Chanticleer uniform. Two of Isbell’s interceptions came in the end zone, halting a Bruins first quarter drive that had reached the Chanticleer eight-yard line and a fourth quarter drive that had progressed to the Coastal Carolina 10-yard line. He returned his third quarter pick—the lone interception not to force a touchback—29 yards.  

Football Special Teams Player of the Week
Andrew Stein, Southern Miss
(RS Jr., K – Slidell, La.) 
 
Golden Eagles redshirt junior kicker Andrew Stein converted a career-high four field goals in Southern Miss’ season-opening 40-14 victory over in-state foe Alcorn State. After a 1,371-day hiatus, the Slidell, La., native connected on attempts from 25, 23, 52 and 41 yards—becoming the first Golden Eagles kicker to convert four field goals in a game since Parker Shaunfield versus Louisiana Tech on Oct. 21, 2017. Stein, who last kicked a field goal for Southern Miss during the 2019 season, was used primarily as a kickoff specialist in five games from 2020-22.