Nobody likes sharing unless they have to. Really, you’re only fine with that if it's your only option.
Appalachian State (6-4, 5-1 Sun Belt Conference) is lined up to be a co-champion again this season. With two games left, the Mountaineers are in a three-way tie for first place.
Realistically, four one-loss teams could eventually become a champion or co-champion: App State, Georgia State, Troy and Arkansas State. The Red Wolves are 4-1 in the Sun Belt and have one more game than everybody else to play. Here’s all of their remaining schedules:
Troy: Off week (Nov. 18) | vs. Texas State (Nov. 24) | at Arkansas State (Dec. 2)
Georgia State: Off week (Nov. 18) | vs. App State (Nov. 25) | vs. Idaho (Dec. 2)
App State: Off week (Nov.18) | at Georgia State (Nov. 25) | vs. Louisiana (Dec. 2)
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Arkansas State: vs. Texas State (Nov. 18) | at UL Monroe (Nov. 25) | vs. Troy (Dec. 2)
The first-place pack will thin out, and two games will do that: App State-Georgia State on Nov. 25 and Troy-Arkansas State on Dec. 2, barring unexpected losses elsewhere.
The Mountaineers have to win out to at least share the Sun Belt, so all of these scenarios assume that. Because of that assumption, Georgia State falls out of contention. That leaves App State, Troy and Arkansas State as the three teams in the discussion.
Here are the scenarios App State faces to win or share the conference title.
For App State to win the title outright
Scenario No. 1: Texas State beats both Arkansas State and Troy in back-to-back games. The Red Wolves and Trojans fight for second place on Dec. 2.
Scenario No. 2: Texas State or UL Monroe beat Arkansas State in the next two weeks. Arkansas State beats Troy to end the season.
Scenario No. 3: Texas State beats Troy next week. Troy beats Arkansas State in their finale.
What I'm saying is App State nation should root hard for Texas State during the next couple weeks. Texas State (2-8, 1-5 Sun Belt) is the only team with both Arkansas State and Troy left on its schedule.
The Bobcats nearly beat the Panthers of Georgia State last week, 33-30, but did so at home. Texas State travels to both Arkansas State and Troy, two tough environments to play in.
Texas State almost beat App State earlier this season. Only a goal-line tackle by senior safety A.J. Howard saved the Mountaineers in the 20-13 win. Texas State gets two chances to throw a wrench into the sharing scenarios. Speaking of which . . .
For App State to share the title
Scenario 4: Troy beats Texas State and Arkansas State to clinch a share of the Sun Belt title.
Scenario 5: Arkansas State rattles off three victories in a row against Texas State, UL Monroe and Troy to share the title with App State.
Both of these are pretty straightforward. If either Troy or Arkansas State wins out like App State, they share the title. It would be nothing new. The Mountaineers and the Red Wolves split the 2016 Sun Belt Conference title.
Fortunately, this is the last season where this title can be split. The Sun Belt gets a championship game in 2018. The school with the highest College Football Playoff ranking gets to host, which will be pretty sweet.
Until then, App State would be content with sharing another conference championship. If it absolutely has to.
Just like last season, the Mountaineers have to win, wait and see what happens around the league.
Right now, App State is asking the same question Lloyd Christmas made famous in “Dumb and Dumber.”
“So you’re saying there’s a chance?”
