The Sun Belt is arguably the top Group of 5 conference entering the 2023 college football season. Conference expansion has certainly played a role, but a quick look at the coach rankings also shows the programs in the league are doing a good job of hiring new leaders to help elevate their team. Troy hit a home run with its hire of Jon Sumrall last season, while South Alabama nailed its hire of Kane Wommack in the '21 cycle. Clay Helton (Georgia Southern), Will Hall (Southern Miss), and Charles Huff (Marshall) are three other recent hires thriving in the league going into '23.

https://athlonsports.com/college-footba ... aches-2023

Shawn has some work to do. I don't think this list is unfair or unexpected. But we all probably knew this.

It would really suck for your first year being a head coach to have to deal with covid, the recruiting changes that happened as a result, then extra covid years, and the transfer portal fiasco. I don't envy Clark's position and I imagine the learning curve is a nightmare.

This is a big year but I have confidence in the staff.