The Sun Belt Conference is working tirelessly to establish itself as one of the best Group of Five conferences in the country, a distinction that grows more important with expansion of the College Football Playoff.

Troy wide receiver Devonte Ross on Monday was named Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. Ross, a sophomore from Cartersville, Ga., returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown and had 219 all-purpose yards in a 38-21 loss at Iowa on Saturday. It was the Trojans’ first punt return for a score since 2018.