The Sun Belt Conference has really only had one dynasty since joining what is now known as the NCAA Bowl Subdivision in 2001.

North Texas, the team that set the standard by winning at least a share of the first four league titles, could get a close-up look at the league’s next dominant program today when it takes on Troy in its homecoming game at Fouts Field.

The Trojans have won at least a share of the last two league titles and head into today’s showdown with the Mean Green on course to add another championship to their resume. Troy (4-2) is tied with Louisiana-Lafayette at the top of the Sun Belt standings at 3-0.

There are no other unbeaten teams left in the conference.

“They are consistent and reload pretty well,” UNT head coach Todd Dodge said. “They stay experienced and play a lot of people. They do a good job of getting transfers that they have plugged in. Everyone thought that [Florida Atlantic] was the favorite in the Sun Belt, but Troy is right there in the mix.”

The Trojans knocked off FAU in their second conference game and have four Sun Belt games left starting today against UNT, a team that has taken notice of what Troy has accomplished the last few seasons.

UNT picked up its only win over the Trojans in the five-game series between the teams in 2003 and was blown out last season, 45-7, at Troy. The Mean Green forced seven turnovers in last season’s loss, but failed to capitalize while giving up a whopping nine sacks.

“That was one of those losses that stuck with us because of the way we lost,” UNT running back Cam Montgomery said. “The game didn’t go how we expected it to.”

UNT will have to improve several aspects of its performance last season to have a shot to not only break through for its first win over Troy since 2003, but break an eight-game losing streak as well. The Mean Green is 0-7 on the year, 0-3 in the Sun Belt and has dropped eight games in a row overall dating to last season.

The Mean Green has improved over its last few games and came the closest it has to winning this season when it lost to Louisiana-Monroe last week, 35-23. UNT had lost its first six games of the season by at least 29 points.

The 35 points ULM scored was a season low for a UNT opponent, while the Mean Green fell just short of its season scoring high of 30 points in its loss to ULL.

Dodge said that UNT saw some signs of progress in that game. Quarterback Giovanni Vizza threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns without tossing an interception. Brock Stickler finished with career highs in both receptions (10) and receiving yards (129) while Montgomery fell just short of his second straight 100-yard rushing game when he posted 92 yards on the ground.

UNT’s biggest problem was that it failed to turn those yards into touchdowns.

“North Texas is improving,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. “They have a warrior back there at quarterback and a couple of offensive linemen who could play for anyone. They are also playing better on defense. All they are thinking about is trying to get better and get that first win.”

Getting that win against Troy could be tough. The Trojans have lost just two league games in the last two years and are hungry after falling to FAU late last season, a loss that prevented Troy from heading to the New Orleans Bowl for the second straight year.

Troy appears to have what it takes to run the table this season. The Trojans rank third in the Sun Belt with an average of 32.2 points a game and also rank second in scoring defense at 23.3 points a game.

No other team in the league is as balanced, which is one reason the Trojans might just add to what has been an impressive performance in the Sun Belt the last two seasons.

“Since I have been here they have been at the top of the conference,” UNT linebacker Craig Robertson said. “It was a rough game last season, but there are positives we can pull from that game and turn the negatives into positives.”

What’s at stake

UNT comes into its game against Troy off a historic week that saw the school’s student body approve an athletic fee that will help fund a stadium to replace Fouts Field. The Mean Green would like to reward the students who voted in favor the fee with its first win of the season. UNT (0-7) and Washington are the last two winless teams in the NCAA’s Bowl Subdivision. Troy is a perfect 3-0 in Sun Belt Conference play and can take another step toward winning at least a share of the league title for the third straight season with a win over UNT. Troy’s game against UNT will also offer the Trojans an opportunity to continue making the transition to playing without injured quarterback Jamie Hampton, who was lost for the season to a knee injury in a win over Florida Atlantic on Oct. 7.

UNT’s offense vs. Troy’s defense

UNT has scored more than 20 points in back-to-back games for the first time this season and has some momentum offensively heading into its game against Troy. The Mean Green struck a balance in its last two games against Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe. UNT had 361 passing yards to go along with 167 rushing yards against ULL and finished with 362 and 101 yards, respectively, in the same two categories against ULM. The Mean Green still lost both games (59-30 to ULL) and (35-23 to ULM) but gained confidence in each outing. UNT will be hard pressed to build on those outings against Troy, which leads the Sun Belt both in scoring (19.0 points allowed) and total defense (330.3 yards) per game in conference play. The Trojans also rank seventh nationally with an average of 3.17 sacks a game. Despite its recent surge, UNT is only averaging 21.0 points a game in conference play.

Edge: Troy

UNT’s defense vs. Troy’s offense

UNT showed some signs of progress last week in a loss to Louisiana-Monroe, but still ranks last nationally in scoring defense with an average of 50.7 points allowed a game. The Mean Green has allowed at least 35 points in each game this season and allowed 59 in a loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. It will be tough for UNT to break that trend against a Troy team that continued to roll last week despite playing without starting quarterback Jamie Hampton, who is lost for the season to a knee injury. Troy used three quarterbacks, including new starter Levi Brown, and continued to roll in a 33-23 win over Florida International. Troy has scored at least 30 points in all three of its Sun Belt games and is loaded with playmakers.

Edge: Troy

Coaching

UNT has continued to struggle this season under second-year head coach Todd Dodge, who is 2-17 in his tenure in Denton. The Mean Green has improved offensively under Dodge, but has failed to capitalize when it comes to wins and losses. UNT finished in a tie for last place in the Sun Belt last season and is running out of opportunities to break through for a win this season. Troy head coach Larry Blakeney has led the Trojans to at least a share of the Sun Belt Conference title in each of the last two seasons, has a New Orleans Bowl win on his resume, and is 140-70-1 at Troy.

Edge: Troy

Key player

Jerrel Jernigan, wide receiver

There might not be a more dynamic all-around offensive player in the Sun Belt Conference than Troy's Jerrel Jernigan.

The sophomore is among the most productive wide receivers in the conference, not to mention one of the most electric players with the ball in his hands in the open field. Troy is quickly learning that he isn’t too bad back at his old high school position of quarterback, either.

Troy moved its top offensive threat under center part-time for the first time last week as it began to adjust to losing starting quarterback Jamie Hampton for the season to a knee injury. Jernigan responded by rushing for 88 yards on just 10 carries in addition to catching five passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. For good measure, he also threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Justin Bray.

“He is like one of those guys we have faced all year long in this conference,” UNT head coach Todd Dodge said. “He is one of those guys who, when they get him the ball in space, no one can catch him. They use him in a lot of different ways.”

Jernigan has 39 receptions for 455 yards and four touchdowns, 22 carries for 190 yards and also has 96 return yards on the season. He ranks second in the Sun Belt both in catches per game (6.5) and receiving yard per game (75.8) and is also fourth in all-purpose yards per game (123.5).

UNT struggled to contain Jernigan last season when he caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from former Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook.

“Jerrel is great with the ball,” Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said. “We try to get him involved in a lot of ways.”

Blakeney credited Jernigan with working hard in the offseason to improve his strength and putting on weight to become more durable. Jernigan (5-9, 176) has grown to the point where Troy feels comfortable putting him at quarterback, where he can run the option and quarterback sweep to take advantage of his ball skills.

UNT is well aware of what Jernigan can do if it allows him to get free in open space, and the problems he will present as a former high school quarterback who can throw the ball if the opportunity presents itself.

“He was a high school quarterback, so you know that he is a threat to throw when they put him at quarterback,” UNT linebacker Craig Robertson said. “But most of the time when he is in there, you know that they are going to run the ball. We are going to have to do a good job of reading our keys.”

Key matchups

UNT WR Casey Fitzgerald vs. Troy CB Jorrick Calvin

UNT’s strength is its ability to work the ball down the field with a passing game that relies heavily on wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald. The senior has 64 receptions for 689 yards on the year. UNT does not have another active player with more than 20 catches or 207 receiving yards on the season.

UNT head coach Todd Dodge said this week that the Mean Green is doing a better job of spreading the ball to different players and spots on the field. That trend was evident last week when senior Brock Stickler finished with 10 catches for 129 yards, but there is little doubt that Fitzgerald is still the focus of UNT’s offense. He has not finished with fewer than six catches in a game this season.

Troy has struggled against the pass this season and ranks last in the Sun Belt with an average of 249.7 passing yards allowed per game. The Trojans will look to improve on that number and contain Fitzgerald, a task that will fall in part to Jorrick Calvin. The junior college transfer is in his first season at Troy and leads the Trojans with four pass breakups on the year. Troy will throw a variety of coverage schemes and blitzes at UNT that will involve Calvin. Troy hounded UNT quarterback Giovanni Vizza last season, sacking him nine times. The Trojans will come after Vizza again today. If Calvin and Troy’s defensive backs can hold up against Fitzgerald and avoid giving up the big play when the Trojans blitz, it will be a long day for UNT.

UNT LB Tobe Nwigwe vs. Troy RB DuJuan Harris

Troy will still be in the process of adjusting to playing with new starting quarterback Levi Brown this week and would like to make the game as easy as possible for the junior. DuJuan Harris could help Troy reach that goal by continuing to power the Trojans’ running game that is posting 181.7 yards a game. The Trojans use a variety of ball carriers, but Harris has shouldered the majority of the load. The sophomore is averaging 62.7 yards a game and has scored four rushing touchdowns on the season. He also has 16 catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Harris had 14 carries last week in the Trojans’ win over Florida International and will have an opportunity to pile up yards against a UNT defense that is allowing 197.4 yards a game on the ground.

While UNT is allowing close to 200 yards a game rushing on the season, it has shown signs of improving at times over the last few weeks behind middle linebacker Tobe Nwigwe. The junior leads the Mean Green with 68 tackles and helped UNT limit Rice and Florida International to 174 and 110 rushing yards, respectively, earlier this season. UNT will look to get back to that type of performance after allowing 338 and 244 yards the last two weeks to Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe.

If Harris and Troy can gash UNT’s defense for huge chunks of yards on the ground, it will open up the passing game for Brown. That scenario would spell trouble for UNT, which can’t afford to let Troy’s offense get on a roll.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.