Troy faces one of the better offenses and quarterbacks in the Sun Belt Conference on Saturday, but got pretty good practice for that task last week.

The Trojans (2-2, 0-1 Sun Belt) beat Western Kentucky 27-24, holding the Hilltoppers’ Austin Reed to a relatively pedestrian 275 yards passing and 288 yards overall. Up this week is a trip to Georgia State, which is unbeaten at 4-0 and features an explosive offense led by dual-threat quarterback Darren Grainger.

“Having success breeds confidence,” Troy coach Jon Sumrall said. “We played a really high octane offense in Western Kentucky and held them to 288 yards, which is one of their lowest outputs over the last couple of years. A lot of that was because we played complimentary football. Our offense stayed on the field and allowed our defense to stay off the field some. But it definitely gives you some confidence for sure going into this matchup.”

Troy managed to rebound from back-to-back losses (to Kansas State and James Madison) with its most complete effort of the year vs. Western Kentucky. Not only did the Trojans play excellent defense, they put together their best all-around offensive showing in some time.

Kimani Vidal ran for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while Gunnar Watson passed for 349 yards. Watson had a hand in arguably the Trojans’ biggest play of the season thus far, a 40-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to a leaping Chris Lewis on the final play of the first half to give Troy a 10-7 lead.

“It was huge,” Sumrall said. “At that point in the game, we had 200 yards of offense and they had 70, but we were down 7-3. We had outplayed them, but turnovers and sacks were critical plays in the game.

“… It was just such a huge play and a great, great individual effort by Chris Lewis. If I was playing quarterback, I know what I’d do. I’d just throw it up to him and see what happens because a lot of things happen good when the ball goes his way.”

While Troy’s fortunes have undulated this season, it’s been mostly a steady stream of high-level play for Georgia State. The Panthers won non-conference games over Rhode Island, Connecticut and Charlotte in succession, then began the Sun Belt portion of its schedule with an outstanding performance last Thursday night at Coastal Carolina.

Marcus Carroll ran for 150 yards and a touchdown, but it was Grainger who was the difference-maker. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior — a third-year starter — passed for 191 yards and rushed for 47, accounting for two touchdowns.

“(Grainger) runs really well, can throw the ball down the field with great arm strength,” Sumrall said. “He’s a weapon. I think he’s really grown a lot. And what they do suits him. They play to his strengths really, really well. … I think he’s improved a lot. Watching him from last year to this year, he looks a lot more comfortable in their system. He’s definitely a matchup problem.”

Troy began 2022 at 1-2 as well before reeling off 11 consecutive victories — including wins in the Sun Belt Conference championship game and the Cure Bowl — to end Sumrall’s first season. There’s a long way to go to see if this year’s Trojans can match that feat, but they have already taken the first step.

A win over Georgia State on Saturday would keep Troy in the thick of the chase for a second straight Sun Belt West Division title. A loss would put them into an 0-2 hole in conference play, an unenviable position even early in the season.

However, Sumrall said he saw his team move toward reaching its potential vs. Western Kentucky.

“We’re a year and four games into trying to build this program the way we want it built,” Sumrall said. “I, we all, want us to be great immediately all the time, but this is a very young, new, different team than last year’s team. And so there’s some growing pains that are occurring, that have occurred. … But I felt our team fight together for four quarters for each other, maybe for the first time all year (vs. Western Kentucky).

“And that gave me hope that whatever happens this week, next week, the following week, I think we now know what it looks like to play for each other better. That’s where you win close games, tough games, hard-fought games. I felt like our identity took shape and took form a little bit better in that regard.”

Kickoff for Troy-Georgia State is set for 6 p.m. Saturday at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium. The game will stream live via ESPN+.