Troy University Athletics
Celebrating 25 Years of FBS Football - 2006 Sun Belt Champions
8/26/2025 12:00:00 PM | Football
TROY, Ala. – The 2006 season marked the arrival of Troy Football on the national stage. Long a winner at the lower levels of college football, the Trojans broke through with their first Sun Belt Conference championship and first bowl victory, achievements that changed the trajectory of the program.
Troy finished 8-5 overall and 6-1 in conference play, tying Middle Tennessee atop the Sun Belt standings. The Trojans clinched the crown with a road win that has become legend in Troy lore as the Miracle in Murfreesboro.
Miracle in Murfreesboro
On Nov. 25, Troy traveled to face Middle Tennessee with the league title on the line. The Blue Raiders led late, and a raucous crowd at Floyd Stadium sensed a celebration. Instead, quarterback Omar Haugabook delivered the defining moment of his career. With Troy trailing 20-14, Haugabook led a fourth-quarter touchdown drive capped by his scoring strike to Gary Banks. The extra point gave Troy a 21-20 lead, and the defense closed the door.
The one-point win stunned Middle Tennessee and handed Troy a share of its first Sun Belt championship.
We believed all year, no matter who we played, Haugabook said afterward. We weren't going to be denied.
Finding Their Identity
The season didn't begin with such highs. Head coach Larry Blakeney, in his 16th year, sent his team through a gauntlet of a nonconference schedule that included trips to Florida State, Georgia Tech and Nebraska. Those games ended in losses, as did a matchup at rival UAB, leaving Troy 1-4 by early October. But the Trojans hardened through the early struggles, and once Sun Belt play began, they took control.
The turnaround was powered by change on both sides of the ball. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin introduced a spread system, giving the Trojans an up-tempo attack led by Haugabook. The junior college transfer threw for 2,401 yards and 21 touchdowns, added five rushing scores and swept the Sun Belt's top individual awards, winning Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Banks became his go-to target, while lineman Zach Yenser anchored the front.
Defensively, coordinator Jeremy Rowell shifted Troy to a 4-2-5 alignment built for speed. Safety Brannon Condren earned all-conference honors, and the Trojans forced key turnovers in close games, including the win at Middle Tennessee.
A Bowl Breakthrough
Troy's reward for its breakthrough season was a trip to the New Orleans Bowl, where the Trojans faced Rice. It was uncharted territory: Troy had appeared in the Silicon Valley Classic in 2004, but the program was still chasing its first postseason win.
The Trojans left no doubt. Haugabook accounted for four total touchdowns, the defense forced three turnovers and Troy rolled to a 41-17 victory in the Big Easy.
It meant everything to our players and to Troy University, Blakeney said. It showed that we belonged.
A Lasting Legacy
The 2006 season became the launching pad for a dynasty. Troy went on to win five consecutive Sun Belt championships from 2006 through 2010, establishing itself as one of the league's most consistent programs. For Blakeney, who had guided the Trojans from Division II into the FBS ranks, the title and bowl win validated years of work.
It was the start of something bigger, Blakeney said. Those players set the tone for Troy football at this level.
Nearly two decades later, the 2006 team is remembered not only for what it accomplished, but for how it sparked a run that reshaped the program's identity. From the Miracle in Murfreesboro to the bowl breakthrough in New Orleans, the Trojans' first championship season remains one of the defining chapters in Troy history.
