Georgia Southern Football: 2025 Game-By-Game Schedule Predictions

The Georgia Southern have what most consider to be an easy schedule in 2025, thus making predictions for the football team easier than in most years. Conference. Currently, FanDuel has Georgia Southern’s win total posted at 7.5, which seems rather low for one of the easiest schedules. They also listed the Eagles as the fifth odds-on favorite to win the conference (+900), behind South Alabama (+800), Louisiana, Texas State (+700), and the favorite James Madison (+270). Although Vegas likes four teams ahead of Southern, the Eagles only have to face one of those opponents on their schedule.

The biggest opponent the Eagles will face this season will be Coach Helton’s former team, the USC Trojans, which will be an uphill battle to say the least. Is that win total a trap, or a bad line? Should the Eagles be more favored to win the conference, given their schedule? Let’s go through the schedule to see where Georgia Southern should find itself by the end of the year.

Georgia Southern Football: 2025 Game-By-Game Schedule Predictions

August 30: at Fresno State Bulldogs

The first game on the schedule is the first of the home-and-home series between Fresno State and Georgia Southern, which will conclude in 2028 when Fresno State visits Paulson Stadium.

Fresno’s new head coach, Matt Entz, was a dominant FCS coach for North Dakota State; winning two national championships. His new veteran QB, EJ Warner, has question marks surrounding his ability to protect the ball. Warner has had 32 collegiate starts and has thrown 37 interceptions.

However the strength of the Bulldogs lies in their backfield. It’s a deep and talented room that includes Bryson Donelson, Rayshon Luke, Elijah Gilliam, and Johnathan Arceneaux. Coach Entz is viewed as someone with a “run-first” approach, so count on these four studs to be used often.

Although Coach Entz is a two-time National Champion, EJ Warner may still cause issues for his offense.

FanDuel lists Fresno State as a 2.5-point favorite over the Eagles in California. That means if the game were in Paulson, you might see the Eagles as the favorites. Regardless of odds, Georgia Southern has the more complete team, a more reliable QB, and many more returning defense starters. While the strength of the Bulldogs lies in their backfield, the Eagles’ defensive front isn’t going to just roll over.

Prediction: Win (1-0)

September 6: at USC Trojans

There are not many other Power-4 teams the Eagles would want to face more than the Trojans. This is head coach Clay Helton’s first trip back to Los Angeles since being fired in 2021.

USC’s head coach Lincoln Riley is in his fourth season with the Trojans, but it could be his last. No coach is on as hot of a seat as Riley. After three years of disappointment, one of which included former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Caleb Williams and his Heisman season, Trojan fans are uneasy.

Their roster is filled with talent. Former UNLV QB standout Jayden Maiava looks to be the starter, but five-star recruit Husan Longstreet is expected to compete for it all year. Bryan Jackson II and Eli Sanders man the backfield with explosive JUCO standout Waymond Jordan ready for any time one may need a breather.

USC opens their season against FCS Missouri State on August 30, allowing a good opportunity for the Trojans to fine-tune their scheme. It remains to be seen if Georgia Southern will be able to get the upset, but you can count on Helton to get his guys fired up for this one.

Prediction: Loss (1-1)

September 13: vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks

After two weeks on the west coast, the Eagles finally return to Paulson for their home opener. The Gamecocks signed a new head coach, Charles Kelly, after Rich Rod returned to West Virginia and can expect to be in a rebuilding year.

A first year head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator is usually not a great recipe for success. And, it certainly isn’t a great recipe when you add a pinch of the portal. Wide receiver Cam Vaughn followed Rich Rod to West Virginia. Meanwhile, quarterback Te’Sean Smoot transferred to Alabama State, and linebacker Reginald Hughes transferred to Colorado.

Although the Gamecocks got two QBs in the portal, the question marks are still too big. A first year coaching staff with a new QB on the road should be enough factors for the Eagles to bounce back after their west coast road trip.

Prediction: Win (2-1)

September 20: vs Maine Black Bears

The Black Bears had a rough season last year yet didn’t lose many key starters. It’s become obvious to anyone that fourth-year head coach Jordan Stevens is building real relationships with his players.

While 5-7 wasn’t the season they hoped for last year, QB Carter Peevy (Georgia native and Mercer transfer) threw for just over 2400 yards with 18 touchdowns to only five interceptions in his first year, and you can only expect Peevy to improve.

In the transfer portal, Maine scooped up 21 new players, adding immense depth. Harvard transfer Scott Woods II was an All-Ivy League punt returner and plans to be a threat at WR for the Black Bears.

This game will be tougher than some think, and could go either way. When considering factors like quarterback and coach experience, both teams feel relatively even, so the edge will go to the home team.

Prediction: Win (3-1)

September 27: at James Madison Dukes

The first conference game of the season for both of the East Division juggernauts.

Many believe James Madison is poised to win the Sun Belt this year and all betting markets have them listed as the undisputed favorite. In the Sun Belt coach polls, they received 11 of 14 first place votes. Basically it’s the most obvious pick, and if you know the Fun Belt then you know that never works out.

Regardless of trends, the Dukes do look scary. Bob Chesney did a great job in his first year last season and anyone would expect him to continue to find success.

Seven players left JMU via the portal last season, but the Dukes brought in 31 new transfers for this season to go alongside their 24 high school recruits.

Pat McMurtrie is viewed as a potential NFL-caliber tackle. He is blocking for George Pettaway, who put up nearly 1000 yards on the ground with five touchdowns. Returning safety Jacob Thomas led the team last year with 73 tackles and will be a threat to any pass.

This will be the best game in the Sun Belt and may be the deciding factor for who will win the entire conference.

Prediction: Loss (3-2)

October 9: vs Southern Miss Golden Eagles

This is the Eagles’ first of two Thursday Night games.

The Golden Eagles have a lot of hype surrounding them after landing former Marshall head coach, last season’s Sun Belt Champion, Charles Huff. Coach Huff brought DC Jason Semore with him from Marshall and retained the third-year OC Blake Anderson. Coach Huff also brought his QB, Braylon Braxton, with him.

Although the Golden Eagles had 26 departures, they brought in 39 new players – some of which had just won a championship at Marshall with Coach Huff and wanted to follow him.

FanDuel lists Southern Miss as a big underdog to win the Sun Belt. Yet they are, without a doubt, one of the contenders. Coach Huff is a proven champion that won it all last year without being expected to do so. It’s expected that if Huff and Braxton put together a decent season they could seriously contend for the West division’s championship spot.

Huff’s Marshall squad was hard for anyone to beat last year, but the Eagles found a way in Paulson when all hope was seemingly lost. This game should be another great one.

Prediction: Win (4-2)

October 18: vs Georgia State Panthers

Head Coach Dell McGee enters his second year leading Georgia State with first-year OC Hue Jackson and returning second-year DC, Kevin Sherrer. The preseason coaches poll projected the Panthers to finish last in the East.

While there isn’t much belief surrounding this team, the Panthers did return 41 players from 2024. They also acquired 68 new players, 33 of which are freshmen. Former Ole Miss RB Rashad Amos and Georgia transfer RB Branson Robinson help beef up the backfield. Georgia Tech transfer WR Leo Blackburn also joined the Panthers.

The Panthers have plenty of returning starters and a big class of incoming players to answer questions about their depth. However, they still have concerns about turnovers. Adding two Cornberbacks in Bernard Causey from LSU and Tyler Scott from Auburn could help their questionable defense, but will it be enough?

Prediction: Win 5-2

October 25: at Arkansas State Red Wolves

A team people aren’t talking about enough is Arkansas State. Michael Leboff for the New York Times picked them as his Sun Belt Champion, and for good reason.

Head coach Butch Jones is entering his fifth year with the Red Wolves alongside third-year QB Justice (Jaylen) Raynor. Raynor threw for almost 3000 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2024 and was a key component to the Red Wolves success. Arkansas State has a strong offensive core, but on the other side of the ball it’s a little lonelier.

The Red Wolves only returned one starter on defense from last season, DE Bryan Whitehead. While there are transfers like LB Aaron Alexander from Michigan State and DL Simeon Mitchell from McNeese State, it is still unknown how well these new players will mesh with one another and the defensive scheme.

Fans should be excited about the Red Wolves upcoming season because they could make some noise and win the Sun Belt. However, their defense lacks experience. If this game was in Paulson, it’d be a no-brainer. Yet it will be a close battle that most likely gets decided by which defensive unit steps up first.

Prediction: Win 6-2

November 6: at Appalachian State Mountaineers

Very few games matter more than App State. The Eagles are set to face their biggest rival in North Carolina on a Thursday Night, the second Thursday game for the Eagles.

The Mountaineers welcome new head coach Dowell Loggains, and new defensive coordinator DJ Smith, previously with Missouri. It has been reported that Loggains plans to work as both the head coach and offensive coordinator, a daring challenge that few have triumphed over. The preseason poll projected App State at third in the East, behind JMU and Georgia Southern.

The starting QB is still unknown, as AJ Swann from LSU and JJ Kohl from Iowa State battle for the job. WR Dalton Stroman returns to the Mountaineers after leading the team in receiving touchdowns last season and RB Kanye Roberts looks to have a redemption year after injuries sidelined him last season.

However, there are too many questions for the Mountaineers. Who will start at quarterback? How will Loggains balance his roles as both head coach and coordinator? Can the transfers make an immediate impact?

This is a clear rebuild year for the Mountaineers, but you can never count out your rival.

Prediction: Win 7-2

November 15: vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Tim Beck enters his third year with two brand new coordinators at Coastal Carolina. That is, Drew Hollingshead for the offense, and Jeremiah Johnson for the defense. The Chanticleers also experienced extensive turnover this offseason at the hands of the transfer portal and lost multiple starters throughout the program.

MJ Morris, a transfer from Maryland, looks to be the starter at quarterback. However, he does have two competitors in Emmett Brown and Jon Hunt, all of whom are transfers.

The biggest additions for Coastal come on the defensive side of the ball. DBs Myles Mooyoung and Robby Washington both transferred from Miami and are expected to have significant roles in this defense. Linebackers Shane Bruce, a graduate-senior, and Wyatt Gedeon, Junior, are expected to lead the unit.

Coastal’s defense was incredible last season by getting takeaways and consistently turning those into points. And with Mooyoung and Washington, expect that trend to continue. The biggest concern, however,  is their offense.

Morris may be the best player for the job, but not having a starter named at this point is telling of hard decisions. Either way, count on this defense to keep the Chanticleers alive.

Prediction: Win 8-2

November 22: vs Old Dominion Monarchs

Head coach Ricky Rahne and defensive Blake Seiler both enter their sixth year with the Monarchs, as offensive coordinator Kevin Decker enters his third. In the preseason coaches’ poll, the Monarchs were projected to finish fifth in the East. They also had OL Zach Barlev and LB Jason Henderson, who suffered an injury last season, named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team. Henderson is widely regarded as one of the nation’s best defensive players.

Offensively, dual-threat QB Colton Joseph returns behind a beefy offensive line led by Barlev. Senior RB Ke’Travion Hargrove also returns alongside redshirt-freshman Maurki James, who despite getting no carries in 2024 has impressed the coaching staff throughout the spring.

The big question for the Monarchs will be can Henderson get back to his dominant nature after the injury. If he can, this team will be formidable.

After the loss against the Monarchs cost the Eagles a spot in the championship last year, expect this one to be circled on Clay Helton’s schedule.

Prediction: Win 9-2

November 29: at Marshall Thundering Herd

After their successful Sun Belt Championship campaign, the Thundering Herd were left depleted. Former head coach Charles Huff left for conference opponent Southern Miss and took everyone he could with him.

Tony Gibson takes over as head coach after his success as defensive coordinator for NC State. Rod Smith joins Gibson as offensive coordinator and Shannon Morrison will step in as defensive coordinator for the first time in his career. The preseason poll projected the Herd to finish sixth in the East.

The quarterback battle is still ongoing between JacQai Long and Zion Turner, who both come from Jacksonville State. Also involved is Carlos Del Rio-Wilson from Syracuse.

This season will be the definition of a “rebuild” for Marshall after losing almost everyone from last season’s championship team.

Prediction: Win 10-2

Georgia Southern Football: Final Thoughts and Predictions on the 2025 Schedule

Georgia Southern is playing a rather easy 2025 schedule, making these football predictions easier than in most years. There is no reason the Eagles can’t start their season with an upset that helps them carry momentum through the first four non-conference games. It also helps that App State and Georgia State are in somewhat of a rebuild, allowing the Eagles a chance to find an edge against their gritty rivals. Having to travel to teams like James Madison and Arkansas State will be scary, but not unwinnable.

As far as win totals go, it’s sketchy. The 7.5 line does feel as if it is somewhat of a trap given the schedule. Although, eight wins can certainly be found. The Sun Belt prides itself on chaos and competition, so when considering a Sun Belt Champion future bet, consider this: The last time the preseason betting favorite won the Sun Belt was in 2018, with App State.

Clay Helton has emphasized all year how close they were that championship game and it is hard to believe that his players feel any different. This is a hungry team with talent and depth. While 10-2 may sound overly optimistic, this team has all the right pieces to compete for the Sun Belt Championship.