Georgia Southern vs. Georgia State 2025 Preview: Keys, Players, and Predictions

The Georgia Southern Eagles (2-4) hosts Georgia State Panthers (1-5) this week in a rivalry considered “deeper than hate”. This is the first of two rivalry games the Eagles have this year, the second coming against Appalachian State. Both teams will be looking for a must-needed win to turn their season around. With that in mind, let’s break down this 2025 preview between Georgia Southern vs. Georgia State.

Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Georgia State Panthers: Football History and Game Excerpts

The Eagles have a record of 5-6 against the Panthers, dating back to 2014. Last year, Georgia Southern won this matchup  38-21 on the road. It was the second-straight win in this series for the Eagles; yet before that, the Panthers had won three in a row. Georgia Southern is currently favored by 6.5 points on the spread with the total set at 59.5.

Georgia Southern vs. Georgia State 2025 Preview: Keys, Players, and Predictions

Eagles defensive back Chance Gamble announced this week that he will have surgery to repair his labrum and miss the rest of the season. Gamble will medically redshirt this year and come back next year for one final season in Statesboro. The senior was a leader for the defense, and his absence will be apparent.

Key Players for Georgia State

The strength of Georgia State’s offense has been its passing game. The Panthers rank 57th in FBS for passing yards per game, and with the absence of Chance Gamble, expect Georgia State to try and attack the air. It is worth noting that the reason Georgia State has so many passing yards every game is that they are typically down and need to pass.

The Panthers’ quarterback situation is odd. Tulane transfer TJ Finley started the first half last week in their game against App State, but it was Cameran Brown who started the second half. Right now, the starter remains unnamed, but both players have their strengths.

Finley is a gunslinger who has put up over 150 yards in four of the five games he has played. However, Finley has also thrown four interceptions in those five games. Brown, on the other hand, has yet to throw an interception and has played in all six games for the Panthers. Although he has gotten more playing time, Brown has only thrown for more than 150 yards once. That happened last week when he was put in to start the second half with a deficit of seventeen, and the Panthers had no choice but to pass.

Georgia State linebacker Josiah Robinson has been a monster for the Panthers’ defense. Robinson ranks 51st in tackles per game, with eight, and has a total of 23 with one sack and five tackles-for-loss. Panthers defensive back Jordan Huff has 15 solo tackles on the year, with an interception. On the other side of the field, defensive back D-Icey Hopkins has 17 solo tackles with one sack and three tackles-for-loss. Georgia State is ranked No. 1 in the FBS in penalties per game.

Key Players for Georgia Southern

Starting quarterback JC French needs to play a cleaner game. Last week against Southern Miss, French’s interceptions were the difference in a 3-point loss, and French knows that. The Eagles QB will need to come into the game with more confidence after explaining that a lack of confidence was his main issue against Southern Miss in the post-game press conference.

Wide receiver Camden Brown has been the Eagles’ best player on the field in every game Georgia Southern has played. Brown had 158 yards last week against Southern Miss, his highest total of the year so far. The star wideout has had three consecutive games going over 100 receiving yards and is ranked ninth in FBS total receiving yards with 550. If Brown continues to build on these performances, expect his name to be called in April.

Losing Chance Gamble will pose many challenges to this Eagles defense. Defensive back Tracy Hill Jr. will have to step up as the leader for the secondary after a solid performance against Southern Miss with five solo tackles and one tackle-for-loss. Safety Justin Meyers will also have a big responsibility this week to ensure Gamble’s absence does not allow the Panthers to get down the field. Starting Linebacker Brendan Harrington is starting to find his rhythm, getting seven solo tackles against Southern Miss and eight against JMU, his highest total so far. Harrington is the leader of this defensive unit and if the Eagles want to survive the injury bug, they will need Harrington to play well.

2025 Game Preview: How Georgia Southern Wins vs. Georgia State in Week 8

On the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles will want to get Camden Brown involved early. Not only is Brown the best playmaker on the team, but some early completions will be key for JC French to build some confidence. If French and Brown can get the Panthers worried about the passing game, the Eagles will have a much easier time running the ball and the offense will open up.

For the defense it will be about limiting big plays. Southern Miss had two 30+ yard touchdowns in the air, JMU had a 40-yard rushing touchdown, and even Maine had a 27-yard rushing touchdown. Early down chunk plays have plagued this Eagle defense all year, and they will need to find some answers if they want to improve. Without Gamble, the Georgia Southern secondary is vulnerable. Justin Meyers and Tracy Hill Jr. will have to be conscious of the deep ball threat while Brendan Harrington tries to keep everything in front of him.

Prediction

This should be another high-scoring game in Paulson, especially without Gamble. Expect JC French to look much better and take better care of the ball. Camden Brown will probably have 100 yards and a touchdown, because he always does. The defense will be the biggest question mark, but Tracy Hill Jr. and Justin Meyers can step up and fill Gamble’s shoes in the secondary.

My score prediction is 31-24 Georgia Southern, putting the game just under the total with the Eagles covering the 6.5-point spread.