Georgia St Panthers 2026 College Football Preview
Posted June 6, 2026
2025 Recap
Record – 1-11
ATS – 2-10
“Feed ’em to the pigs, Errol.”
<Bricktop> <Snatch, 2000>
The Panthers managed exactly one win all season — a victory over FCS PUNCHING BAG Murray St — and got absolutely demolished in the majority of their losses. The only silver lining in an otherwise dreadful campaign was a narrow 14–7 loss to defending champ James Madison, which proved the Panthers are at least capable of competing on the same field as the Sun Belt’s best when things break right.
Dell McGee is now 4–20 in three years, and his BITS AND PIECES have to be getting a little toasty on the hot seat.
Georgia St Panthers 2026 Outlook
OFFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (Sun Belt):
- Scoring: 19.8 PPG (#13 Sun Belt)
- Total Offense: 378.2 YPG (#10 Sun Belt)
- Rushing: 124.1 YPG (#12 Sun Belt)
- Passing: 254.1 YPG (#4 Sun Belt)
- Sacks Allowed: 18 (#1 Sun Belt)
Those are UGLY numbers across the board — dead last in scoring, near the bottom in rushing, and only the passing game and remarkably clean pass protection gave any reason for optimism. The offense was a genuine DUMPSTER FIRE in 2025 and fixing it is the number one priority heading into fall camp.
The most exciting development in Atlanta is the emergence of dual-threat QB Cameran Brown — a BURGEONING stud who did fine work in limited action LY (13-1 TD to INT, 4 rush TDs) and is an impressive 6-2, 225-pound specimen. If Brown takes the leap that our Panthers INSIDERS are anticipating, this offense could be a handful in the Sun Belt. The RB room is getting a portal makeover with the most promising additions being Keith Adams Jr from CLEMSON (!) and local kid Lanear McCrary Jr who dominated the competition at Shorter University LY (1,044 yards, 5.9 YPC, 9 TD) and can also provide a spark in the return game.
The WR room is a bit of a question mark after losing 1,000-yard man Ted Hurst to the NFL — there are tons of transfer bodies but not much proven production in the group. The exceptions worth watching are West Georgia transfer Owen Dupree who wowed our Sun Belt INSIDERS with his body control and big-play ability in the spring, and Chase Alan-JACKMAN who put up 7 TDs in 8 games for something called Washburn in 2025. TE Grant Hollier is back and he was quietly excellent as a freshman (21-288, 13.7, 4 TD LY). The OL has three experienced returners supplemented by size through the portal and should be a physical improved front — a good thing for a team that desperately needs to establish the run.
DEFENSE
2025 By The Numbers (Sun Belt):
- Scoring Defense: 37.8 PPG (#14 Sun Belt)
- Total Defense: 448.9 YPG (#13 Sun Belt)
- Rush Defense: 208.1 YPG (#13 Sun Belt)
- Pass Defense: 240.8 YPG (#11 Sun Belt)
- Sacks: 18 (#12 Sun Belt)
Those numbers are DISGUSTING — struggling with sacks (18) and sitting near dead last in scoring defense, total defense, and rush defense. The Panthers are essentially starting from scratch on this side of the football with only four multi‑game starters returning from the 1–11 squad.
The DL is undergoing a total rebuild with a transfer‑heavy approach. EDGE Xavier Esquillen arrives from Savannah St with 11.5 sacks LY, and DT Mandjou Berte comes over from Wingate with 12.5 TFL. Those are eye‑popping numbers at the lower levels, but the translation to the Sun Belt is the big question. Senior DT Jonah Reeder provides some impressive GIRTH on the inside and is a steadying presence.
The LB situation is a legitimate concern — the top two tacklers from LY (Walker, Robinson) are both gone, and Michigan transfer Jaydon Hood missed all of 2025 due to injury. The secondary is another question mark — the portal haul doesn’t appear overwhelming, and they’ll need some new faces to step up in a big way. Safety Deuce Lee from Monmouth had 9 PBUs LY and could be a genuine contributor.
SPECIAL TEAMS
“The FG attempt is up….and where did that go?”
“I’m not sure, Cotton. It’s tough to miss that bad from 23 yards out.”
New ST coordinator Zach Conowal inherits a full rebuild — new PK and punter competing for starting spots with more clarity expected over the summer. It can only get better, as the Panthers were beyond bad on special teams LY. 7/16 on FG attempts, for example.
Schedule Analysis
Overall — Hard to believe, but there are THREE winnable non‑conference games on the docket — a genuine gift for a program trying to build momentum. The Sun Belt slate is another matter entirely — a brutal draw from the West (Arkansas St, Louisiana) and a nasty road conference schedule make bowl eligibility a tall order.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot — at Appalachian St (Nov 7)
Boone is a TOUGH place to play even when the Mountaineers are struggling, and the Panthers have the YUUUGE rivalry game with Georgia Southern on deck the following week. This is a classic look‑ahead spot, and the altitude in Boone doesn’t help tired legs, yo.
Season Win Total
Market consensus – June 6
Over 3.5 -170
Under 3.5 +140
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Over
We’re not proud of this opinion, but we think the Panthers can win at least two non‑conference games, and we’ll take our chances from there.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
With more than 52,000 students, Georgia State is one of the largest universities in the Southeast. The Panthers play right in Atlanta at Center Parc Stadium, located just south of downtown in the heart of a major American city. Those Braves look really good as we approach press time.
Atlanta is home to the College Football Hall of Fame, which opened its current downtown location in 2014. The city has a deep football tradition and also hosted the 1996 Olympic Games. It is the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Coca-Cola, election fraud, and the Southeast branch of the CIA, known as CNN.
POUNCE the Panther was actually introduced in 2009 during a Georgia St basketball game against hated rival Georgia Southern — right around the same time the university announced it was starting a football program. Trivia DRONE STRIKE.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
The Dell McGee era has had a rough start, and the pressure is starting to mount in Atlanta.
On the bright side, the offense has a legitimate difference‑maker in dual‑threat QB Cameran Brown, and the supporting cast around him looks more promising than anything the Panthers have fielded in recent seasons. The bad news? The defense remains a major concern. After a near‑total roster overhaul, Georgia State is essentially starting over on that side of the football.
The Panthers should pick up two or three wins in the non‑conference slate, but once Sun Belt play begins, the weekly tests get much tougher. An upset or two is certainly possible — Brown is talented enough to steal a game — but bowl eligibility still feels like a stretch. We’re projecting four wins and hoping McGee can show meaningful improvement to keep his job.
G‑S‑U… STATE!