Georgia State’s football team will renew its rivalry with Georgia Southern on Nov. 19, according to the Sun Belt Conference schedule released by the league’s New Orleans office on Thursday.
The teams split their first two meetings with the Eagles winning in the Georgia Dome two years ago and the Panthers winning in Statesboro last year.
Georgia State went 6-7 last year and appeared in its first bowl game. The team will return nine starters on defense and seven on offense.
Georgia State’s conference schedule will open at Appalachian State on Oct. 1. The Panthers are 0-2 against the Mountaineers. It will end at Idaho on Dec. 3, marking the first meeting between the two schools.
Georgia State will possibly host a Thursday or Friday game against Arkansas State on Nov. 4 or 5 that will be broadcast on ESPNU. Its bye weeks are Sept. 24 and Nov. 26.
The travel demands aren’t difficult. The only back-to-back road games are non-conference ventures to Air Force and to Wisconsin, dates which were already known.
The schedule:
Sept. 1 or 2 vs. Ball State. The Panthers defeated Ball State 31-19 in Muncie, Ind., last year. The Cardinals (3-9, 2-6) have a new head coach in Mike Neu.
Sept. 10 at Air Force. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 48-34 in 2014 in the Dome. The Falcons went 8-4 last year, including 6-2 in the Mountain West. They were beaten by Cal 55-36 in the Armed Forces Bowl
Sept. 17 at Wisconsin. Georgia State will receive $1.2 million for the game. The Badgers (10-3, 6-2 Big Ten) defeated USC 23-21 in the Holiday Bowl.
Oct. 1 at Appalachian State. The Mountaineers defeated the Panthers 37-3 last year in the Dome. ASU (11-2, 7-1) return a host of starters. They defeated Ohio 31-29 in the Camellia Bowl.
Oct.8 vs. Texas State. Georgia State defeated the Bobcats 41-19 last year in San Marcos, Texas. Texas State (3-9, 2-6) has a new coach in Everett Withers.
Oct. 15 at Troy. Georgia State defeated the Trojans 31-21 last year in the Dome. The Trojans went 4-8 last year, including 3-5 in the Sun Belt.
Oct. 22 vs. Tennessee-Martin. It will be the first meeting between the teams. Tennessee-Martin was 7-4 overall last season and 6-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Oct. 29 at South Alabama. The Panthers defeated the Jaguars 24-10 last year in the Dome. USA went 5-7 and 3-5 in the Sun Belt.
Nov. 4 or 5 vs. Arkansas State. The Panthers were defeated by the Red Wolves 48-34 last year in Jonesboro, Ark. ASU (9-4, 8-0) was beaten by Louisiana Tech 47-28 in the New Orleans Bowl.
Nov. 12 vs. Louisiana-Monroe. The Warhawks defeated the Panthers 38-10 in Monroe in 2013. ULM (2-11, 1-7) has a new coach in Matt Viator.
Nov. 19 vs. Georgia Southern. The Panthers defeated the Eagles 34-7 last year in Statesboro. Georgia Southern (9-4, 6-2) defeated Bowling Green 58-27 in the GoDaddy Bowl.
Dec. 3 at Idaho. It will be the first meeting between the teams. The Vandals went 4-8, including 3-5 in the Sun Belt, last year.
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