3 Games That Could Define the Season

By: Mac Brown, @SSN_GSU

As promised, the eighth stop of our countdown has arrived. Just like last week, this list isn’t in ascending or descending order, but rather a comprehensive list. This time, the countdown will go over three games that could end up defining the season for the Panthers. These three games aren’t the three “best” opponents GSU plays or even the most intriguing. These are three games that should have the biggest impact on the season for the Panthers. Not only in 2025, but beyond. Even if the Panthers unfortunately find themselves in undesirable circumstances come the end of November, it’s safe to say winning these three games would hardly be viewed as failure. To put it lightly, win these three and the program is likely trending in the right direction. Lose all three, and well, it may be time to head back to the drawing board. Let’s begin…

1.  Vs. Memphis – 9/6/25

There's a handful of programs around the country that almost every other school aspires to be. Whether it's the wins, the support, or the cashflows, those select programs are the pinnacle of the sport. There's close to no doubt that a program of the likes of Vanderbilt is hoping they can reach the heights of the University of Georgia one day. When you're a program still in its first fifteen years of existence, however, the goals probably shouldn't be as lofty. Programs like that will need to build to get that kind of status and it could take some serious time. A program Georgia State should aspire to be in the next 10-15 years? That would probably look a little more like a Memphis and not a UGA. That's what makes the matchup between the Panthers and Tigers on September 7th so compelling.

Memphis has established itself as one of the premiere Group of Five programs and very well could ascend and not even hold that title in the near future. The Tigers have gone bowling eleven straight seasons with one of those games being the Cotton Bowl versus Penn State in 2019. Established in 1912, they've been around 100 years longer than the Panthers. They have three members of the College Football Hall of Fame and even have an NFL HoFer in Isaac Bruce. They've won the American Athletic Conference as recently as 2019 and are projected 8.5 wins for this upcoming season. They will be quite the test for the Panthers to start off the home slate for 2025.

Winning this game could mean several things for GSU but ultimately it could mean the arrival of a new premiere G5 program. You obviously don't reach that status by winning one game, but you certainly move the needle closer than you would losing it. If a program like GSU wants to be viewed that way, and they certainly do, then you have to win games like this and establish yourself. In 2014, when the Memphis bowl streak started, the Tigers defeated Cincinnati in convincing fashion. Cincinnati at the time was widely considered one of the top G5 programs and even went to back-to-back BCS bowls in 2008 and 2009. The Bearcats continued to be one of the top G5 programs until they joined the Big 12 in 2023. Memphis has gone bowling every year since 2014 and has, what is essentially the same as, a BCS bowl as well. Winning that game in 2014 was the Tigers showing everyone they belong in the same conversation as a Cincinnati. Memphis didn't necessarily "take their place” but rather joined them at the table. If GSU wins, especially in convincing fashion, then there just might be a seat opening up for the Panthers one day soon.

If it were to happen, it wouldn't feel like the biggest win in program history at the time. But Memphis' win in 2014 over the Bearcats probably didn't feel that way either. The argument for it being a catalyst is stronger than the argument that it didn't matter. Georgia State will unquestionably want to be on the level of a UGA one day as a program. But first, you’ve got to become a Vanderbilt. And even before that, you've got to become a Memphis. Winning this game is one more building block into becoming exactly that.

2.  Vs. Appalachian State – 10/11/25

There’s no hiding from it; App State absolutely owns the Panthers. The Panthers currently hold a 0-11 record vs the Mountaineers with the average margin of victory being 23.8 points. This has to sway a little more in the favor of GSU if the Panthers ever want to try and win the Sun Belt conference and more. App State isn’t the monkey on GSU’s back, they’re the 500lb gorilla on their backs.

App State experienced their first losing season at the FBS level last season and first since 2013. What’s the result when you have your first losing season in over a decade? Changes are made. App State fired their HC, Shawn Clark, and promptly replaced him with South Carolina offensive coordinator, Dowell Loggains. Loggains has a good track record and should end up being a solid hire. But this is his first stop as the head guy and some learning pains are certainly in store. App State will also be replacing two-year starter at QB, Joey Aguilar, who was the 2023 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and is now playing for Tennessee. Losing your head coach and starting QB in one offseason is tough for any program and the Mountaineers will be no different.

However, App State are still one of the top dogs in the Sun Belt, if not the top. Even with losing all that they did, and not returning a ton of high-end talent, the Mountaineers were still picked third in the East for 2025 by the media. They’ve earned it though. One bad season doesn’t smear the pedigree this program has established. This is why even in a potential down year for App State and a potential up year for GSU, the Boys of Boone could still prevail. This is a “prove it” matchup for the Panthers and they could certainly pass the test.

If things don’t go right for the Panthers again in 2025 and they find themselves with a few wins at the end of year, you can guarantee if one of those wins is against App, many Panther fans will still be satisfied. It’s not that Panther fans would trade a winning season for beating App, but if the winning season isn’t on the table, finally getting a win against this foe may be a welcomed consolation prize. It’s simple as this though, if you want to compete for Sun Belt championships consistently, you have to beat teams like App. And consistently.

3.   At Georgia Southern – 10/18/25

This one doesn’t need a ton of explanation. Dell McGee won’t be in jeopardy of losing his job if he were to lose both of his games against that directional school. But it’s safe to say his standing with the fanbase will start to slip up. He knows it too. Beating your rival is arguably one of the biggest yearly goals for any sports team at any level. You can’t accomplish much if you can’t beat your rival. McGee inherited a 6-4 record for the Panthers. Losing last year puts the record one game away from being even. McGee will look to keep the scales tipped in GSU’s favor and end the two-game skid the Panthers are currently on.

Georgia State has won three in row twice in the eleven total contests. The other school has never won more than two in a row. Unless this squad wants to make history for all the wrong reasons, this go round will need to sway the Panthers’ way. Losing this game would likely be a tell-tale sign of another disappointing season. There’s really just no other way to put it, the Panthers cannot afford to lose this one.

In 2015, GSU traveled down to State’s boro for the first time and beat the bad guys 34-7. It’s still the largest margin of victory for either school in the series history. Not a ton, but there are a few similarities between that 2015 squad and this season. Ten years ago, the Panthers were coming off of back-to-back losing seasons and were looking to establish a new standard for the young program. They did exactly that by beating their rivals handedly and gaining bowl eligibility by doing it. Fast forward a decade and the Panthers find themselves coming off a losing season and looking to establish a new, even higher standard within the program. It can’t be done in one game, but beating your rival, especially by 27+ points, will certainly get you going in the right direction.