Georgia State’s last 12 months have been strange.
A 6-1 start to the 2023 season was followed by five disappointing losses – four of the five were by 17 or more points – but the Panthers rebounded to win their bowl game. A 7-6 campaign wasn’t all bad, as former head coach Shawn Elliott took the program to its fourth bowl game in five seasons.
Then, somewhat unexpectedly, Elliott left in February to take an assistant coaching job at South Carolina. Elliott’s family was living in South Carolina during his tenure at Georgia State, so the move back to Columbia made sense for the coach. The timing, however, was not ideal for the Panthers.
Georgia State hired Dell McGee, a former Georgia assistant, as Elliott’s replacement. McGee gives Georgia State fans reason for excitement, given his extensive recruiting background in Georgia.
Will McGee’s experience lead to future success? That’s the goal, although 2024 could be a rocky season given the program’s schedule and roster questions created in part by a head coach leaving at the start of spring football.
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Georgia State Football’s Sun Belt Title Odds
Georgia State’s odds to win the Sun Belt are +5000, via BetMGM.
Georgia State Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
Georgia State’s win total Over/Under is 4, with Under 4 at -115 and Over 4 at -105.
Georgia State Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/31 at Georgia Tech
9/7 vs. Chattanooga
9/14 vs. Vanderbilt
9/28 at Georgia Southern
10/12 vs. Old Dominion
10/17 at Marshall
10/26 at Appalachian State
11/1 at UConn
11/9 at James Madison
11/16 vs. Arkansas State
11/23 at Texas State
11/30 vs. Coastal Carolina
Bold indicates Sun Belt contests
Key Georgia State Football Returners
2023 Sun Belt Third Team
CB Gavin Pringle
2023 Sun Belt Honorable Mention
WR Talique Williams
LB Kevin Swint
S Jeremiah Johnson
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Replacing Darren Grainger and Marcus Carroll Will Be Key For Georgia State Football
Darren Grainger and Marcus Carroll proved to be one of the Sun Belt’s most dynamic backfields in 2023. Combined, the duo rushed for over 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns. Grainger also provided solid accuracy as a passer, limiting his interceptions to just seven on the season compared to his 20 touchdown tosses.
Replacing those two players will be a major challenge, although the Panthers may be able to do it.
In the quarterback room, Power Four transfers Zach Gibson (Georgia Tech) and Christian Veilleux (Pitt) should fight for the starting job. They’re both talented, with Veilleux possessing all the tools needed to be a quality player, although he needs to refine his skills. Gibson has starting experience at both Akron and Georgia Tech, although his ceiling looks lower.
At running back, Sy’Veon Wilkerson (Colorado) and CJ Beasley (Coastal Carolina) are among the highly touted transfers to join the program. Wilkerson ran for over 1,000 yards in 2022 at Jackson State, and Beasley has totaled more than 1,000 rushing and receiving yards with the Chanticleers over the last two seasons.
It’s possible Georgia State’s talent at quarterback and running back improved from 2023, but there are questions about the offensive line and the defense. Overall depth, especially compared to the rest of the Sun Belt East, is a valid concern.
2024 Georgia State Football Season Prediction
I’m taking Georgia State to go Under 4 wins. I’m worried about the offensive line, the coaching change, and the relatively unproven (albeit talented) options at quarterback.
The schedule also makes me lean toward the Under, with two Power Four opponents and a road game at UConn likely leading to at least two defeats. The Sun Belt schedule is brutal, with the Panthers drawing Texas State and Arkansas State from the West. Road games with Marshall, App State, and JMU look like losses on paper, too. It’s hard for me to picture Georgia State, given the upheaval in the program, securing five or more victories in 2024.
I like McGee to build Georgia State back into a bowl winner, but I don’t expect that to occur in 2024.
