2023 Georgia State Panthers football team

The 2023 Georgia State Panthers football team represented Georgia State University as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by seventh-year head coach Shawn Elliott and played their home games at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta.

2023 Georgia State Panthers football
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champion
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record7–6 (3–5 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTrent McKnight (2nd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorChad Staggs (1st season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumCenter Parc Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
James Madison* x   7 1     11 2  
Appalachian State y   6 2     9 5  
Coastal Carolina   5 3     8 5  
Old Dominion   5 3     6 7  
Georgia State   3 5     7 6  
Marshall   3 5     6 7  
Georgia Southern   3 5     6 7  
West Division
Troy xy$   7 1     11 3  
Texas State   4 4     8 5  
Arkansas State   4 4     6 7  
South Alabama   4 4     7 6  
Louisiana   3 5     6 7  
Southern Miss   2 6     3 9  
Louisiana–Monroe   0 8     2 10  
Championship: Troy 49, Appalachian State 23
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules

After a win against UConn on September 9, Georgia State became 2–0 for the first time since the 2019 season.[1] One week later, on October 16, the program improved to 3–0 for the first time in its history after beating Charlotte on the road, 41–25.[2] The victory against Charlotte featured the longest play in GSU program history, a 97-yard TD pass from quarterback Darren Grainger to WR Robert Lewis. Following another victory the following week at Coastal Carolina, GSU earned its first 4–0 start in program history, as well as its first vote in a national college football poll (coaches poll).

Preseason

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Media poll

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In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Panthers were picked to finish in sixth place in the East division.[3]

Media poll (East division)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 James Madison 78 (4)
2 Appalachian State 75 (4)
3 Coastal Carolina 71 (1)
4 Marshall 68 (1)
5 Georgia Southern 52 (1)
6 Georgia State 31
7 Old Dominion 17

Offensive lineman Travis Glover was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team. Defensive lineman Javon Denis, linebackers Jontrey Hunter and Jordan Veneziale, and defensive back Bryquice Brown were named to the second team.[3]

Schedule

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The football schedule was announced February 24, 2023.[4]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 317:00 p.m.No. 21 (FCS) Rhode Island*ESPN+W 42–3515,546
September 97:00 p.m.UConn*
  • Center Parc Stadium
  • Atlanta, GA
ESPN+W 35–1415,186
September 166:00 p.m.at Charlotte*ESPN+W 41–2514,410
September 217:30 p.m.at Coastal CarolinaESPNW 30–1715,248
September 307:00 p.m.Troy
  • Center Parc Stadium
  • Atlanta, GA
ESPN+L 7–2816,536
October 147:00 p.m.Marshall 
  • Center Parc Stadium
  • Atlanta, GA
ESPN2W 41–2416,718
October 218:00 p.m.at LouisianaESPNUW 20–1720,044
October 267:30 p.m.at Georgia SouthernESPN2L 27–4423,389
November 43:30 p.m.James Madison
  • Center Parc Stadium
  • Atlanta, GA
ESPN2L 14–4215,320
November 112:00 p.m.Appalachian State
  • Center Parc Stadium
  • Atlanta, GA
ESPN+L 14–4214,260
November 188:00 p.m.at No. 15 LSU*ESPN2L 14–56100,212
November 252:00 p.m.at Old DominionESPN+L 24–2515,717
December 233:30 p.m.vs. Utah StateESPNW 45–22 12,168

Game summaries

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No. 21 (FCS) Rhode Island

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Game One – (FCS) No. 21 Rhode Island Rams (0–0) vs Georgia State Panthers (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
(FCS) No. 21 Rams 0 14 14735
Panthers 14 7 14742

at Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, Georgia

  • Date: August 31, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 15,546
  • Referee: Marshall Lewis
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
Statistics URI GSU
First downs 22 20
Total yards 520 424
Rushing yards 112 231
Passing yards 408 193
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–40–2 16–20–0
Time of possession 36:19 23:41
Team Category Player Statistics
Rhode Island Passing Kasim Hill 24/40, 408 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Deon Silas 10 carries, 50 yards
Receiving Marquis Buchanan 2 receptions, 101 yards, TD
Georgia State Passing Darren Grainger 16/20, 193 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Marcus Carroll 23 carries, 184 yards, 3 TD
Receiving Robert Lewis 7 receptions, 97 yards, TD

UConn

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Game Two – UConn Huskies (0–1) vs Georgia State Panthers (1–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Huskies 0 0 01414
Panthers 7 14 7735

at Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: September 9, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 15,186
  • Referee: Scott Broadway
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Sam Crenshaw (color analyst)
Game information
Statistics UCONN GSU
First downs 19 19
Total yards 326 394
Rushing yards 50 250
Passing yards 276 144
Turnovers 3 1
Time of possession 32:32 27:28
Team Category Player Statistics
UConn Passing Ta'Quan Roberson 19/30, 216 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Victor Rosa 10 att, 17 yds
Receiving Brett Buckman 9 receptions, 93 yds, 1 TD
Georgia State Passing Darren Grainger 15/26, 144 yds, 1 TD
Rushing Darren Grainger 12 att, 145 yds, 1 TD
Receiving Ja'Cyais Credle 3 receptions, 45 yds

at Charlotte

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Game Three – Georgia State Panthers (2–0) vs Charlotte 49ers (1–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 13 14741
49ers 0 10 15025

at Jerry Richardson StadiumCharlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: September 16, 2023
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Sunny• Wind: 9 NE MPH
  • Game attendance: 14,410
  • Referee: Javarro Edwards
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Alex Perlman, Reginald Walker Jr., Smacker Miles
Game information
Statistics GSU UNC
First downs 23 18
Total yards 568 356
Rushing yards 102 88
Passing yards 466 268
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession 31:32 28:28
Team Category Player Statistics
Georgia State Passing Darren Grainger 27–33, 466 YDS, 3 TD
Rushing Marcus Carroll 20 CAR, 67 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving Robert Lewis 6 REC, 220 YDS, 2 TD
Charlotte Passing Trexler Ivey 20–28, 257 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Jalon Jones 6 CAR, 80 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving Jack Hestera 7 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD

at Coastal Carolina

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Game Four – Georgia State Panthers (3–0) vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (2–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 10 31030
Chanticleers 3 0 7717

at Brooks StadiumConway, South Carolina

Game information
Statistics GSU CCU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Georgia State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Coastal Carolina Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Troy

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Game Five – Troy Trojans (2–2) vs Georgia State Panthers (4–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Trojans 3 3 15728
Panthers 0 7 007

at Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: September 30, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 16,536
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
Statistics TROY GSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Troy Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Georgia State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Marshall

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Game Six – Marshall Thundering Herd (4–1) vs Georgia State Panthers (4–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Thundering Herd 7 10 7024
Panthers 14 13 01441

at Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: October 14, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C)
  • Game attendance: 16,718
  • Referee: Jeremy Parker
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Roy Philpot (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Taylor McGregor (sideline)
  • Pregame line: Georgia State –2.0
Game information
Statistics MRSH GSU
First downs 23 25
Total yards 457 474
Rushing yards 156 240
Passing yards 301 234
Turnovers 1 0
Time of possession 24:43 35:17
Team Category Player Statistics
Marshall Passing Cam Fancher 27/34, 301 yards, TD
Rushing Rasheen Ali 19 carries, 103 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Rasheen Ali 4 receptions, 71 yards, TD
Georgia State Passing Darren Grainger 21/31, 234 yards, TD
Rushing Marcus Carroll 28 carries, 159 yards, TD
Receiving Tailique Williams 6 receptions, 129 yards, TD

at Louisiana

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Pregame line Over/under
LA –3.5 61.5
Game Seven – Georgia State Panthers (5–1) vs Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (4–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 20 0020
Ragin' Cajuns 0 7 10017

at Cajun FieldLafayette, Louisiana

  • Date: October 21, 2023
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: S 9 MPH
  • Game attendance: 20,044
  • Referee: Scott Broadway
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
Game information
Statistics GSU ULL
First downs 16 15
Total yards 343 289
Rushing yards 129 165
Passing yards 214 124
Turnovers 2 1
Time of possession 27:48 32:12
Team Category Player Statistics
Georgia State Passing Darren Grainger 17/22, 211 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Marcus Carroll 26 carries, 110 yards
Receiving Tailique Williams 6 receptions, 81 yards
Louisiana Passing Zeon Chriss 14/28, 106 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Zeon Chriss 17 carries, 119 yards
Receiving Jacob Bernard 3 receptions, 30 yards

at Georgia Southern

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Game Eight – Georgia State Panthers (6–1) vs Georgia Southern Eagles (5–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Eagles 0 0 000

at Paulson StadiumStatesboro, Georgia

  • Date: October 26, 2023
  • Game time: 7:30 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 23,389
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
Game information
Statistics GSU GASO
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Georgia State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Georgia Southern Passing
Rushing
Receiving

James Madison

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Game Nine – James Madison Dukes (8–0) vs Georgia State Panthers (6–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dukes 0 0 000
Panthers 0 0 000

at Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia

Game information
Statistics JMU GSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
James Madison Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Georgia State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Appalachian State

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Game Ten – Appalachian State Mountaineers (5–4) vs Georgia State Panthers (6–3)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Mountaineers 0 0 000
Panthers 0 0 000

at Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 11, 2023
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 14,260
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Sam Crenshaw (analyst)
Game information
Statistics APP GSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Appalachian State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Georgia State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at No. 15 LSU

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Game Eleven – Georgia State Panthers (6–4) vs No. 15 LSU Tigers (7–3)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 7 0014
No. 15 Tigers 14 21 71456

at Tiger StadiumBaton Rouge, Louisiana

  • Date: November 18, 2023
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 100,212
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Roy Philpott (play-by-play) and Roddy Jones (analyst)
Game information
Statistics GSU LSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Georgia State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
LSU Passing
Rushing
Receiving

at Old Dominion

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Game Twelve – Georgia State Panthers (6–5) vs Old Dominion Monarchs (5–6)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Monarchs 0 0 000

at S.B. Ballard StadiumNorfolk, Virginia

  • Date: November 25, 2023
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 15,717
  • TV: ESPN+
Game information
Statistics GSU ODU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Georgia State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Old Dominion Passing
Rushing
Receiving

vs. Utah State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)

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Game Thirteen – Georgia State Panthers (6–6) vs Utah State Aggies (6–6) (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 21 10 7745
Aggies 14 0 0822

at Albertsons StadiumBoise, Idaho

  • Date: December 23, 2023
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 39 °F (4 °C) • Wind: 15 mph (24 km/h) NW
  • Game attendance: 12,168
  • Referee: Jeremy Valentine
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), and Morgan Uber (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
Statistics GSU USU
First downs 24 18
Total yards 643 347
Rushing yards 386 159
Passing yards 257 188
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 36:12 23:48
Team Category Player Statistics
Georgia State Passing Darren Grainger 19/22, 257 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Freddie Brock 24 carries, 276 yards, TD
Receiving Cadarrius Thompson 5 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD
Utah State Passing Levi Williams 12/21, 131 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Davon Booth 4 carries, 71 yards, TD
Receiving Terrell Vaughn 8 receptions, 86 yards, TD

References

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  1. ^ Awtrey, Stan (September 9, 2023). "Darren Grainger, improved defense spark Georgia State past UConn". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Awtrey, Stan (September 16, 2023). "A record night for Georgia State in 41-25 win over Charlotte". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Sun Belt Announces Football Preseason Awards & Poll". sunbeltsports.org. July 24, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "2023 Georgia State Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved March 4, 2023.