# 2020 Georgia State Panthers football team

The 2020 Georgia State Panthers football team represented Georgia State University (GSU) in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by fourth-year head coach Shawn Elliott. This was the Panthers' eighth season in the Sun Belt Conference, third within the East Division, and 11th since starting college football. They played their home games at Center Parc Stadium.

## Schedule

Georgia State had games scheduled against Alabama, Murray State, and Charlotte which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 19 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 19 Louisiana | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA | ESPN2 | L 31–34 $^{OT}$ | 4,126 |
| October 3 | 12:00 p.m. | East Carolina* | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA | ESPNU | W 49–29 | 3,823 |
| October 15 | 7:30 p.m. | at Arkansas State | Centennial Bank StadiumJonesboro, AR | ESPN | L 52–59 | 5,496 |
| October 24 | 4:00 p.m. | at Troy | Veterans Memorial StadiumTroy, AL | ESPNU | W 36–34 | 12,000 |
| October 31 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 20 Coastal Carolina | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA | ESPNU | L 0–51 | 3,642 |
| November 7 | 12:00 p.m. | Louisiana–Monroe | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA | ESPN3 | W 52–34 | 2,921 |
| November 14 | 2:30 p.m. | at Appalachian State | Kidd Brewer StadiumBoone, NC | ESPN+ | L 13–17 | 2,100 |
| November 21 | 4:00 p.m. | at South Alabama | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPNU | W 31–14 | 5,224 |
| November 28 | 12:00 p.m. | Georgia Southern | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA (Modern Day Hate) | ESPN3 | W 30–24 | 4,523 |
| December 26 | 3:30 p.m. | vs. Western Kentucky* | Ladd–Peebles StadiumMobile, AL (2020 LendingTree Bowl) | ESPN | W 39–21 | 5,128 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### Louisiana

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| • No. 19 Ragin' Cajuns | 0 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 34 |
| Panthers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LA –17 | 58.5 |
| Statistics | Louisiana | Georgia State |
| First downs | 23 | 26 |
| Total yards | 519 | 419 |
| Rushing yards | 240 | 223 |
| Passing yards | 279 | 196 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:44 | 30:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana | Passing | Levi Lewis | 21/37, 279 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Louisiana | Rushing | Elijah Mitchell | 16 carries, 164 yards, 2 TDs |
| Louisiana | Receiving | Dontae Fleming | 4 receptions, 81 yards |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelius Brown IV | 22/39, 196 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Destin Coates | 34 carries, 150 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Roger Carter | 2 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD |

### East Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pirates | 7 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 29 |
| • Panthers | 21 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 49 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ECU –1.5 | 70 |
| Statistics | East Carolina | Georgia State |
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 286 | 485 |
| Rushing yards | 50 | 247 |
| Passing yards | 236 | 238 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 33:05 | 26:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| East Carolina | Passing | Holton Ahlers | 29/50, 236 yards, 3 INTs |
| East Carolina | Rushing | Tyler Snead | 1 carry, 31 yards, 1 TD |
| East Carolina | Receiving | Tyler Snead | 11 receptions, 105 yards |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 18/28, 238 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Destin Coates | 23 carries, 113 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Sam Pinckney | 7 receptions, 134 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Arkansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 7 | 21 | 14 | 10 | 52 |
| • Red Wolves | 14 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 59 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| ARST –3.5 | 72.5 |
| Statistics | Georgia State | Arkansas State |
| First downs | 25 | 34 |
| Total yards | 583 | 609 |
| Rushing yards | 269 | 58 |
| Passing yards | 314 | 551 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:19 | 35:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 18/35, 314 yards, 3 TDs |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Tucker Gregg | 14 carries, 142 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Sam Pinckney | 6 receptions, 146 yards, 3 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Passing | Layne Hatcher | 21/28, 332 yards, 4 TDs |
| Arkansas State | Rushing | Jamal Jones | 13 carries, 41 yards |
| Arkansas State | Receiving | Jonathan Adams Jr. | 15 receptions, 177 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Panthers | 7 | 6 | 20 | 3 | 36 |
| Trojans | 7 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TROY –2.5 | 68.5 |
| Statistics | Georgia State | Troy |
| First downs | 23 | 23 |
| Total yards | 379 | 447 |
| Rushing yards | 210 | 40 |
| Passing yards | 169 | 407 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 37:42 | 22:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 20/30, 169 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Destin Coates | 25 carries, 115 yards |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Roger Carter | 7 receptions, 72 yards, 2 TDs |
| Troy | Passing | Jacob Free | 24/38, 329 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Troy | Rushing | Kimani Vidal | 7 carries, 24 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Reggie Todd | 8 receptions, 130 yards, 1 TD |

### Coastal Carolina

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 20 Chanticleers | 7 | 27 | 14 | 3 | 51 |
| Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| CCU –4 | 60.5 |
| Statistics | Coastal Carolina | Georgia State |
| First downs | 30 | 5 |
| Total yards | 530 | 106 |
| Rushing yards | 250 | 76 |
| Passing yards | 280 | 30 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 41:04 | 18:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Grayson McCall | 18/24, 254 yards, 4 TDs |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | C. J. Marable | 10 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Jaivon Heiligh | 5 receptions, 81 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 6/10, 30 yards, 1 INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Destin Coates | 11 carries, 56 yards |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Sam Pinckney | 2 receptions, 15 yards |

### Louisiana–Monroe

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Warhawks | 7 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 34 |
| • Panthers | 21 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 52 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| GSU –18.5 | 59 |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Georgia State |
| First downs | 23 | 23 |
| Total yards | 424 | 504 |
| Rushing yards | 85 | 263 |
| Passing yards | 339 | 241 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:16 | 31:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Jeremy Hunt | 26/39, 339 yards, 3 TDs |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Rushing | Kadyn Roach | 8 carries, 34 yards, 1 TD |
| Louisiana–Monroe | Receiving | Perry Carter Jr. | 4 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 20/32, 241 yards, 3 TDs |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Destin Coates | 20 carries, 102 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Cornelious McCoy | 7 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TDs |

### At Appalachian State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| • RV Mountaineers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| APST –17.5 | 63 |
| Statistics | Georgia State | Appalachian State |
| First downs | 16 | 19 |
| Total yards | 300 | 310 |
| Rushing yards | 148 | 131 |
| Passing yards | 152 | 179 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 25:25 | 34:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 11/33, 152 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Tucker Gregg | 10 carries, 85 yards |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Sam Pinckney | 4 receptions, 74 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Zac Thomas | 16/22, 146 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Camerun Peoples | 17 carries, 67 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Malik Williams | 3 receptions, 60 yards |

### At South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Panthers | 0 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 31 |
| Jaguars | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| GSU –3.5 | 58.5 |
| Statistics | Georgia State | South Alabama |
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 556 | 324 |
| Rushing yards | 222 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 334 | 211 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:16 | 30:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 19/28, 334 yards, 3 INTs |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Tucker Gregg | 18 carries, 79 yards, 3 TDs |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Sam Pickney | 5 receptions, 176 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Desmond Trotter | 25/43, 211 yards |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Jared Wilson | 7 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 5 receptions, 75 yards |

### Georgia Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| • Panthers | 3 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| GSU –3 | 51 |
| Statistics | Georgia Southern | Georgia State |
| First downs | 13 | 22 |
| Total yards | 370 | 427 |
| Rushing yards | 296 | 55 |
| Passing yards | 74 | 372 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:48 | 29:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | Shai Werts | 4/7, 67 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Logan Wright | 8 carries, 143 yards, 2 TDs |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Khaleb Hood | 1 reception, 44 yards |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 28/39, 372 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Destin Coates | 15 carries, 47 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Sam Pinckney | 10 receptions, 126 yards |

### Vs. Western Kentucky (LendingTree Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| • Panthers | 7 | 20 | 3 | 9 | 39 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| GSU –3 | 50 |
| Statistics | Western Kentucky | Georgia State |
| First downs | 14 | 27 |
| Total yards | 284 | 484 |
| Rushing yards | 104 | 227 |
| Passing yards | 180 | 257 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 24:58 | 35:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 17/33, 180 yards, 2 INTs |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | C. J. Jones | 5 carries, 57 yards, 1 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Joshua Simon | 4 receptions, 84 yards |
| Georgia State | Passing | Cornelious Brown IV | 16/30, 232 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Destin Coates | 23 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Cornelius McCoy | 5 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD |