# 2024 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

The 2024 Georgia Southern Eagles football team represented Georgia Southern University in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Eagles were led by Clay Helton in his third year as the head coach. The Eagles played their home games at Paulson Stadium, located in Statesboro, Georgia.

## Preseason
### Media poll

In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Eagles were picked to finish fourth place in the East division.
Media poll (East division) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Appalachian State | 96 (12) |
| 2 | James Madison | 79 (2) |
| 3 | Coastal Carolina | 67 |
| 4 | Georgia Southern | 50 |
| 5 | Marshall | 49 |
| 6 | Old Dominion | 32 |
| 7 | Georgia State | 19 |
Runningback Jalen White and wide receiver Derwin Burgess Jr. were awarded to be in the preseason All-Sun Belt first team offense. Linebacker Marques Waston-Trent and defensive linemen Justin Rhodes and Isaac Walker were named to the All-Sun Belt first team defense.
Offensive linemen Chandler Strong and Pinchon Wimbley, defensive back TJ Smith, and returner DeAndre Buchannon were named to the second team.

## Schedule

The football schedule was announced on March 1, 2024.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 4:00 p.m. | Boise State* | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPNU | L 45–56 | 24,134 |
| September 7 | 7:00 p.m. | at Nevada* | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | TruTV | W 20–17 | 16,245 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | South Carolina State* | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | W 42–14 | 21,617 |
| September 21 | 7:45 p.m. | at No. 5 Ole Miss* | Vaught-Hemingway StadiumOxford, MS | SECN | L 13–52 | 67,505 |
| September 28 | 3:30 p.m. | at Georgia State | Center Parc StadiumAtlanta, GA (rivalry) | ESPNU | W 38–21 | 18,808 |
| October 12 | 8:00 p.m. | Marshall | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPNU | W 24–23 | 24,048 |
| October 19 | 4:00 p.m. | James Madison | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | W 28–14 | 20,153 |
| October 24 | 7:00 p.m. | at Old Dominion | S.B. Ballard StadiumNorfolk, VA | ESPN2 | L 19–47 | 18,281 |
| November 2 | 7:30 p.m. | at South Alabama | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPNU | W 34–30 | 19,667 |
| November 16 | 4:00 p.m. | Troy | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA | ESPN+ | L 20–28 | 21,762 |
| November 23 | 3:30 p.m. | at Coastal Carolina | Brooks StadiumConway, SC | ESPN+ | W 26–6 | 14,556 |
| November 30 | 6:00 p.m. | Appalachian State | Paulson StadiumStatesboro, GA (rivalry) | ESPN+ | W 29–20 | 23,383 |
| December 19 | 7:00 p.m. | vs. Sam Houston* | Caesars SuperdomeNew Orleans, LA (New Orleans Bowl) | ESPN2 | L 26–31 | 13,151 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Boise State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 14 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 56 |
| Eagles | 0 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 45 |
at Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA
* Date: August 31, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny, 92 °F (33 °C)
* Game attendance: 24,134
* Referee: Trennis Livingston
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
| Statistics | BSU | GASO |
| First downs | 23 | 27 |
| Total yards | 651 | 461 |
| Rushing yards | 371 | 139 |
| Passing yards | 280 | 322 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–31–1 | 28–50–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:31 | 31:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Boise State | Passing | Maddux Madsen | 22/31, 280 yards, TD, INT |
| Boise State | Rushing | Ashton Jeanty | 20 carries, 267 yards, 6 TD |
| Boise State | Receiving | Cameron Camper | 4 receptions, 99 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 28/50, 322 yards, 2 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | JC French | 16 carries, 39 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 4 receptions, 93 yards |

### at Nevada

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Wolf Pack | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
at Mackay Stadium • Reno, NV
* Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 PM EST
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 16,245
* Referee: Christian Watson
* TV announcers (TruTV): J. B Long (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst) and Nabil Karim (sideline)
| Statistics | GASO | NEV |
| First downs | 20 | 26 |
| Total yards | 285 | 498 |
| Rushing yards | 42 | 227 |
| Passing yards | 243 | 271 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–37–0 | 23–35–0 |
| Time of possession | 22:39 | 37:21 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 23/37, 243 yards, 2 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | OJ Arnold | 7 carries, 23 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Dalen Cobb | 7 receptions, 81 yards, TD |
| Nevada | Passing | Brendon Lewis | 23/35, 271 yards, TD |
| Nevada | Rushing | Brendon Lewis | 18 carries, 97 yards, TD |
| Nevada | Receiving | Cortez Braham | 9 receptions, 110 yards, TD |

### South Carolina State (FCS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs (FCS) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Eagles | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
at Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA
* Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 21,617
* Referee: Steven Robinson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Danny Waugh (play-by-play) and Jared Denk (analyst)
| Statistics | SCST | GASO |
| First downs | 19 | 21 |
| Total yards | 318 | 351 |
| Rushing yards | 112 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 206 | 211 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–38–1 | 17–24–0 |
| Time of possession | 32:38 | 27:22 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Carolina State | Passing | Eric Phoenix | 24/37, 206 yards, INT |
| South Carolina State | Rushing | Eric Phoenix | 8 carries, 63 yards |
| South Carolina State | Receiving | Caden High | 10 receptions, 81 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 17/23, 211 yards, 2 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | OJ Arnold | 4 carries, 42 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Josh Dallas | 1 reception, 58 yards |

### at No. 5 Ole Miss

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| No. 5 Rebels | 17 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 52 |
at Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS
* Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
* Game time: 7:45 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 82 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 67,505
* Referee: Steve Marlowe
* TV announcers (SECN): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Jordan Rodgers (analyst), and Cole Cubelic (sideline)
* Pregame line: Ole Miss –35.5 • O/U: 68.5
| Statistics | GASO | MISS |
| First downs | 16 | 26 |
| Total yards | 194 | 607 |
| Rushing yards | 37 | 219 |
| Passing yards | 157 | 388 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–33–1 | 23–33–1 |
| Time of possession | 34:26 | 25:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 20/28, 109 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 7 carries, 24 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 5 receptions, 53 yards, TD |
| Ole Miss | Passing | Jaxson Dart | 22/31, 382 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Ole Miss | Rushing | Henry Parrish Jr. | 13 carries, 89 yards, TD |
| Ole Miss | Receiving | Tre Harris | 11 receptions, 225 yards, 2 TD |

### at Georgia State (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 14 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
| Panthers | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
at Center Parc Stadium • Atlanta, GA
* Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
* Game time: 3:30 PM
* Game weather: Cloudy
* Game attendance: 18,808
* Referee: Ted Pitts
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick (play-by-play) and Steve Addazio (analyst)
| Statistics | GASO | GAST |
| First downs | 30 | 15 |
| Total yards | 498 | 385 |
| Rushing yards | 261 | 29 |
| Passing yards | 237 | 356 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–39–0 | 23–45–3 |
| Time of possession | 39:10 | 20:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 24/39, 237 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 22 carries, 114 yards, 2 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Josh Dallas | 9 receptions, 89 yards, TD |
| Georgia State | Passing | Christian Veilleux | 23/45, 356 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Georgia State | Rushing | Freddie Brock | 10 carries, 36 yards, TD |
| Georgia State | Receiving | Ted Hurst | 4 receptions, 112 yards, TD |

### Marshall

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thundering Herd | 6 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
| Eagles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 24 |
at Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA
* Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
* Game time: 8:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C)
* Game attendance: 24,048
* Referee: Trennis Livingston
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play) and Fozzy Whittaker (analyst)
| Statistics | MRSH | GASO |
| First downs | 18 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 72–389 | 74–422 |
| Rushes–yards | 43–200 | 33–93 |
| Passing yards | 189 | 329 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–29–1 | 26–41–1 |
| Time of possession | 31:03 | 28:57 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Marshall | Passing | Stone Earle | 9/17, 97 yards, INT |
| Marshall | Rushing | A. J. Turner | 14 carries, 97 yards |
| Marshall | Receiving | Christian Fitzpatrick | 5 receptions, 49 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 16/26, 194 yards, INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | JC French | 11 carries, 25 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Dalen Cobb | 6 receptions, 93 yards |

### James Madison

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dukes | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Eagles | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Paulson Stadium • Statesboro, GA
* Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C) • Wind: SW 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
* Game attendance: 20,153
* Referee: Scott Broadway
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Danny Waugh (play-by-play), Jayson Foster (analyst) and Whitney Haworth (sideline)
| Statistics | JMU | GASO |
| First downs | 16 | 24 |
| Total yards | 253 | 405 |
| Rushing yards | 67 | 190 |
| Passing yards | 186 | 215 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–41–0 | 24–33–3 |
| Time of possession | 26:01 | 33:59 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| James Madison | Passing | Alonza Barnett III | 22/41, 186 yards, TD |
| James Madison | Rushing | George Pettaway | 13 carries, 63 yards |
| James Madison | Receiving | Omarion Dollison | 3 receptions, 51 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 24/33, 215 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 23 carries, 134 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 5 receptions, 52 yards, TD |

### at Old Dominion

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
| Monarchs | 13 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 47 |
at S.B. Ballard Stadium • Norfolk, VA
* Date: October 24, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 PM
* Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind: NNW 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 18,281
* Referee: Ted Pitts
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Jay Alter (play-by-play) and Rocky Boiman (analyst)
| Statistics | GASO | ODU |
| First downs | 17 | 26 |
| Total yards | 416 | 560 |
| Rushing yards | 113 | 256 |
| Passing yards | 303 | 304 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–36–1 | 20–27–0 |
| Time of possession | 25:08 | 34:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 17/29, 259 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | OJ Arnold | 7 carries, 36 yards |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Dalen Cobb | 7 receptions, 95 yards, TD |
| Old Dominion | Passing | Colton Joseph | 20/26, 304 yards, 4 TD |
| Old Dominion | Rushing | Aaron Young | 14 carries, 77 yards, TD |
| Old Dominion | Receiving | Isiah Page | 7 receptions, 100 yards |

### at South Alabama

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 34 |
| Jaguars | 3 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 30 |
at Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
* Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
* Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: NW 7 mph
* Game attendance: 19,667
* Referee: Tim Barker
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Lowell Galindo (play-by-play) and Fozzy Whittaker (analyst)
| Statistics | GASO | USA |
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Total yards | 337 | 458 |
| Rushing yards | 106 | 184 |
| Passing yards | 231 | 274 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–33–0 | 23–32–1 |
| Time of possession | 31:52 | 28:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 22/27, 198 yards, 2 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 18 carries, 71 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Josh Dallas | 5 receptions, 96 yards, 2 TD |
| South Alabama | Passing | Gio Lopez | 22/30, 257 yards, TD, INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Kentrel Bullock | 17 carries, 101 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jamaal Pritchett | 12 receptions, 107 yards, TD |

### Troy

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Eagles | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
at Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, GA
* Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C)
* Game attendance: 21,762
* Referee: Marshall Lewis
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Danny Waugh (play-by-play), Jayson Foster (analyst) and Whitney Haworth (sideline)
| Statistics | TROY | GASO |
| First downs | 27 | 19 |
| Total yards | 441 | 246 |
| Rushing yards | 153 | 75 |
| Passing yards | 288 | 171 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 26–32–0 | 17–28–1 |
| Time of possession | 38:31 | 21:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Matthew Caldwell | 26/32, 288 yards, 2 TD |
| Troy | Rushing | Damien Taylor | 18 carries, 92 yards |
| Troy | Receiving | Devonte Ross | 10 receptions, 95 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 17/28, 171 yards, INT |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | OJ Arnold | 6 carries, 27 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Josh Dallas | 4 receptions, 69 yards |

### at Coastal Carolina

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 26 |
| Chanticleers | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
at Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 60 °F (16 °C)
* Game attendance: 14,556
* Referee: Ted Pitts
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Jeff McCarragher (play-by-play) and Nate Ross (analyst)
| Statistics | GASO | CCU |
| First downs | 21 | 12 |
| Total yards | 384 | 280 |
| Rushing yards | 90 | 163 |
| Passing yards | 294 | 117 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–38–0 | 11–32–3 |
| Time of possession | 38:45 | 21:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 25/38, 294 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 13 carries, 46 yards, TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 8 receptions, 98 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | Ethan Vasko | 10/25, 92 yards, 2 INT |
| Coastal Carolina | Rushing | Braydon Bennett | 16 carries, 138 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Receiving | Senika McKie | 5 receptions, 78 yards |

### Appalachian State (rivalry)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mountaineers | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| Eagles | 8 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 29 |
at Paulson Stadium, Statesboro, GA
* Date: Saturday November 30, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 40 °F (4 °C)
* Referee: Jeremy Parker
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Danny Waugh, Jason Foster
| Statistics | APP | GASO |
| First downs | 25 | 23 |
| Total yards | 465 | 357 |
| Rushing yards | 175 | 191 |
| Passing yards | 290 | 166 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19-35-2 | 16-19-0 |
| Time of possession | 30:33 | 29:27 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Appalachian State | Passing | Joey Aguilar | 19/35, 290 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| Appalachian State | Rushing | Ahmani Marshall | 24 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD |
| Appalachian State | Receiving | Makai Jackson | 8 receptions, 157 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 16/19, 166 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 18 carries, 175 yards, 3 TDs |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Josh Dallas | 4 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD |

### Sam Houston (New Orleans Bowl)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 26 |
| Bearkats | 7 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 31 |
at Caesars Superdome • New Orleans, Louisiana
* Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Orlando Franklin (analyst), and Morgan Uber (sideline) (ESPN2)/Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Aaron Murray (analyst) (ESPN Radio)
| Statistics | GASO | SHSU |
| First downs | 23 | 15 |
| Total yards | 393 | 267 |
| Rushing yards | 181 | 54 |
| Passing yards | 212 | 213 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20-35-4 | 23-28-0 |
| Time of possession | 31:49 | 28:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Georgia Southern | Passing | JC French | 20/33, 212 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs |
| Georgia Southern | Rushing | Jalen White | 16 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| Georgia Southern | Receiving | Derwin Burgess Jr. | 6 receptions, 56 yards |
| Sam Houston | Passing | Hunter Watson | 23/28, 213 yards, 1 TD |
| Sam Houston | Rushing | Jay Ducker | 10 carries, 26 yards |
| Sam Houston | Receiving | Simeon Evans | 7 receptions, 85 yards, 1 TD |