2018 Georgia State Panthers football team
The 2018 Georgia State Panthers football team represented Georgia State University (GSU) in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by second-year head coach Shawn Elliott. The season was the Panthers' sixth in the Sun Belt Conference, first within the East Division, and ninth since starting football. They played their home games at Georgia State Stadium. They finished the season 2–10, 1–7 in Sun Belt play to finish in last place in the East Division. Previous season. In 2017, the Panthers played their first season under new head  coach (and accompanying staff) Shawn Elliott. After a short recruiting year (due to turnover of staff), Elliott managed to put together one of Georgia State's highest rated recruiting classes. After losing the opening game at the Panther's new stadium Georgia State Stadium, a conversion of the former Turner Field, the Panthers would go on to become bowl eligible for the second time in the programs seven-year history, defeating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at the Cure Bowl. Recruiting. Recruits. As of December 21, 2016, the Panthers have a total of 20 recruits committed. Eight are three-star recruits . Preseason. Sun Belt coaches poll. On July 19, 2018, the Sun Belt released their preseason coaches poll with the Panthers predicted to finish in third place in the East Division. Preseason All-Sun Belt Teams. The Panthers had five players selected to the preseason all-Sun Belt teams. Offense "1st team" Penny Hart – WR "2nd team" Hunter Atkinson – TE Shamarious Gilmore – OL Defense "1st team" Michael Shaw – LB "2nd team" Marterious Allen – DL Schedule. Georgia State announced its 2018 football schedule on February 27, 2018. The 2018 schedule consists of 6 home and away games in the regular season. The  Panthers host Sun Belt foes ULM, Coastal Carolina, Texas State, and in-state rivals Georgia Southern, and traveled to Troy, Arkansas State, Louisiana, and Appalachian State. Georgia State will not play Sun Belt foe South Alabama this year. The team will play four non-conference games, two home game against Kennesaw State, an FCS team from the Big South Conference, Western Michigan from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), and two road games against NC State from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Memphis from the American Athletic Conference (AAC).