The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Modern Hate

Georgia Southern6-6Georgia State
Regional Program III#100 of 138▲Regional Program IV#116 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 14 · time TBA, 10 days away.

2 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

The series is dead even at 6-6. They've met 12 times since 2014. Georgia Southern has won the last 3.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Georgia Southern
Transfer portal
+3
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +6
Georgia State
Transfer portal
-1
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -15

Stature & the series, 2014–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeGeorgia SouthernGeorgia Stateevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Georgia Southern won, gray: Georgia State won)2020

The identity war

Georgia State has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 13 seasons of real play-level data (2014–2026), Georgia Southern led 3 and Georgia State led 10.

more passmore runGeorgia SouthernGeorgia State20142016201820202022202420262015Georgia State 39.1 ptsGeorgia State won 34-7
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

Georgia State once won 3 in a row. The biggest win was Georgia Southern by 38 in 2014. The biggest crowd, 28,427, was in 2014.

The coaching duels

Chad Lunsford vs Shawn Elliott2-1
Willie Fritz vs Trent Miles1-1
Clay Helton vs Shawn Elliott1-1
Clay Helton vs Dell McGee2-0

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
10-3
Georgia Southern leads
1st-rounders
0-0
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Georgia SouthernGeorgia State
2000s3-0
2010s5-1
2020s2-2

Best picks, either side

2013J. J. Wilcox Safety · Dallas CowboysRd 3, pick 18#80 overall
2026Ted Hurst Wide Receiver · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 3, pick 20#84 overall
2014Jerick McKinnon Running Back · Minnesota VikingsRd 3, pick 32#96 overall
2000Kiwaukee Thomas Defensive Back · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 5, pick 30#159 overall
2020Kindle Vildor Cornerback · Chicago BearsRd 5, pick 18#163 overall
2016Antwione Williams Outside Linebacker · Detroit LionsRd 5, pick 30#169 overall
2003David Young Defensive Back · Jacksonville JaguarsRd 6, pick 6#179 overall
2017Ukeme Eligwe Inside Linebacker · Kansas City ChiefsRd 5, pick 40#183 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Georgia State1.38×its own average home crowd
Georgia Southern1.18×its own average home crowd
2025Georgia Southern41-24
2024Georgia Southern38-21Georgia State — Georgia State routed by 17
2023Georgia Southern44-27
2022Georgia State41-33
2021Georgia State21-14
2020Georgia State30-24
2019Georgia Southern38-10
2018Georgia Southern35-14
2017Georgia State21-17
2016Georgia State30-24
2015Georgia State34-7Georgia Southern — Georgia Southern favored by 22.0
2014Georgia Southern69-31

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Georgia Southern’s chance to win through that meeting. Georgia Southern is 1-3 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Georgia Southern 41-24Georgia Southern won 41-24 vs Georgia State. Chance to win started at 78%, low 40%, high better than 99%.
2024Georgia Southern 38-21Georgia Southern won 38-21 at Georgia State. Chance to win started at 45%, low 39%, high better than 99%.Busy
2023Georgia Southern 44-27Georgia Southern won 44-27 vs Georgia State. Chance to win started at 51%, low 44%, high better than 99%.
2022Georgia State 41-33Georgia Southern lost 33-41 at Georgia State. Chance to win started at 58%, low 6%, high 62%.
2021Georgia State 21-14Georgia Southern lost 14-21 vs Georgia State. Chance to win started at 35%, low under 1%, high 80%.
2020Georgia State 30-24Georgia Southern lost 24-30 at Georgia State. Chance to win started at 43%, low 7%, high 93%.
2019Georgia Southern 38-10Georgia Southern won 38-10 vs Georgia State. Chance to win started at 67%, low 46%, high better than 99%.
2018Georgia Southern 35-14Georgia Southern won 35-14 at Georgia State. Chance to win started at 52%, low 46%, high better than 99%.

Meetings with their own story page

10 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.