GEORGIA STATE’S HOME OPENER

Georgia State’s home opener against North Carolina is anothermilestone for the Georgia State program as the Panthers host aPower 5 opponent at home for the first time.

Playing back-to-back Power 5 opponents for the first time in program history, head coach Shawn Elliott's Panthers have won seven of their last nine games. Georgia State is coming off a school-record eight victories in 2021, capped by the its' third straight bowl appearance and second consecutive bowl victory. The Panthers have played in bowl games in four of Elliott’s five seasons.

Georgia State opened the season last Saturday with a 35-14 loss at South Carolina, but the Panthers held their own offensively and defensively, rushing for 200 yards and outgaining the Gamecocks 311 to 306 total yards, but hurt themselves by allowing two special teams touchdowns.

Led by super senior cornerback Quavian White, the GSU defense held South Carolina to 79 yards rushing and 306 total yards while allowing only 20 points (including two 50-plus field goals). White, a South Carolina native, led the defensive effort with two interceptions, two tackles for loss including a sack, a pass breakup and five tackles. With his two picks, White equaled teammate Antavious Lane for the current GSU record with nine career interceptions. Only five active FBS players have more than nine career interceptions.

Georgia State and North Carolina are meeting for the second straight year. Last season in Chapel Hill, the Panthers were within 24-10 with six minutes left in the third quarter before UNC scored four straight touchdowns and went on to win 59-17.

PANTHERS VS. POWER 5: Georgia State is facing a Power 5 opponent for the second straight week and the 15th time in program history. This is Georgia State’s fourth game against an ACC program, and the Panthers have also faced teams from the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac 12.

One of the biggest moments in GSU athletics history was the Panthers’ 38-30 victory at Tennessee in the 2019 season opener, the program’s first win over a Power Five team.

In that Tennessee win, Georgia State trailed 17- 14 at the half but outscored the Vols 24-13 in the second half. Tra Barnett’s 19-yard run gave GSU a 28-23 lead, and then quarterback Dan Ellington sealed the win with a 22-yard touchdown run with five minutes left. Now Georgia State’s tight ends coach, Ellington also threw two TD passes in the game, and the GSU defense held Tennessee to 98 yards rushing.

Last season, the Panthers had a close call at Auburn. Georgia State led until the final minute but the Tigers scored the go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-down pass with 45 seconds left and went on to win 34-24.

WHAT’S THE RUSH: After holding South Carolina to just 79 yards rushing on 32 carries, the Georgia State defense has held four straight opponents under 100 yards. Those four foes have averaged 52 yards per game and 2.5 yards per carry.

Over the last three games of 2021, the Panthers allowed a total of 128 yards rushing. GSU set a school record by holding Arkansas State to minus-3 yards, and then held Troy to 57 yards and Ball State to 74 yards.

BACKFIELD DUO: Senior running backs Tucker Gregg (third) and Jamyest Williams (seventh) both rank among the top seven career rushers in GSU history. Since the start of the 2020 season, Gregg (1,445) and Williams (1,188) have combined for 2,633 yards, including 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021.

TAR HEEL LINEAGE: First-year receivers coach Quinshad Davis is a 2016 graduate of North Carolina, where he was a standout receiver. Davis earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors and finished his career as the Tar Heels’ all-time leader in receptions (205) and touchdown catches (25).