Birmingham, AL – December 30, 2025 — In a rare intra-conference bowl rematch, the Georgia Southern Eagles (6-6) face the Appalachian State Mountaineers (5-7) in the JLab Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, capping an unusual postseason invitation for App State due to a shortage of bowl-eligible teams.
These Sun Belt rivals met just last month on November 6 in Boone, NC, where Georgia Southern escaped with a hard-fought 25-23 victory. The Eagles built a 19-0 lead early behind quarterback JC French IV’s season-high 352 passing yards, but App State rallied late to make it close. Now, on a neutral field, the Eagles aim to sweep the season series while the Mountaineers seek revenge and a winning sendoff for their seniors.
Key Storylines and Team Updates
Georgia Southern Eagles Under head coach Clay Helton, the Eagles finished the regular season strong, winning three of their last four games, including a 24-19 road victory over Marshall. QB JC French IV has been a standout, throwing for over 3,000 yards this season and excelling in the first matchup against App State. Running back OJ Arnold provides balance with nearly 900 rushing yards, while the offense ranks among the Sun Belt’s better units in yards per play.
The Eagles’ defense has struggled at times, particularly against the run (allowing over 220 yards per game), but showed resilience in holding off App State’s comeback. Georgia Southern is seeking its first bowl win under Helton after three straight postseason losses.
Paulson Stadium – Wikipedia
Appalachian State Mountaineers App State accepted this bowl bid despite a losing record, giving head coach Dowell Loggains’ squad extra practice time and a chance for postseason play. However, significant roster attrition via the transfer portal has impacted the Mountaineers: both starting quarterbacks (AJ Swann and JJ Kohl) and top receiver have departed, leaving senior backup Billy Wiles as a likely game-time decision starter.
Running back Jaquari Lewis (over 500 yards) will be key, especially against Georgia Southern’s porous run defense. App State has a strong bowl history (7-1 at FBS level) and will lean on motivation and seniors for one final push.
Kidd Brewer Stadium – Facilities – App State Athletics
Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State Prediction and Odds
Oddsmakers have installed Georgia Southern as 7.5 to 10-point favorites (line movement reflects App State’s opt-outs), with a total around 57.5-59.5 points. Moneyline: Eagles -290, Mountaineers +235.
Expert consensus leans heavily toward Georgia Southern covering, citing the Eagles’ more intact roster and proven success against this App State defense (494 total yards in November). Models like SportsLine and Dimers give Georgia Southern a 74% win probability, with predicted scores around 32-22 or 38-21.
The Over is a popular lean, as both offenses can move the ball, though recent trends show Unders in Georgia Southern’s games.
Prediction: Georgia Southern 34, Appalachian State 20. The Eagles pull away in the second half behind French’s passing and a steady ground game, covering the spread in a competitive but decisive win.
This “Deeper Than Hate” rivalry adds extra spice to bowl season—tune in for what could be a high-scoring Sun Belt showdown!