Georgia Southern soared to victory over rival Appalachian State in the JLab Birmingham Bowl on Monday, December 29, 2025, with a final score of 29-10. The Eagles (7-6) showcased a dominant performance on both sides of the ball, securing their first bowl win since 2020 and marking the first bowl win under fourth-year coach Clay Helton. This win also signifies Georgia Southern's first stretch of four consecutive bowl appearances in program history.
OJ Arnold led the Georgia Southern rushing attack, amassing 152 yards on 11 carries. Terrance Gibbs and Weston Bryant each contributed a rushing touchdown to the Eagles' dominant ground game. Quarterback JC French IV efficiently guided the offense, completing 18 of 25 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. His 32-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Sanders Jr. in the third quarter extended Georgia Southern's lead. Sanders finished the game with 72 receiving yards on five catches.
The Georgia Southern defense was disruptive, forcing four turnovers and limiting App State to just 10 points. Dorrian Smith led the defensive effort with two interceptions and one tackle for loss. The Eagles' defense successfully contained the Mountaineers' offense, allowing them to convert only 3 of 10 third and fourth-down attempts.
Appalachian State (5-8) struggled to find consistency on offense. Redshirt freshman Matthew Wilson, in his first appearance, led the Mountaineers with 238 yards of total offense. Wilson completed 12 of 22 passes for 128 yards and added 110 rushing yards, including a 6-yard touchdown run – the first of his career. Noah Gillon, who started at quarterback, completed 4 of 7 passes for 64 yards but threw two interceptions. The Mountaineers' offense moved inside Georgia Southern's 40-yard line on seven possessions but could not capitalize, with a missed field goal and four interceptions stalling their efforts.
Georgia Southern established an early lead, scoring on their opening possession with a 1-yard touchdown run by Terrance Gibbs. Tripp Bryant added two field goals in the first half, contributing to the Eagles' 13-7 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, Arnold's 58-yard run set up Weston Bryant's 3-yard touchdown, and French's touchdown pass to Sanders Jr. further solidified Georgia Southern's advantage.
The "Deeper Than Hate" rivalry between Georgia Southern and Appalachian State dates back to their time in the FCS ranks, with the teams playing at least once a season since 1993. This Birmingham Bowl marked the first neutral-site meeting between the two programs. The Eagles have now won four of their last five contests against the Mountaineers.
The Eagles finished their 2025 season with a 6-6 overall record and a 4-4 record in the Sun Belt Conference. The Birmingham Bowl victory provides a positive end to the season and a strong foundation for the program moving forward.
