The 2023 Georgia State Panthers football team represented Georgia State University as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by seventh-year head coach Shawn Elliott and played their home games at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta. The Georgia State Panthers football team drew an average home attendance of 15,594 in 2023.
After a win against UConn on September 9, Georgia State became 2–0 for the first time since the 2019 season. One week later, on October 16, the program improved to 3–0 for the first time in its history after beating Charlotte on the road, 41–25. The victory against Charlotte featured the longest play in GSU program history, a 97-yard TD pass from quarterback Darren Grainger to WR Robert Lewis. Following another victory the following week at Coastal Carolina, GSU earned its first 4–0 start in program history, as well as its first vote in a national college football poll (coaches poll).
Preseason Media poll In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Panthers were picked to finish in sixth place in the East division.
Offensive lineman Travis Glover was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team. Defensive lineman Javon Denis, linebackers Jontrey Hunter and Jordan Veneziale, and defensive back Bryquice Brown were named to the second team.
Schedule The football schedule was announced February 24, 2023.
Game summaries
No. 21 (FCS) Rhode Island
Statistics URIGSU First downs 22 20 Total yards 520 424 Rushing yards 112 231 Passing yards 408 193 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–40–2 16–20–0 Time of possession 36:19 23:41
Team Category Player StatisticsRhode Island Passing Kasim Hill 24/40, 408 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Deon Silas 10 carries, 50 yards Receiving Marquis Buchanan 2 receptions, 101 yards, TDGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 16/20, 193 yards, 2 TD Rushing Marcus Carroll 23 carries, 184 yards, 3 TD Receiving Robert Lewis 7 receptions, 97 yards, TD
UConn
Statistics UCONNGSU First downs 19 19 Total yards 326 394 Rushing yards 50 250 Passing yards 276 144 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 32:32 27:28 Team Category Player StatisticsUConn Passing Ta'Quan Roberson 19/30, 216 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Victor Rosa 10 att, 17 yds Receiving Brett Buckman 9 receptions, 93 yds, 1 TDGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 15/26, 144 yds, 1 TD Rushing Darren Grainger 12 att, 145 yds, 1 TD Receiving Ja'Cyais Credle 3 receptions, 45 yds
at Charlotte
Statistics GSUUNC First downs 23 18 Total yards 568 356 Rushing yards 102 88 Passing yards 466 268 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 31:32 28:28 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 27–33, 466 YDS, 3 TD Rushing Marcus Carroll 20 CAR, 67 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Robert Lewis 6 REC, 220 YDS, 2 TD Charlotte Passing Trexler Ivey 20–28, 257 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jalon Jones 6 CAR, 80 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Jack Hestera 7 REC, 109 YDS, 1 TD
at Coastal Carolina
Statistics GSUCCU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Rushing Receiving Coastal Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
Troy
Statistics TROYGSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTroy Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia State Passing Rushing Receiving
Marshall
Statistics MRSHGSU First downs 23 25 Total yards 457 474 Rushing yards 156 240 Passing yards 301 234 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 24:43 35:17 Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Cam Fancher 27/34, 301 yards, TD Rushing Rasheen Ali 19 carries, 103 yards, 2 TD Receiving Rasheen Ali 4 receptions, 71 yards, TDGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 21/31, 234 yards, TD Rushing Marcus Carroll 28 carries, 159 yards, TD Receiving Tailique Williams 6 receptions, 129 yards, TD
at Louisiana
Statistics GSUULL First downs 16 15 Total yards 343 289 Rushing yards 129 165 Passing yards 214 124 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:48 32:12 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 17/22, 211 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Marcus Carroll 26 carries, 110 yards Receiving Tailique Williams 6 receptions, 81 yardsLouisiana Passing Zeon Chriss 14/28, 106 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Zeon Chriss 17 carries, 119 yards Receiving Jacob Bernard 3 receptions, 30 yards
at Georgia Southern
Statistics GSUGASO First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia Southern Passing Rushing Receiving
James Madison
Statistics JMUGSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia State Passing Rushing Receiving
Appalachian State
Statistics APPGSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsAppalachian State Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia State Passing Rushing Receiving
at No. 15 LSU
Statistics GSULSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving
at Old Dominion
Statistics GSUODU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Rushing Receiving Old Dominion Passing Rushing Receiving
vs. Utah State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)
Statistics GSUUSU First downs 24 18 Total yards 643 347 Rushing yards 386 159 Passing yards 257 188 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 36:12 23:48 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Darren Grainger 19/22, 257 yards, 3 TD Rushing Freddie Brock 24 carries, 276 yards, TD Receiving Cadarrius Thompson 5 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TDUtah State Passing Levi Williams 12/21, 131 yards, TD, INT Rushing Davon Booth 4 carries, 71 yards, TD Receiving Terrell Vaughn 8 receptions, 86 yards, TD
References