With Georgia State struggling, Gibson remains wary of what Panthers are capable of offensively
— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Success has been hard to come by for Georgia State in 2025.
The Panthers (1-8, 0-5) hope to pick up their first win in two months this week and their first over an FBS opponent at 2 p.m. Saturday in a home matchup with Marshall at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium.
The contest can be seen on ESPN+.
Former Georgia assistant Dell McGee is in his second season as GSU head coach, but has won only five of his first 22 games.
The most recent setback for the Panthers came last Saturday and marked the team’s sixth straight loss, 40-27, at Coastal Carolina. The Herd (4-5, 2-3) was defeated at home the same day by now nationally-ranked James Madison, 35-23.
The Panthers suffered non-conference losses to a trio of solid programs — Ole Miss, Memphis and Vanderbilt. GSU’s lone win this season came at home against Murray State, a winless FCS team.
James Madison, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and South Alabama have also defeated the Panthers.
“Our kids have continued to fight and play hard and play with effort,” McGee said. “It’s just the details of momentum or responding in the right manner that has hurt. We still have a young, inexperienced football team that is growing and learning.”
Despite the lack of the Panthers’ success, Marshall is preparing for a team that has shown improvement in recent weeks.
Cameran Brown replaced T.J. Finley as starting quarterback in the second week of October and has proven capable as a passer and runner. Brown is responsible for 17 touchdowns this season, having passed for 13 with only one interception, while rushing for four scores as well. Brown has completed 114-of-173 passes for 1,239 yards and rushes for 275 yards on 56 carries.
His main target is senior receiver Ted Hurst, who has racked up 57 catches for 854 yards and six touchdowns this fall.
Hurst’s play has the attention of Herd head coach Tony Gibson, who believes GSU can challenge the Marshall defense in other ways as wideout Javon Robinson has 44 catches for 402 yards and running back Rashad Amos has 268 yards on the ground and is one of the team’s three tailbacks with 113 or more yards.
“Ted Hurst is the best wide receiver in our league — no disrespect to anyone else,” Gibson said. “Georgia State is really good at running back. We’ll have our work cut out for us on defense for sure.”
The Panthers have struggled defensively, giving up more than 450 yards per game.
Linebacker Josiah Robinson (64 tackles) and safety Jaylen Jones (44 tackles) are among the more notable defenders.
“We need to prepare the right way, hold on to the football, stop the run and then run the football effectively ourselves,” McGee said. “The plan and the process doesn’t change. We’ve got to perform better as coaches and players on game day.”
