With the upheavals of College Football Realignment in 2010, the Sun Belt saw a great shift as five of Troy’s former rivals (MTSU, FAU, FIU, WKU, and North Texas) and part of the Conference’s core left to join Conference USA. As a result, new teams began to pop up on Troy’s schedule.

Joining The Belt in 2013, Georgia State was led by former Alabama coach Bill Curry. Since that time, they’ve had two other coaches: Trent Miles and current head man Shawn Elliott. The Panthers have struggled during their time in FBS, but have begun making strides in the right direction, going to bowl games in two of the last three years.

While their overall record has been trending upwards, the Panthers record against the Trojans has been less so. Troy has amassed a 4-1 record against GSU since 2013. The only loss came in 2015, during Coach Neal Brown’s first year at the helm. In all of their victories, the Trojans have scored at least 31 points.

As for the current season, the Trojans have been dominate since the early loss to Boise State. The Panthers however have been as up and down as the rolling tracks of the Great American Scream Machine located across town from GSU.

They’ve barely beaten FCS upstart Kennesaw State and been blown out by NC State, Memphis, and Western Michigan. It would be easy to say the Trojans roll in this one, if it weren’t for the Panthers’ last game. In their last matchup, they took down the ULM Warhawks 46-14. Yes, the same ULM that outscored the Trojans 21-0 in the second half of their 35-27 meeting.

Based on the history, I believe the Trojans come out ahead against Georgia State, but don’t be surprised to see the Panthers come out and make a bold, competitive showing.

Notable History:

• Georgia State was one of the three teams who Troy beat on Homecoming last year and one of two where Troy beat them on their Homecoming (You know the other one).
• Troy is 4-0 when scoring over 30 points. The one time they scored less than 30 was the 2015 loss when they only scored 21.
• Since the beginning of the series, Georgia State has only finished with a better record than the Trojans once, in 2015.