Football 3/1/2022 10:00:00 AM

Another Exciting Schedule in 2022!

ATLANTA – Home games against Atlantic Coast Conference foe North Carolina and in-state rival Georgia Southern, the season-opening game at South Carolina and a pair of midweek contests highlight Georgia State's 2022 football schedule, announced Tuesday by the Sun Belt Conference.

The GSU program is coming off the most successful season in program history, and head coach Shawn Elliott's sixth Georgia State team returns the majority of the play-makers on offense and defense who helped the Panthers win seven of their last eight games in 2021 to post a school-record eight wins, capped by their second straight bowl victory.

Season tickets for all six home games at Center Parc Stadium are on sale now, including a 15 percent discount for fans who purchase before April 1. Visit GeorgiaStateSports.com/2022 or call 404-413-4020 for more information.

Georgia State opens the 2022 season on Saturday, Sept. 3 at South Carolina in another exciting matchup at an SEC stadium.

The home opener at Center Parc Stadium is Saturday, Sept. 10, when North Carolina will be the first Power 5 conference program to play at Georgia State.

That contest kicks off three straight September home dates for the Panthers, who host Charlotte on Sept. 17 and then jump into Sun Belt Conference play with a Thursday night showdown against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 22.

After a road trip to Army at historic Michie Stadium on Oct. 1, Georgia State returns home to host the annual clash with Georgia Southern on Saturday, Oct. 8 at Center Parc Stadium. The Panthers have beaten their in-state rival two straight years and five times in the last seven seasons.

The second of two midweek games is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 19 at App State.

The latter part of the schedule includes the four new members of the Sun Belt as Georgia State hosts Old Dominion on Oct. 29 and then travels to Southern Miss Nov. 5. After hosting ULM for Senior Day on Nov. 12, the Panthers conclude the regular season with back-to-back road trips to James Madison and Marshall.

MORE ON THE PANTHERS

Georgia State set school records in 2021 with eight overall wins, capped by a 51-20 victory over Ball State in the TaxAct Camellia Bowl, and six Sun Belt Conference wins.

GSU has earned bowl berths in three straight years and four of five seasons under head coach Shawn Elliott, including back-to-back bowl victories for the first time in program history.

For 2022, the Panthers return a total of 10 All-Sun Belt honorees on offense and defense.

After ranking No. 8 in FBS in rushing, the Panthers return All-Sun Belt running backs Tucker Gregg and Jamyest Williams, who combined for 1,812 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. Returning starting quarterback Darren Grainger passed for 1,715 yards and 19 touchdowns while leading Sun Belt quarterbacks with 660 yards rushing.

Four starters from the Panthers' strong offensive line return, led by super seniors Malik Sumter and Pat Bartlett, while tight end Aubry Payne is back for an unprecedented seventh year.

The GSU defense set school records with 38 sacks and 92 tackles for loss while forcing 21 turnovers. That unit welcomes back five All-Sun Belt defenders including its top three tacklers in linebackers Jordan Veneziale and Blake Carroll and safety Antavious Lane, along with cornerback Quavian White and defensive lineman Thomas Gore.

SCHEDULE NOTES

The season opener at South Carolina features a few unique storylines. Head coach Shawn Elliott is from the Columbia, S.C., area and spent seven seasons on the South Carolina staff, including a stint as interim head coach in 2015, before taking over at Georgia State in 2017. New offensive coordinator Josh Stepp will face his twin brother Justin, who is the Gamecocks' wide receivers coach, and GSU assistant coaches Cory Peoples and Travian Robertson played at South Carolina.

Georgia State plays in the Sun Belt East Division, which now includes Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern, along with new additions James Madison, Marshall and Old Dominion. The Sun Belt West Division will consist of Arkansas State, Louisiana, ULM, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, and Troy.

Each Sun Belt program will play eight conference games—six against divisional opponents and two against opponents from the opposite division.

Kickoff times and networks for all midweek games as well as weekend games in the first three weeks of the season will be announced in early June by the Sun Belt Conference. All other games will fall into the 12-day selection process.

2022 GEORGIA STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 3       at South Carolina
Sept. 10     North Carolina
Sept. 17     Charlotte
Sept. 22     Coastal Carolina* (Thursday)
Oct. 1        at Army
Oct. 8        Georgia Southern*
Oct. 19      at App State* (Wednesday)
Oct. 29      Old Dominion*
Nov. 5        at Southern Miss*
Nov. 12      ULM*
Nov. 19      at James Madison*
Nov. 26      at Marshall*

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Players Mentioned

#64 Pat Bartlett: G; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#42 Blake Carroll: ILB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#59 Thomas Gore: DL; 6' 0"; Freshman

#26 Tucker Gregg: RB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#34 Antavious Lane: S; 5' 9"; Freshman

#88 Aubry Payne: TE; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

#62 Malik Sumter: C; 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore

#40 Jordan Veneziale: ILB; 6' 0"; Freshman

#20 Quavian White: CB; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#3 Darren Grainger: QB; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior

#21 Jamyest Williams: RB; 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#64 Pat Bartlett
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: G

#42 Blake Carroll
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: ILB

#59 Thomas Gore
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: DL

#26 Tucker Gregg
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: RB

#34 Antavious Lane
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: S

#88 Aubry Payne
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: TE

#62 Malik Sumter
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Sophomore
: C

#40 Jordan Veneziale
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: ILB

#20 Quavian White
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: CB

#3 Darren Grainger
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior
: QB

#21 Jamyest Williams
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Senior
: RB