GEORGIA STATE (4-1, 1-1) vs. MARSHALL (4-1, 1-0) 
Saturday, Oct. 14 | 7 p.m. | Center Parc Stadium

TV: ESPN2
RADIO: Georgia State Radio Network on WRAS-FM 88.5 and the GSU Athletics mobile app

Off to the best start in program history at 4-1, Georgia State hosts Marshall for Homecoming in a nationally-televised, prime time game at Center Parc Stadium. Kickoff is a 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Georgia State was off last Saturday, while Marshall is coming off a 48-41 loss at NC State that snapped the Herd's nine-game winning streak.

After starting 4-0 for the first time ever, Georgia State achieved another milestone on Sept. 24 by receiving a vote in the US LBM Coaches' Poll, the Panthers' first-ever in either national poll.

Senior Darren Grainger is second in the Sun Belt in total offense with 295.0 ypg (No. 23 in FBS) while completing 69 percent of his passes for 1,187 yards. He has throw seven touchdowns and rushed for three.

Grainger's top target is Robert Lewis, who leads the Panthers with 26 receptions for 500 yards (19.2 ypc) and five touchdowns.

Lewis is No. 2 in the Sun Belt in receiving yards per game (100.0 ypg, No. 12 FBS) and touchdown receptions. He has caught 12 touchdown passes in his last 14 games.

Running back Marcus Carroll is No. 4 in FBS in rushing with 116.6 yards per game. His nine touchdowns make him tied for second in rushing touchdowns and tied for fifth overall.

Carroll rushed for a career-high 184 yards and three touchdowns in the opener vs. Rhode Island and then followed with 107 yards and three more scores vs. UConn before his 150-yard effort against Coastal.

GSU's top offensive lineman is super senior left tackle Travis Glover, a Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt selection who has 50 career starts.

Linebacker Jontrey Hunter is the Panthers' leading tackler with 39 stops, two forced fumbles and three pass breakups. CB Gavin Pringle leads GSU with two interceptions.

Georgia State is second in the Sun Belt and No. 21 in FBS in rushing defense at 102.2 yards per game. The Panthers held UConn to 50 yards rushing on 31 attempts and Charlotte to 88 yards on 29 carries.

IT'S ACADEMIC: Long-snapper Seth Glausier is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy® for the second straight year. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

A senior from Jefferson, Ga., Glausier is a two-time CSC Academic All-District (2020-21 and 2021-22) selection. He has been recognized on the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List and the Georgia State University President's List (semester GPA of 4.0).

RECOGNITION FOR ROBERT: Robert Lewis, Georgia State's leading receiver, was added last week to the Watch list for the 2023 Biletnikoff Award, which annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. 

The junior wide receiver from Covington, Ga., and Newton High School, leads the Panthers with 26 receptions for 500 yards and five touchdowns.

Lewis joins the ranks of outstanding GSU receivers who have been recognized on this list such as Robert Davis, Donovan Harden and Penny Hart. 

MORE ON MARCUS: Marcus Carroll showed that he is ready to carry the load for the Georgia State rushing attack with 583 yards and nine touchdowns. He ranks No. 4 in FBS in rushing yards and No. 1 in rushing touchdowns.

Carroll's career-high 184 yards vs. Rhode Island is the fourth-best single-game in GSU history.

After rushing for 150 yards in the win at Coastal Carolina, Carroll now has three of the Top 10 single-game performances in program history, all in his last nine games (184 vs. URI/2023; 164 vs. USM/2022; 150 vs. CCU/2023).

The senior from Union City, Ga., and Hapeville Charter School now ranks stands in GSU history with 1,369 yards. His 18 career rushing touchdowns rank third.

SERIES VS. MARSHALL: Georgia State and Marshall met for the first time last season in Huntington, and the Thundering Herd won 28-23.

Georgia State took a 17-14 advantage midway through the third quarter, but Marshall regained the lead with back-to-back touchdowns to go up 28-17 with 5:31 to play. Marcus Carroll's 2-yard touchdown pulled GSU within 28-23 with 3:45 left, but the 2-point conversion pass was no good, and Marshall was able to run out the clock.

GSU quarterback Darren Grainger completed 20-of-27 passes for 303 yards and one touchdown.