Georgia Southern Eagles is 0-0 on the season, 0-0 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -9.2. Georgia Southern Eagles enters the season with a power rating of -9.2, placing them below average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Georgia Southern Eagles host Charleston Southern next in Week 1. In 2025, Georgia Southern Eagles went 6-6 overall, 6-5-1 against the spread, and 7-5 on totals.
In Week 0 of 2026 the Georgia Southern Eagles Power Rating of -9.2 is 9.4 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Georgia Southern Eagles have logged 0 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 2,936 miles, ranking 141th heaviest in the FBS.
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | — | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Charleston Southern | Home | 0 mi |
| Week 2 | Clemson | 168 mi | 336 mi |
| Week 3 | Jacksonville State | 251 mi | 837 mi |
| Week 4 | Houston | Home | 837 mi |
| Week 5 | Coastal Carolina | 187 mi | 1,210 mi |
| Week 6 | James Madison | Home | 1,210 mi |
| Week 7 | Old Dominion | 439 mi | 2,087 mi |
| Week 8 | — | Bye | |
| Week 9 | App State | Home | 2,087 mi |
| Week 10 | Marshall | Home | 2,087 mi |
| Week 11 | Georgia State | 177 mi | 2,440 mi |
| Week 12 | Troy | 248 mi | 2,936 mi |
| Week 13 | Louisiana Tech | Home | 2,936 mi |
| Week 14 | — | Bye | |
| Week 15 | — | Bye | |
| Week 16 | — | Bye | |
Max Johnson, a sixth-year journeyman from LSU, Texas A&M and North Carolina, brings resilience and experience to the Eagles' offense. He is praised by opposing coaches for his competitiveness, decision-making and arm talent. The team also plans to develop heir apparent Weston Bryan, who accounted for six touchdowns on just 49 snaps as a freshman. The quarterback room is a clear strength, but the offense will need to find consistent playmakers around them.
After ranking last in the Sun Belt in total defense and yards per play allowed in 2025, first-year coordinator Mike Mutz is tasked with a major turnaround. He inherits All-Sun Belt edge rusher MJ Stroud, plus established players at defensive tackle (Caleb Moore, Latrell Bullard), linebacker (Brandon Tyson) and cornerback (Tracy Hill Jr., Chance Gamble). Mutz also brought in several FCS transfers he coached at Stephen F. Austin, including all-conference safety Aaron Sears and linebacker Rashon Myles Jr. The unit should improve simply because there is little room to get worse.
The Eagles lost 1,100-yard rusher OJ Arnold and must replace him with a committee of homegrown backs in at least their third year. At wide receiver, the team invested in Power 4 transfers who never lived up to their recruiting rankings, including Josh Dallas, a breakout candidate who missed nearly all of 2025 with a hip injury after leading the team with six touchdown catches in 2024. The success of the offense hinges on whether these new playmakers can step up.
Placekicker Tripp Bryant was perfect from inside 40 yards as a freshman (16-of-16) but struggled beyond that range (2-of-5). Senior punter Alex Smith, a former Australian tennis pro, returns for his fourth year. The return game has experience but lacks proven explosiveness. Field position and long-range kicking could be vulnerabilities in close games.
Head coach Clay Helton has posted a 6-6 regular-season record in three of his first four years, with a 27-25 overall mark. The defense is expected to improve, and if the offense finds a reliable quarterback and playmakers, the Eagles could make a dark-horse run in the Sun Belt East. Otherwise, the outlook is more of the same: a competitive but not dominant team that relies on outscoring opponents while getting just enough stops.
Georgia Southern Eagles is 0-0 against the spread in the 2026 season.
Georgia Southern Eagles holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -9.2, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Georgia Southern Eagles's home field advantage rating is 3.4 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Georgia Southern Eagles travels 2,936 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 141th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Georgia Southern Eagles: 0-0 overall, 0-0 ATS, power rating -9.2.
