Georgia Southern vs. App State Opt-Out Tracker, Transfers, Injuries, Starting Lineups, Best Bet for JLab Birmingham Bowl
The Georgia Southern Eagles will take on the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the JLab Birmingham Bowl on Monday afternoon in a rare conference rematch. Jack Borovitz analyzes this Georgia Southern vs. App State transfer portal and opt-out tracker for Monday, December 29th in the Birmingham Bowl.
Jack Borovitz - December 27, 2025, 7:00 PM EST5 Minute Read
Georgia Southern vs. App State Preview: Who Is Opting-Out, Injured for JLab Birmingham Bowl on Monday, December 29th
The JLab Birmingham Bowl brings a rare conference rematch with dramatically different circumstances. Georgia Southern sits as a -7.5 favorite after the line opened at -2.5, a massive five-point shift that reflects App State's roster decimation through the transfer portal. The Eagles earned bowl eligibility legitimately at 6-6, while the Mountaineers backed into this game at 5-7 through APR eligibility. One team enters with continuity and confidence, the other scrambles to field a functional offense after losing both starting quarterbacks.Georgia Southern enters seeking its first bowl win under Clay Helton after three consecutive losses. The Eagles finished strong, winning three of their last four games including a 25-23 victory over App State in early November. QB JC French IV threw for over 3,000 yards this season, leading an offense that ranked 59th nationally in yards per play and 38th in third-down conversions. RB OJ Arnold and WR Dalen Cobb missed the regular season finale with injuries but are expected back. Helton's program earned this spot, and the Eagles come in with recent game tape against this opponent and a psychological edge from the November win.
App State faces catastrophic roster losses that turned a competitive rivalry into a potential blowout. Both starting quarterbacks entered the transfer portal. AJ Swann lost his job late in the year but threw for nearly 350 yards in the first meeting with Georgia Southern. JJ Kohl took over as starter down the stretch, then left for the portal. The Mountaineers now turn to either freshman Noah Gillon, who completed 13 of 32 passes for 111 yards this season, or Billy Wiles, a senior transfer from Clemson and Southern Miss. On defense, starting safety DJ Burks, the team's leading tackler over the past two seasons, opted out. Starting WR Davion Dozier (448 yards, 5 TDs), starting CB Elijah Mc-Cantos, and multiple rotational players all left.
