By Jack Kutz

JMU is headed down to Georgia Southern in Statesboro for a much anticipated revenge game against the Eagles. Here’s all you need to know for the big matchup.

How to Watch

TV: ESPNU

Kickoff time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Allen E. Paulsen Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia

Weather: Rain and wind are expected Saturday as a Hurricane impacts the southeast. Forecasts differ on how much the storm will impact the game, however, as much of the rain might come Saturday before kickoff.

Georgia Southern Overview

Record: 2-3 (1-0 in Sun Belt)

Georgia Southern has played a gauntlet of schools this year. After beginning the season with a dominant 31-0 victory over Charleston Southern, the Eagles played three consecutive games against quality opponents: Clemson, Jacksonville State, and Houston. Although they lost all three, they played all three opponents within two scores. These three games led to an away victory against Coastal Carolina, 31-24, in their first Sun Belt game of the season.

Coaching staff

Head coach: Clay Helton

Helton is in his fifth season as the head coach at Georgia Southern. He has accumulated a 29-28 recording during his time in Statesboro. Helton led his Georgia Southern teams to four straight bowl games, only winning the Birmingham Bowl in 2025. Before coaching in the Sun Belt, he spent seven seasons at USC. Helton had a 46-24 record as a Trojan.

Offensive coordinator: Ryan Aplin

Aplin took over the Georgia Southern offense in 2024 and created a great offensive unit. Running back Jalen White scored 13 rushing touchdowns and quarterback JC French set the school record for completion percentage in a season. In 2025, Aplin’s offense averaged nearly 28 points per game. Aplin played at Arkansas State and won Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012 when the Red Wolves won back-to-back league titles. The former quarterback brings more than a decade of coaching experience along with an illustrious playing career.

Defensive coordinator: Mike Mutz

Mike Mutz isn’t a new defensive coordinator in Statesboro. The 30-year coaching veteran began a second stint with the Eagles this season. This season, the Eagles are holding opponents to only 23 points per game. They have been particularly proficient in stopping the run, only giving up 3.5 yards per attempt. Their passing defense has been solid as well, allowing less than 200 yards through the air per game. Mutz has spent time at four levels of college football during his career. From JUCO all the way to FBS, Mutz has seen a bit of everything.

Key Players to Watch

Offense

Max Johnson, QB: Johnson began his Georgia Southern career very solidly. He has thrown for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns while only throwing one interception on 198 attempts. The seventh year quarterback began his college career in the midst of the COVID pandemic. The 25-year-old played two seasons at LSU, two at Texas A&M, and two at UNC before transferring one more time to Georgia Southern. Throughout his career, he has thrown for 7,500 yards and 57 touchdowns with a 61.5% completion percentage.

David Mbadinga, RB: The 5’9, 170-pound fourth-year running back returns to Georgia Southern as the lead back for the first time in his career. Mbadinga brings a plethora of experiences in the Sun Belt and under Clay Helton. This season, he has rushed for 227 yards while averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

Alex Taylor, WR: Alex Taylor has been Georgia Southern’s go-to big playmaker. The UNC transfer is averaging 15 yards per reception with three touchdowns this season. The 6’2 receiver can high point balls and make a couple guys miss.

River Helms, TE: Helms was on Western Kentucky in 2024, but didn’t play in the Boca Raton Bowl against JMU. In his second season with the Eagles, Helms has been a great safety valve for Max Johnson. The 6 ‘4 tight end has 20 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown on the season.
Josh Dallas, WR: A fourth-year returner for the Eagles, Dallas leads his team in receptions (29) but only has 179 yards to show for it.

Defense

Elijah Fears, DT: The 305-pound second-year player has been a force in the middle of Georgia Southern’s defensive line. The big man has 10 total tackles and two sacks. Fears is the only player listed as a defensive lineman that has recorded a sack on the season. The man in the middle can disrupt the run as well.

Jakyri Jones, DB: The fourth-year defensive back began his career at the JUCO level at Georgia Military College. After two successful seasons, he transferred to Southeastern Louisiana where he had 73 total tackles, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. For Georgia Southern, he leads the team in tackles with 29. 14 of them are solo. He also has one of the two interceptions on the year for Georgia Southern.

Keys to the Game

1. Get pressure on Max Johnson

Max Johnson hasn’t made many mistakes this season. A 25-year-old shouldn’t be making too many mistakes in the Sun Belt. The defensive line needs to rush Johnson into throws he wouldn’t make otherwise.

2. Lock down in the secondary

This Georgia Southern team has a deep receiver room. It will be very important that JMU’s secondary can lock that position group down and not allow them any space for Max Johnson to get them the ball.

3. The offense needs to keep humming

Since Week 3, JMU’s offense has averaged a great 39 points per contest. If Cam Aiken’s group can continue what they’ve been doing in recent weeks (with a bit of extra mustard in the second half), this game should result in another win for the Dukes.

Score prediction

After two dominant games in conference play, the Dukes take on a battle-tested Georgia Southern team. I believe this game will be closer than most people think.

The pick: JMU 27, Georgia Southern 21

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications