Georgia Southern

The Eagles enter 2026 with a massive quarterback void after JC French departed for Cincinnati, taking 104.3 points of production above average with him. Georgia Southern's JP+ rating of -7.8 points (#112 nationally) reflects a program stuck in neutral after a 6-6 campaign, with the offense grading respectably at -0.6 (#72) but the defense struggling badly at -7.1 (#130). The portal provided some relief in Max Johnson (13.0 PPA from North Carolina), who figures prominently in the quarterback competition, while receivers Ashton Hollins (Illinois) and Cam'Ron King (Auburn) help offset the departures of Dylan Gary and Carmelo Mays.

JP+ projects just 0.5 wins for the Eagles, facing a brutal two-game slate that includes road trips to Clemson and a home date with Houston. The gap between projection and reality will likely hinge on whether the new signal-caller can quickly establish chemistry with a retooled receiving corps and whether the defense can show dramatic improvement from last season's bottom-tier performance. If Johnson wins the quarterback job and the offense maintains its solid efficiency, Georgia Southern could surprise in a couple of games. If the quarterback transition stalls and the defense remains porous, it could be a long season in Statesboro.