Tag: Georgia State

Report: Journeyman QB TJ Finley hits portal, seeks 7th year of eligibility

Posted on | by Field Level Media

TJ Finley is aiming for lucky No. 7.

Finley is filing a waiver for a seventh year of eligibility and planning to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3.

The quarterback, who will turn 24 in March, started his collegiate career with LSU in 2020. He played for Georgia State this past season after also suiting up for Auburn, Texas State and Western Kentucky.

In addition, Finley was supposed to be Tulane’s QB for 2025, but he entered the transfer portal after being suspended from the program following an arrest in April on a charge related to a stolen pickup truck.

The Louisiana native alluded to that incident in his announcement on Instagram, where he explained his decision to seek another year of eligibility.

“The last two years have been the most challenging of my life,” Finley said. “Balancing new fatherhood, injuries and adversity off the field has been tested in ways football never could. Through it all, my love for the game never left. Football is who I am. I still love competing, leading and playing at the highest level.

“Due to a season-ending injury sustained in 2024, I am applying for a seventh year, and I’ve decided to pursue it fully. … I’m focused, healthy and motivated. I look forward to finishing my career at a university that gives me an opportunity to compete, lead and finish strong. The story isn’t over.”

Finley completed 127 of 201 passes for 1,244 yards across seven games for Georgia State in 2025. He threw for six touchdowns and was intercepted seven times while posting a 1-6 record. His best season came with Texas State in 2023, where he threw for 3,439 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Overall, Finley has recorded 7,372 yards, 43 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in his 41-game collegiate career.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) looks to pass against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

No. 20 Vanderbilt has revenge on its mind vs. Georgia State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Vanderbilt will try to celebrate its national ranking and gain a little revenge Saturday when it hosts Georgia State in Nashville.

The Commodores are off to their first 3-0 start since 2017 after knocking off No. 11 South Carolina 31-7 on Saturday. They are ranked No. 20 by the Associated Press and No. 23 in the coaches’ poll.

But Vanderbilt isn’t likely to sleepwalk this week against Sun Belt Conference opponent Georgia State (1-2), which upset the Commodores 36-32 in Atlanta a year ago. That was just the second win over a Power 4 opponent for Georgia State, which began playing football in 2010. Vandy hasn’t forgotten the sting of that loss.

“We’ve talked about this game since January,” Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said. “It’s a really big one for us, and we want to play really well. It’s real important to our players to show up and play well. This is a team that is a year better for the experience of last year and then highly motivated to have a great season. We need a great week of prep so it shows up on Saturday and we can play at our highest level.”

Vanderbilt brings one of the nation’s top defenses into the game. The Commodores are ranked in the top 20 per game in rushing yards allowed (82.7), total yards allowed (237) and scoring defense (10 points). They rank sixth in the nation with seven takeaways and have a plus-1.33 turnover margin.

The Vandy offense is rolling behind quarterback Diego Pavia, who’s completing 73.5 percent of his passes and has a 181.3 efficiency rating. He has thrown for 645 yards and seven touchdowns. Vandy has converted 60.7 percent of its third downs. Pavia threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia State in 2024.

Vanderbilt center Jordan White was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week for helping the Commodores post 22 first downs and control the ball for 35:43. Cornerback/receiver Martel Hight was named the Paul Hornung Award Player of the Week.

Georgia State has faced a difficult early schedule, losing to 63-7 to No. 13 Ole Miss and 38-16 to undefeated Memphis. The Panthers got their first victory last week by defeating FCS opponent Murray State 37-21.

“We had too many ‘Panther-beat-Panther’ penalties,” Georgia State coach Dell McGee said. “The false starts, hands to the face, late hit on the quarterback. Those are the things that get you beat. We’ve got to play with more composure.”

The Panthers have been using two quarterbacks – well-traveled TJ Finley and Texas Tech transfer Cameran Brown. They played nearly the same number of snaps last week, with Finley throwing for 150 yards and one touchdown, with two interceptions, and Brown throwing for 101 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Christian Veilleux, who engineered last year’s last-minute win, has not played since the season opener.

Georgia State’s all-conference receiver, Ted Hurst, has 18 catches for a 15.3-yard average this season and two touchdowns.

But Georgia State has had trouble establishing the run. Georgia transfer Branson Robinson rushed for 65 yards and Ole Miss transfer Rashad Amos ran for 56 yards last week, but the Panthers are yet to produce a 100-yard rusher in three games.

-Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Texas State Bobcats quarterback TJ Finley (7) on the sidelines during the second half against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

QB TJ Finley makes sixth college stop at Georgia State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback TJ Finley is on his sixth college in six years.

It was revealed Monday that Finley has enrolled at Georgia State, with coach Dell McGee revealing that he has spent the past few months with the team.

Finley, 23, has suited up for LSU, Auburn, Texas State and Western Kentucky in his college career and transferred to Tulane after the 2024 season. Tulane suspended Finley after he was arrested in connection with a stolen truck; his attorney said he was the victim of a scam and did not know the vehicle he purchased from an online marketplace had been stolen.

He entered the portal again once the Green Wave brought in more quarterback transfers.

As it turns out, Finley found another home much sooner than anyone knew.

“He was with us in May. He’s been a part of our program,” McGee told reporters. “He was just awaiting some legal matters and then the NCAA appeal that he had to go through.”

McGee said Finley attended team meetings and practiced over the summer. Once the Panthers got to fall camp, he didn’t give Finley reps in practice as they did not know if he’d be cleared to play and they needed the other quarterbacks ready.

No. 21 Ole Miss flattened Georgia State 63-7 in the season opener Saturday. Earlier in the week, McGee found out that Finley, in fact, had been cleared.

“We got the news on Tuesday of the Ole Miss week that he won his appeal,” McGee said, “and he started back his acclimation period with an afternoon practice with our strength and medical staff, and he was the scout team quarterback on Wednesday. He worked out Saturday and Sunday and he’ll be part of the evaluation process moving forward.

“This is nothing new. Our quarterbacks on our current roster knew he was here, and they all knew he was awaiting his appeal. We just felt like bringing in guys from a competitive standpoint at every position was the goal in the offseason, and adding him in May was part of that process.”

Christian Veilleux and Cameran Brown split the snaps at Ole Miss. Veilleux completed 4 of 11 passes for 52 yards, the team’s only touchdown and an interception. Brown went 8-of-14 passing for 17 yards.

Finley figures to be in the mix for reps as Georgia State moves forward to Saturday’s home opener against Memphis.

Finley took over as LSU’s quarterback midway through the 2020 season following an injury to starter Myles Brennan. Auburn (2021-22) was the only school where he spent more than one season. Finley enjoyed arguably his greatest success with Texas State in 2023, when he played 13 games and threw for 3,439 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. That campaign ended with a First Responder Bowl win against Rice.

Georgia State went 3-9 (1-7 Sun Belt) last season, McGee’s first year on the job.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2025; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Austin Simmons (13) hands the ball off to running back Kewan Lacy (5) during the second quarter against the Georgia State Panthers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Austin Simmons, No. 21 Ole Miss dominate Georgia State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Austin Simmons completed 20 of 31 passes for 341 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday, helping No. 21 Ole Miss rout visiting Georgia State 63-7 in Oxford, Miss.

Simmons also threw two interceptions in his first career start, while Kewan Lacy ran for 108 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. Logan Diggs rushed for 91 yards and a score for the Rebels, who outgained Georgia State 695-260 in total offense in both team’s season opener. Harrison Wallace III made five catches for 130 yards and a touchdown.

Christian Veilleux was 4-of-11 passing for 52 yards, a touchdown and an interception for outmatched Georgia State. Rashad Amos led the Panthers with 68 rushing yards.

The Rebels struck first on Simmons’ 38-yard touchdown pass to Dae’Quan Wright, giving Ole Miss a 7-0 edge with 10:32 left in the first quarter.

Simmons was picked off by Chams Diagne on Ole Miss’ next drive, but the Panthers couldn’t capitalize, as Liam Rickman missed a 31-yard field goal.

After advancing to Georgia State’s 17-yard line, Simmons was intercepted again, this time by Jordan Huff. Following Georgia State’s third punt, Ole Miss tacked on with Lucas Carneiro’s 42-yard field goal with 11:28 remaining in the second quarter.

Missouri transfer Lacy scored his first touchdown, a 1-yard rush, for his new team at the 7:31 mark of the first half, pushing the Rebels’ lead to 17-0.

Georgia State answered with a drive just over two minutes later, as Veilleux found Javon Robinson for a 43-yard touchdown pass to cut the Panthers’ deficit to 10.

Ole Miss added on with 21 seconds left in the first half, as Lacy’s 2-yard rushing touchdown and backup quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ two-point conversion gave the Rebels a 25-7 halftime lead.

Ole Miss scored on each of its first two possessions of the second half, as Lacy ran for a 42-yard touchdown before Zxavian Harris intercepted Veilleux, setting up Simmons’ 9-yard passing score to Caleb Odom, pushing the Rebels’ lead to 39-7.

Carneiro’s 33-yard field goal at the end of the third and Simmons’ 35-yard passing touchdown to Wallace gave Ole Miss a 49-7 advantage.

Chambliss connected with Izaiah Hartrup for a 13-yard score with 6:38 left, before Logan Diggs’ 5-yard score capped the game’s scoring.

–Field Level Media

Jul 14, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Austin Simmons answers media questions during SEC Media Day at Omni Atlanta Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Austin Simmons set to take the reins with No. 21 Ole Miss facing Georgia State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After a pair of seasons serving as the understudy to the program’s all-time leading passer, Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons is ready to take the reins.

The redshirt sophomore takes over for Jaxson Dart — now a member of the New York Giants — ahead of No. 21 Ole Miss’ season opener against Georgia State on Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi.

Simmons, 19, isn’t thinking about catching up to Dart’s 10,617 passing yards and record 28 program wins. So far, he’s just focusing on the new duties.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is just accepting everything that comes with the role,” Simmons said. “Definitely a lot of adversity, a lot of media talking about me — just a lot of outside noise that comes with being in this type of position. Really just learning how to handle it over time. Not being the backup, but molding into being the guy.”

In limited action a year ago, Simmons completed 19 of 32 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns.

Sixth-year Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin has his team ranked in the Preseason AP Top 25 for the fifth straight season. With a new face under center, Kiffin feels the program is in good hands.

“I think Austin’s doing a really good job,” Kiffin said. “We continue to emphasize one of the reasons we’ve had a really good record, performed really well – it’s not just the offensive stats, those passing yards and all that. It’s been taking care of the football at that position and doing a really good job of that. Especially with a first-time starter, making sure that that’s the No. 1 emphasis for him. He studies really hard. He spends a lot of time up here. He had a really good mentor, an example in Jaxson. We’re excited.”

Ole Miss enters the season coming off consecutive bowl wins for the first time since 2012-13. The Rebels were predicted to finish seventh in the SEC Preseason poll.

The visiting Panthers will make their first trip to Oxford on Saturday as heavy underdogs. Under second-year head coach Dell McGee, the Panthers received just 23 votes in the Sun Belt preseason poll, placing them last in the 14-team conference.

Georgia State, which finished 3-9 overall and 1-7 in league play a season ago, added 77 new players during the offseason – 34 high school signees and walk-ons and 43 transfers from the transfer portal.

A rarity for a Group of Five head coach in this era of college football, McGee has the fortune of returning a pair of offensive leaders from 2024. Starting quarterback Christian Veilleux, who threw for 2,047 yards in 10 games, returns to the Panthers for his fifth year, while leading receiver Ted Hurst (961 yards, nine touchdowns in ‘24) looks to open up the field for Georgia State’s offense.

“It’s all about decision making,” McGee said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re playing clean football on the offensive side of the ball. As coaches, we’ve got to help with that. We’ve got to make sure we don’t have too much in or are asking too much of our quarterback.”

Georgia State boasts a pair of SEC victories in its short program history, having beaten Tennessee in 2019 and Vanderbilt last season.

–Field Level Media

A large topiary ÒAÓ shines in the afternoon sun during the AppState Mountaineers' football practice at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.

Appalachian State plays first home game since Hurricane Helene

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Appalachian State will make a return to its home field on Saturday, hosting Georgia State in the first game on campus since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last month.

The Mountaineers played two home games at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone before Helene hit on Sept. 27. Their Sun Belt conference game Saturday will be the first there in 37 days.

Their game scheduled at home against Liberty on Sept. 28 was canceled, and the Mountaineers played two road games — losses at Marshall and Louisiana — since.

Classes resumed on campus on Oct. 16, and school officials said folding football back into the community was carefully done.

“We’re working to thoughtfully, responsibly and respectfully bring university events back to Boone that are supported by students, faculty and staff, as well as a passionate base of alumni and others who love Appalachian State University and Western North Carolina,” interim chancellor Heather Norris said. “We’re committed to ensuring that the university continues to support and sustain our community in meaningful and lasting ways.

The game featuring two 2-4 (0-3 Sun Belt) teams will serve as a positive moment for the region.

“App State Football is an important part of the culture and economy of our university community, the High Country, and the western North Carolina region,” athletic director Doug Gillin said. “We are thankful to university, town and county leadership, and are committed to provide a safe and responsible return to home competition. We hope this event will further rally our community and help support all those who are recovering.”

After Saturday, Appalachian State will have two remaining home games against Old Dominion (Nov. 2) and James Madison (Nov. 23).

–Field Level Media

Vanderbilt Commodores Head Coach Clark Lea congratulates players from both teams after beating Alcorn State 55-0 at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

Georgia State upends Vanderbilt on late TD pass

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Christian Veilleux hit Ted Hurst with a 25-yard touchdown pass with 15 seconds left, helping Georgia State to a 36-32 upset of Vanderbilt in Atlanta on Saturday night.

Veilleux threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing score.

The Panthers’ Kevin Swint had eight tackles, including two sacks and a forced fumble.

Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns.

The Commodores made several key mistakes, including nine penalties for 85 yards. Safety CJ Taylor was ejected in the fourth quarter for targeting.

Liam Rickman’s 45-yard field goal at the 10:22 mark of the third quarter gave the Panthers a 15-10 lead.

After the Commodores punted on their first possession of the second half, Veilleux fired a touchdown to a diving Rykem Laney to extend the lead to 22-10.

After a Georgia State punt, Bryan Longwell picked Veilleux and returned it to the Panthers 37, setting up an 18-yard Pavia-to-Eli Stowers touchdown pass with 14:07 remaining.

But the Panthers answered with Veilleux’s 18-yard touchdown run with 11:42 left.

Vanderbilt drove to the Panthers 25 but Swint broke up a fourth-down pass at the 20.

Vanderbilt scored touchdowns with 2:29 and 1:14 left on short runs by AJ Newberry and Sedrick Alexander but couldn’t hold the Panthers on the ensuing drive.

Georgia State led 12-10 at the half thanks to two huge Vanderbilt mistakes.

The first came on the game’s third play. Swint hit Pavia from the back side, forcing a fumble that Izaiah Guy recovered to give the Panthers possession at the Commodores 20.

Seven plays later, Rickman gave Georgia State a 3-0 lead with a 24-yard field goal.

Vanderbilt’s Brock Taylor hit a 28-yard field goal with 12:28 left in the second quarter.

Veilleux hit an open Ted Hurst for a 33-yard touchdown on Georgia State’s next possession.

The second mistake came when Vanderbilt’s Steven Sannienola gave the Panthers a safety. He fumbled a kickoff in the end zone, pulled it back across the goal line and knelt on it in the end zone for two uncontested points.

Pavia struck back just before half, hitting Newberry on a wheel route for 53 yards to the GSU 8. Pavia then found an open Junior Sherrill to cut the deficit to two with 46 seconds left.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Jamal Haynes (11) runs the ball past Georgia State Panthers safety Isaiah Holland (13) in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia Tech cruises past Georgia State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Haynes King threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score to lead Georgia Tech to a 35-12 win over Georgia State on Saturday in Atlanta.

King completed 24 of 29 passes with one interception for the Yellow Jackets (2-0). Malik Rutherford caught seven passes for 131 yards and one touchdown. Jamal Haynes rushed 17 times for 84 yards and one touchdown.

Georgia State (0-1) was led by quarterback Christian Veilleux, who completed 19 of 34 passes for 210 yards and one touchdown.

The loss ruined the debut of Georgia State coach Dell McGee, who was hired in February when head coach Shawn Elliott resigned days into spring practice to become the run game coordinator at South Carolina. McGee had spent the previous eight seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Georgia.

Georgia State took its opening drive to the 1-yard line but was stuffed by a Georgia Tech goal line stand.

Georgia Tech scored two possessions later after Zeek Biggers recovered a fumble at the Georgia State 20. The Yellow Jackets cashed in on a 1-yard run by Haynes.

Georgia State threatened again, reaching the 1, but opted for a 21-yard field goal from Liam Rickman rather than risk coming away with no points.

Georgia Tech scored with four seconds left in the half when King followed the left tackle for a 2-yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead at halftime.

The Yellow Jackets scored on their first possession of the second half. After a timeout, Eric Singleton Jr. took a reverse for a 35-yard touchdown run, giving Tech a 21-3 lead. The Yellow Jackets stretched it to 28-3 when King threw a 52-yard scoring pass to a wide-open Rutherford.

Georgia State hung close with a 47-yard Rickman field goal and a 24-yard touchdown pass from Veilleux to Dorian Fleming. The two-point pass failed and Georgia Tech led 28-12.

Tech responded with a 22-yard touchdown pass from King to Avery Boyd for a 35-12 lead.

It was the first time the two schools had played. Georgia State began its program in 2010 and has only played at the FBS level for 15 seasons.

–Field Level Media

Dec 22, 2023; Tampa, FL, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) warms up prior to the Gasparilla Bowl against the UCF Knights at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Neighbors Georgia Tech, Georgia State meet for first time

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Their campuses are only a few miles apart, but Atlanta-based Georgia Tech will host Georgia State on Saturday for the first time on the gridiron.

Georgia Tech (1-0) is coming off a dramatic 24-21 win over No. 10 Florida State in the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, Ireland.

Georgia State is opening its season under new coach Dell McGee, a former Georgia assistant who was hired in the spring when Shawn Elliott resigned to become an assistant coach at South Carolina.

Georgia Tech features an excellent quarterback in Haynes King, who completed 11 of 16 passes for 146 yards and rushed for 54 yards, and running back Jamal Haynes, who ran 11 times for 75 yards and two touchdowns against the Seminoles.

The Yellow Jackets had not beaten a top 10 team since 2015 — also Florida State — and coach Brent Key wants to make sure they take the victory in stride and don’t leave themselves susceptible to an upset.

“As a coach, you always have concerns,” Key said. “Anybody that knows me, I have 10,000 things all in my head spinning right now that we have to get to — the mindset and how we’re going to talk to them and what we’re going to do.”

Georgia State brought in 48 new players via the transfer portal or from the high school ranks. The Panthers finished 7-6 and beat Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2023.

“Our kids are very enthused, showing a lot of passion,” McGee said. “Excited about our opener. I think this is a great opportunity for our kids to play in an environment that’s pretty electric. I’m eager to see where our guys stand and how we’ve improved.”

The Panthers have not named a quarterback, although the leading candidates are a pair of transfers — Zach Gibson, who came over from Georgia Tech, and Christian Veilleux, a former starter at Pitt.

“There’s always potential for a rotation,” McGee said. “It could be four guys, it could be one guy. Not sure yet.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Georgia Bulldogs run game coordinator and running back coach Dell McGee talks to media on media day before the 2023 CFP National Championship game at Los Angeles Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Georgia State to name Dell McGee its football coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Georgia State is expected to name Dell McGee as its head football coach, multiple outlets reported Friday.

McGee, 50, has been on Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia since 2016, coaching the running backs and also serving as assistant head coach and run game coordinator. In that span, the Bulldogs won two College Football Playoff championships.

He will replace Shawn Elliott, who resigned immediately on Feb. 15 to accept the job as tight ends coach at South Carolina. At the time, Georgia State halted practice and postponed the team’s spring game.

McGee is a Georgia native and played defensive back at Auburn (1992-95). The Cardinals selected him in the fifth round of the 1996 draft, and he had a brief NFL career with Arizona and the Detroit Lions and also played in NFL Europe, the Arena Football League and the XFL.

His previous coaching stops include Georgia Southern.

–Field Level Media