Georgia Southern–Georgia State rivalry

Georgia Southern–Georgia State rivalry
Georgia Southern Eagles	Georgia State Panthers
Football Rivalry
First meeting	October 25, 2014; Georgia Southern 69, Georgia State 31
Latest meeting	September 28, 2024; Georgia Southern 38, Georgia State 21
Next meeting	2025; Statesboro
Meetings total	11
All-time series	Georgia State, 6–5
Largest victory	Georgia Southern, 69–31 (2014)
Longest win streak	Georgia State, 3 (2015–2017, 2020–2022)
Current win streak	Georgia Southern, 2 (2023–present)
Men's Basketball Rivalry
First meeting	February 19, 1972; Georgia Southern 103, Georgia State 55
Latest meeting	February 2, 2023; Georgia State 58, Georgia Southern 49
Next meeting	January 13, 2024 ; Atlanta
Meetings total	66
All-time series	Georgia Southern leads 39–27
Largest victory	Georgia Southern, 103–55 (1972); Georgia Southern, 109–61 (1985)
Longest win streak	Georgia Southern, 7 (3x)
Current win streak	Georgia State, 1 (2023–present)

150km
100miles

Georgia State

Georgia Southern

Locations of Georgia Southern and Georgia State

The Georgia Southern–Georgia State rivalry, also known as the Georgia Grown Bowl and Modern Day Hate, is a college athletics rivalry between the Georgia Southern Eagles and Georgia State Panthers.^[1]^[2] Both schools are members of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC).

For the 2021–22 school year, the men's soccer rivalry temporarily moved to the Mid-American Conference, with both schools joining that league for men's soccer after the SBC disbanded its men's soccer league.^[3] However, SBC expansion in 2022 and the addition of three "Power Five" programs led to the reinstatement of SBC men's soccer effective in 2022–23.^[4] While the teams have only met nine times in football (due to Georgia State beginning their program in 2010),^[5] the rivalry dates back to the 1970s in basketball and other sports.^[6]

History

Georgia Southern and Georgia State have only competed against each other in football since 2014. They played annually in basketball from the 1971–72 to 1980–81 seasons, 1995–96 and 1996–97, and 2009–10 to 2013–14 out-of-conference and as conference mates from the 1985–86 to 1991–92 seasons in the Trans America Athletic Conference (which is now the ASUN Conference) and since the 2014–15 season in the Sun Belt Conference.^[6]^[7] Starting in December 2009, the two teams went nearly 10 years without losing a home game to their rival. The streak was snapped on March 9, 2019 when Georgia State won in Statesboro by a score of 90–85. Georgia Southern has a 38–26 lead in the all-time basketball series.^[8]

Because both schools can be abbreviated GSU, a point of conflict between the two is the claim by either fan base that their university is, in fact, "the real GSU." Georgia State lays claim to the initials as it became a university (and therefore GSU) in 1969 while Georgia Southern didn't achieve university status until 1990.^[9] Both schools are referred to as GSU colloquially in their region of the state, though Georgia State is the only one of the two that officially brands itself "GSU." In 2014, when Georgia Southern joined the Sun Belt Conference (the conference Georgia State joined the year prior), Georgia Southern updated its branding and media guidelines to explicitly state the school should be referred to as "Georgia Southern" or "GS" to avoid confusion in the media. But fixtures on their campus such as the "GSU" hedge and traditions like the marching band's "GSU Scramble" remain.

The rivalry intensified after the hire of former Appalachian State (longtime rival of Georgia Southern) athletic director Charlie Cobb to the same position at Georgia State University. During Georgia State's press release introducing Cobb, he revealed that Georgia Southern's athletic director Tom Kleinlein told him "welcome, now the war is on."^[10] The two teams first met on the gridiron during the 2014 football season. During the run up to the game, fans from both teams expressed their dislike for the other over social media outlets such as Twitter. Students at the time used the hashtags "SouthernNotState" and "StateNotSouthern" in their tweets to differentiate which GSU they attended. Both schools adopted the phrases as a slogan that defined their side of the rivalry.^[11] During the period before the game, a beat writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution dubbed the matchup as "Modern Day Hate," a play on the rivalry between Georgia Tech and UGA, Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.^[2]^{[dead link]} Georgia Southern beat Georgia State by a final score of 69–31 in the Georgia Dome in front of 28,427 fans.^[12] After the game, Georgia Southern fans unrolled a banner saying "Paulson Stadium North" claiming the stadium as their own and cementing the rivalry. The following season, Georgia State handed Georgia Southern their worst home defeat in school history with a final score of 34–7.^[13]^[14] Georgia State leads the football series 6–4.

In 2024, the schools announced the intent to stop calling the football game "Modern Day Hate" alongside a partnership with Georgia Grown to rename the rivalry the Georgia Grown Bowl.^[15] The two schools will begin competing for the Commissioner's Cup trophy.

Football game results

Georgia Southern victories	Georgia State victories

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	October 25, 2014	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	69–31
2	December 5, 2015	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	34–7
3	November 19, 2016	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	30–24
4	November 4, 2017	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	21–17
5	November 24, 2018	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	35–14
6	November 30, 2019	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	38–10
7	November 28, 2020	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	30–24
8	October 30, 2021	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	21–14
9	October 8, 2022	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	41–33
10	October 26, 2023	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	44–27
11	September 28, 2024	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	38–21
Series: Georgia State leads 6–5

Men's basketball game results

Table shows results since both teams officially entered NCAA basketball competition with one another.^[8]

Georgia Southern victories	Georgia State victories

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	February 19, 1972	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	103–55
2	March 1, 1972	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	107–77
3	February 19, 1973	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	79–62
4	February 24, 1973	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	97–96
5	February 20, 1974	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	126–91
6	March 1, 1974	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	89–71
7	December 7, 1974	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	69–59
8	January 16, 1975	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	82–73
9	December 8, 1975	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	83–72
10	February 14, 1976	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	107–88
11	January 15, 1977	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	83–65
12	February 21, 1977	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	81–75
13	November 30, 1977	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	75–73
14	January 9, 1978	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	88–83
15	November 27, 1978	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	86–68
16	January 20, 1979	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	81–79
17	December 8, 1979	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	70–66
18	February 13, 1980	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	96–68
19	December 6, 1980	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	81–69
20	January 14, 1981	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	80–61
21	January 10, 1985	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	77–61
22	February 7, 1985	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	77–50
23	March 2, 1985	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	109–61
24	January 9, 1986	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	91–77
25	February 6, 1986	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	66–62
26	January 3, 1987	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	85–79
27	February 5, 1987	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	73–68
28	January 7, 1988	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	80–60
29	February 11, 1988	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	73–65
30	March 10, 1988	Daytona Beach, FL	Georgia Southern	71–55
31	January 5, 1989	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	100–93
32	February 2, 1989	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	95–90
33	January 27, 1990	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	68–66
34	February 22, 1990	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	78–66

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
35	January 17, 1991	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	73–72
36	February 14, 1991	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	90–86^OT
37	January 11, 1992	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	88–87
38	February 8, 1992	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	91–84
39	March 11, 1992	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	95–82
40	December 12, 1995	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	60–58
41	December 21, 1996	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	68–49
42	December 22, 2009	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	85–65
43	December 22, 2010	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	74–72^OT
44	December 22, 2011	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	72–52
45	December 29, 2012	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	68–64^OT
46	December 20, 2013	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	73–61
47	February 5, 2015	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	58–54
48	March 7, 2015	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	72–55
49	March 15, 2015	New Orleans, LA	Georgia State	38–36
50	January 19, 2016	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	69–66^OT
51	February 23, 2016	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	54–52
52	December 31, 2016	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	88–65
53	March 4, 2017	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	72–67
54	January 20, 2018	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	83–66
55	February 16, 2018	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	85–80
56	March 10, 2018	New Orleans, LA	Georgia State	73–67
57	February 2, 2019	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	81–72
58	March 9, 2019	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	90–85
59	January 25, 2020	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	82–77
60	February 28, 2020	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	79–70
61	March 11, 2020	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	81–62
62	February 11, 2021	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	79–75
63	February 17, 2022	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	79–63
64	February 19, 2022	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	58–49
65	January 21, 2023	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	58–52
66	February 2, 2023	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	64–60
67	January 13, 2024	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	90–62
Series: Georgia Southern leads 39–28

Men's soccer results

Georgia State leads Georgia Southern 32–11–7 in men's soccer competitions.

Georgia Southern victories	Georgia State victories	Tie games

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	October 18, 1980	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	3–0
2	October 16, 1981	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	4–0
3	October 3, 1982	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	5–0
4	October 30, 1983	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	2–1
5	October 21, 1984	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	3–0
6	September 28, 1985	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	3–1
7	October 31, 1985	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	5–0
8	October 19, 1986	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	3–0
9	November 1, 1986	Abilene, TX	Georgia State	4–0
10	October 10, 1987	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	1–0
11	October 31, 1987	Deland, FL	Georgia State	1–0
12	October 1, 1988	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	2–0
13	October 28, 1988	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	4–1
14	September 23, 1989	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	6–0
15	October 7, 1989	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	5–1
16	September 22, 1990	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	3–2
17	October 13, 1990	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	3–0
18	September 28, 1991	Atlanta, GA	Tie	3–3
19	October 23, 1991	Statesboro, GA	Tie	1–1
20	September 8, 1992	Decatur, GA	Georgia Southern	4–2
21	September 4, 1993	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	1–0
22	September 17, 1994	Decatur, GA	Georgia Southern	2–1
23	October 4, 1995	Statesboro, GA	Tie	3–3
24	September 21, 1996	Atlanta, GA	Georgia Southern	4–2
25	September 19, 1997	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	3–0
26	September 6, 1998	Decatur, GA	Georgia State	2–1

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
27	October 13, 1999	Statesboro, GA	Tie	3–3
28	October 25, 2000	Decatur, GA	Georgia State	3–2
29	October 30, 2001	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	2–1
30	October 8, 2003	Decatur, GA	Georgia State	4–3
31	October 17, 2004	Statesboro, GA	Tie	1–1
32	September 14, 2012	Decatur, GA	Georgia State	3–0
33	October 11, 2013	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	2–1
34	November 8, 2014	Decatur, GA	Georgia State	1–0
35	November 14, 2014	Statesboro, GA	Georgia Southern	2–1
36	November 7, 2015	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	5–3
37	November 13, 2015	Boone, NC	Tie	3–3
38	October 8, 2016	Decatur, GA	Georgia Southern	3–1
39	November 11, 2016	Decatur, GA	Georgia State	2–0
40	October 7, 2017	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	3–1
41	November 11, 2017	Conway, SC	Georgia State	3–1
42	October 20, 2018	Statesboro, GA	Tie	1–1
43	November 11, 2018	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	4–2
44	October 12, 2019	Decatur, GA	Georgia Southern	3–1
45	November 13, 2019	Boone, NC	Georgia State	4–0
46	October 4, 2020	Decatur, GA	Georgia State	2–0
47	October 16, 2020	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	3–0
48	November 4, 2021	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	2–1
49	October 1, 2022	Statesboro, GA	Georgia State	4–2
50	October 13, 2023	Atlanta, GA	Georgia State	1–0
Series: Georgia State leads 32–11–7
Sources:^[16]^[17]

Rivalry series

On October 1, 2015, both schools' athletic directors at the time announced the beginning of an annual "rivalry series" in which the winner takes home the Rivalry Series trophy and bragging rights at the following year's football game. The trophy was awarded to the school that defeats the other in a points-based system that encompasses all sports. Most wins counted as 1 point with football counting as 2 points. 2 points total were awarded to community service projects, and 1 to the school with the highest departmental GPA. ^[18]^[19]

Georgia Southern victories	Georgia State victories

No.	Date	Winner	Score
1	2015–16	Georgia State	14–7
2	2016–17	Georgia State	18–4
3	2017–18	Georgia State	16.5–5.5
4	2018–19	Georgia State	13–9
Series: Georgia State leads 4–0

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sun Belt Conference announced that all remaining spring sporting events after March 16 of that year would be suspended. Those sports included Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Golf, Baseball, Softball, and Women's Outdoor Track and Field. Georgia Southern was leading 9–6 in the 2019–2020 rivalry series at that time.^[20]

On September 12, 2020, new Georgia Southern athletic director, Jared Benko, made a public statement that the all-sport rivalry series would be discontinued.