Regardless of how conference realignment affects the regionality of college football, rivalry games will always be the backbone of the sport. Some rivalries have transcendended conferences and, in some cases, divisions.
Though these teams haven’t played often, there’s no love lost in Georgia Southern vs. Georgia State. Both teams have remained in the Sun Belt for a decade, but in 2024, there’s a bit more on the line with the introduction of the Georgia Grown Bowl. What is the Georgia Grown Bowl, and what does it mean to Georgia Southern and Georgia State?
What Is the Georgia Grown Bowl?
While the Georgia Southern vs. Georgia State rivalry has met several times, 2024 marks the first iteration of the Georgia Grown Bowl.
Other states have done similar things with in-state rivalry games, and Georgia is following with its unique spin on a recent tradition.
The Georgia Grown Bowl is a statewide initiative to highlight two of the state’s best college football programs in a rivalry that has already existed but rarely gets much interest outside the state. Georgia Grown “aims to support each institution, highlight [the] state’s best, new rivalry games, and showcase Georgia’s No. 1 industry – agriculture.”
The push to put Georgie Southern vs. Georgia State in the spotlight is a smart one. The teams have played some incredibly entertaining games over the last 10 years, including high-scoring thrillers in each of the last two seasons. Last season, Georgia Southern won 44-27 in Statesboro, Ga., one year after the Panthers won 41-33 in Atlanta.
Five of the 10 games since 2014 have been decided by one score, while the winner has scored at least 30 in eight matchups and at least 40 in three games, including the last two. Georgia State holds a slight 6-4 advantage in the series.
This season, Georgia Grown has put effort into marketing the game, seeking to support both universities and bring attention to the Peach State’s thriving agriculture industry.
Georgia State hosts Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
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