The “Deeper Than Hate” rivalry between Appalachian State and Georgia Southern dates back to the 1930s and has been a constant in college football since 1993. This season is giving us an encore episode.
The two long-time rivals – who each won multiple national championships at the FCS level before moving up to the FBS Sun Belt Conference in 2014 – will collide for the second time in 2025 at the Birmingham Bowl on Monday afternoon.
Georgia Southern captured the first meeting 25-23 in Boone on Nov. 6. The rematch comes courtesy of an unpredictable bowl season that saw multiple schools opt-out of post-season games. This opened the door for Appalachian State to fill a slot despite its sub-.500 record.
“My athletic director called me on Sunday evening (Dec. 7) and asked me about playing in a bowl,” App State coach Dowell Loggains told media. “I said yes, we’ll play in a Walmart parking lot.”
JLab Birmingham Bowl
Matchup: Appalachian State (5-7, 2-6 Sun Belt) vs. Georgia Southern (6-6, 4-4 Sun Belt)
Date: Monday, December 29, 2025
Game Time: 2 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Location: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
Latest Lines: Georgia Southern -7.5 | Over-under 59.5
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Georgia Southern has a 55 percent chance to win
👉 View the full Appalachian State football schedule with 2025 results.
Rewinding App State vs. Georgia Southern 1.0
In the November showdown, Appalachian State fell behind Georgia Southern 19-0 and 22-3 on its home field before storming back in the second half. The Mountaineers got a short-yardage TD throw from AJ Swann-to-David Larkins and a 27-yard TD run from Jaquari Lewis to pull within 22-16 early in the fourth.
Georgia Southern kicked a field goal to go up 25-16. App State reponded with a Swann-to-Jaden Barnes touchdown play with just under two minutes to go, but the Mountaineers weren’t able to get the ball back and lost by 2.
Both quarterbacks lit up the stat sheets. Georgia Southern’s JC French IV threw for a career-high 352 yards and a touchdown. App State’s AJ Swann responded with a 348-yard day, with 2 TDs. Barnes added 160 yards in receptions.
The two teams seemed to go in different directions in November. App State lost four of its last five games, while Georgia Southern won three of its final four contests.
Things to Know About App State vs. Georgia Southern 2.0
1. App State thought its season over after losing a 30-29 heartbreaker to Arkansas State on Nov. 29. That left the Mountaineers 5-7 overall, one win shy of bowl eligibility.
Loggains did exit interviews with players, and many began leaving Boone for the holidays. But by Sunday night of the College Football Playoff release day, Loggains and staff were calling players back to campus. The team then began going through unexpected pre-Christmas workouts to get ready for a game against one of the school’s chief rivals.
2. Since App State’s season ended, more than 25 players have indicated their intentions to enter the transfer portal. That includes at least 10 players who started games in 2025. Both quarterbacks with 2025 starts, AJ Swann and JJ Kohl, have announced plans to transfer, as well as all-conference defensive lineman Rondo Porter and cornerback Elijah Mc-Cantos among many others.
Loggains said earlier in the month that anyone on the roster, regardless of transfer status, was welcome to remain with the team for bowl workouts and the game. App State sports information reported on Christmas Day that about 70 players were expected to make the trip to Birmingham.
“This is the 2025 team and they’re a part of it,” Loggains told media. “The kids are close. The buy-in is there. They care about each other, they care about their school and they care about the Block A, so we’re excited about it.”
3. Though the rivalry between the schools is dubbed “Deeper Than Hate,” the two schools and their football programs are somewhat mirrors of each other. Both started as teachers colleges. Football-wise, both ascended to the top of the FCS ranks multiple times before joining the FBS a decade ago. Both have been successful in the Sun Belt, with App State garnering multiple conference championships.
4. Georgia Southern quarterback JC French IV threw for more than 3,000 yards on the season. He’s 2-0 as a starter against Appalachian State. One of French’s top targets, wide receiver Dalen Cobb, is expected to play despite missing the regular season finale due to injury. Running back OJ Arnold also is expected to return for the game. The Eagles’ offense has given App State problems the past couple of seasons.
5. Like ECU, App State will hand the reins to a new starting quarterback for the bowl game. The most likely candidate is freshman Noah Gillon from Tupelo, MS. Gillon appeared for spot duty in three games this season, including completing 11-of-24 passes against Southern Miss for 109 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. Gillon was a state champion in high school, throwing for nearly 5,500 yards and 59 touchdowns over three varsity prep seasons. Another QB option is redshirt senior Billy Wiles, a transfer from Southern Miss.
East Carolina won its bowl game Dec. 27 with first time freshman starter Chaston Ditta at the helm. The Pirates defeated Pitt 23-17, improving North Carolina teams to 2-0 in 2025 bowl games.
6. App State and Georgia Southern have met 40 times in football. The Mountaineers hold a slight edge in the overall series, 21-18-1. Georgia Southern has won the past two games. App State’s last victory came in November 2023, a 55-27 triumph in Boone.
This will be the fourth December meeting. Appalachian State beat Georgia Southern 19-0 in the 1987 FCS playoffs. The Eagles knocked the Mountaineers out of the 2001 FCS post-season, 38-24. During the COVID season in 2020, App State topped Georgia Southern 34-26 on Dec. 12 before playing in the Myrtle Beach Bowl the following weekend.
7. The weather could play an interesting role on Monday. Temperatures are expected to plummet from the lower 70s (Sunday) into the lower 40s by kickoff Monday. No rain is forecast but winds in the 15 mph range are expected.
