Non-conference games can make or break a football season. Go undefeated all you want in conference play; if you can’t do it against other teams, it could very well mean nothing. This holds especially true for Group of Five teams whose competition can often appear lackluster.
For the Georgia Southern Eagles, that means they need to impress in their four non-Sun Belt matchups.
Gardner-Webb (Big South)
Southern opens their season at home against an FCS opponent for the fourth time since the Eagles moved to the Sun Belt. The past three times, the Eagles have won each game by an average margin of 28 points.