GEORGIA STATE (2-1, 0-0 SBC) vs NIU (0-3, 0-0 MW)

Saturday, Sept. 26 | 2:00 p.m. | Atlanta, Ga.

TV: ESPN+

RADIO: Georgia State Radio Network in Atlanta on WRAS-FM 88.5, in Gainesville on WGTJ-FM 97.5, GSU Athletics mobile app, www.LowCountryRadio.com

ATLANTA– After taking its first out-of-state trip of the season, Georgia State returns home to face its last non-conference opponent Northern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2:00 p.m. for Family Weekend.

Through three games, Georgia State is averaging 40.0 points and 510.3 yards per game, including 239.0 rushing yards and 271.3 passing yards per game.

The Panthers have dominated on the ground, outrushing opponents 717-460 with 10-5 advantage in rushing touchdowns, while holding opponents to just 153.3 total yards per game.

Senior quarterback Cameran Brown earned Sun Belt Player of the Week (Sept. 14) after carrying the Panthers with 315 yards and a touchdown to lead Georgia State to a 31-17 win over C-USA Champions Kennesaw State. Brown netted 253 yards in the air with a season-long 45 yard pass while maintaining a 69.6 completion percentage. On the ground, the dual-threat quarterback ran for 62 yards on 9 carries, including an 18-yard run to hurdle into the end zone to score the first touchdown for the Panthers.

Georgia State opened the season with a 59-10 win over North Carolina A&T on Sept. 5, setting the program record for most points scored in a game, largest margin of victory and second fewest points allowed in program history.

The Panthers enter year three under the direction of head coach Dell McGee.

Georgia State returns 50 student athletes from the 2025 roster and added 67 newcomers, including 37 transfers and 24 freshmen.

SERIES HISTORY

Georgia State and Northern Illinois are meeting for the first time in program history.

LAST TIME OUT

Senior receiver Rodshaun Dorsey snagged back-to-back touchdowns against UCF, but the Panthers ultimately fell 44-30 to the Knights on the road on Saturday evening.

Qwantavius Wiggins controlled the run game totaling 125 rushing yards and a touchdown, picking up 11.4 yards per carry along the way.

Cameran Brown led Georgia State’s passing attack with 282 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Donovan Faria showed out with three tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception.

Georgia State recorded a stellar showing on the ground, gaining 203 rushing yards while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. The Georgia State offense did a good job prolonging drives, converting on 50 percent of third-down attempts.

Defensively, Georgia State did an excellent job neutralizing the UCF passing attack, holding the Knights to 86 yards through the air.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES

Northern Illinois is 0-3 on the season after falling 42-17 on the road at Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Quarterback Taron Dickens leads the Huskies with 512 yards and two touchdowns, primarily targeting DeAree Rogers with 145 receiving yards and a touchdown.

On the ground, Telly Johnson Jr. leads NIU with 168 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Huskies total 16 tackles, seven sacks and four interceptions.

MOVING THE CHAINS

The Panthers have recorded 75 first downs compared to just 44 by their opponents.

Georgia State has converted 21-of-41 third downs for a 51 percent success rate while holding opponents to just 9-of-35 (26%). They have been successful on 3-of-6 percent of fourth down conversions. Their third down conversion percentage ranks second in the conference.

The Panthers average 1,531 total yards of total offense with nearly identical production on the ground and through the air. With 239.0 rushing yards and 271.3 passing yards per game, Georgia State averages 6.8 yards per offensive play.

Georgia State has scored on 15 of its 16 trips to the red zone (94%), including 11 touchdowns.

Their rushing offense and total offense lead the Sun Belt and rank top 20 in the nation.

CAN’T CATCH CAM

Starting quarterback Cameran Brown has completed 61-of-90 passes for 725 yards and four touchdowns through three games, good for a 67.8 completion percentage and 143.4 efficiency rating. Brown has also rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown, accounting for 819 yards of total offense.

Brown is coming off his best statistical passing performance of the season at UCF, setting season highs with 30 completions, 47 attempts, 282 yards and two touchdown passes.

Through three games, Brown has accounted for 53.5 percent of Georgia State’s total offense (819 of 1,531 yards).

Brown is averaging 6.4 yards per rush, the best mark among Panthers with at least 10 carries. He has produced 520 yards of total offense, accounting for nearly half of Georgia State’s 1,046 total yards.

UP NEXT

Georgia State kicks off conference action against Old Dominion for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium.