2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl Preview

The 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl features 6-6 Georgia Southern Eagles and the 5-7 Appalachian State Mountaineers. Here is the 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl preview.

Georgia Southern Eagles

Georgia Southern won six games to qualify for their fourth-straight bowl game. They defeated two teams who went .500 or above this season: Jacksonville State and Coastal Carolina. All six of their losses were to teams who made bowl games: Fresno State, USC, James Madison, Southern Miss, Arkansas State and Old Dominion.

The Eagles score 27.8 points per game, tying for 68th in the country. They pass for 253.8 yards (ranked 40th) and rush for 146.8 yards (ranked 80th) per game.

JC French IV is the quarterback for the Eagles. He has passed for 2,758 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 63.2 percent completion. Four pass-catchers have at least 200 receiving yards on the season for the Eagles. The standout has been Camden Brown with 63 catches for 1,049 yards and 14 touchdowns. Marcus Sanders Jr. has also played well with 725 receiving yards on the season.

OJ Arnold was the lead back for the Eagles this season. He rushed for 880 yards and five touchdowns, but he was injured at the end of the year. French has aided the rushing attack from the quarterback position with 277 rushing yards and six touchdowns. If Arnold can’t go, David Mbadinga will likely get work after having 196 rushing yards this season.

Defensively, the Eagles allow 34.17 points per game, ranking 127th in the country. They give up 244.5 passing yards (ranked 111th) and 220.7 rushing yards (ranked 131st) per game. Brandon Tyson and Justin Meyers tied for the team lead with 82 total tackles. MJ Stroud has the team-high with 6.5 sacks. Tracy Hill Jr. has made plays on the ball with six passes defended.

Appalachian State Mountaineers

The Mountaineers won five games, but were invited to a bowl game after qualified teams turned the bid down. They did not defeat a bowl-eligible team this season. All seven of their losses were to teams that made bowl games: Southern Miss, Boise State, Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, Georgia Southern, James Madison and Arkansas State.

Appalachian State scores 25.3 points per game, ranking 82nd in the nation. They pass for 262 yards (ranked 31st) and rush for 121.8 yards (ranked 110th) per game.

Quarterbacks AJ Swann and JJ Kohl have most of the playing time this season, but they are in the transfer portal. If neither plays, Noah Gillon will likely play after passing for 111 yards this season. Five pass-catchers have over 200 receiving yards for the Mountaineers this season. Jaden Barnes leads the team with 55 catches for 608 yards and seven touchdowns. Dalton Stroman has been productive as well with 570 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Two running backs have done most of the damage for the Mountaineers. Rashod Dubinion leads the team with 868 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Jaquari Lewis has had a big role in the offense with 563 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

The Mountaineers’ defense concedes 29.83 points per game, tying them for 102nd in the nation. They allow 276 passing yards (ranked 131st) and 138.9 rushing yards (ranked 51st) per game. Colton Phares leads the team with 89 total tackles. Kevin Abrams-Verwayne has the team-high with five sacks. Ethan Johnson has good ball skills with 12 passes defended.

Prediction

This rivalry game is going to be a fun bowl matchup. Appalachian State lost the first time around and it is hard to see them pulling off the win with the possibility of playing an inexperienced quarterback.

Georgia Southern Eagles 36 Appalachian State Mountaineers 21  

Make sure to check out our college football page for more content like 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl Preview!

You can like The Game Haus on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from great TGH writers!