Georgia Southern does as well as any school in the nation when it comes to promoting teamspeak like “we’re just focused on the next game”, and “our goal is to go 1-0 this week.”

That’s all well and good - and probably necessary for keeping a team on track - but the reality as it exists for the university at large and the team’s thousands of fans is that last week’s convincing blowout of UL Monroe qualified the Eagles for a bowl game.

A trip to a postseason game is a highlight for any player at any school, but the Eagles can be forgiven if they choose to hold off on celebrating that fact for at least a couple more weeks.

Georgia Southern controlled its fate in the Sun Belt Conference as recently as two weeks ago, but lost that privilege when it dropped a game at Troy. It will take another two wins and some help if the Eagles want to make it to the Sun Belt championship game, but that leaves the team with the simple goal of finishing its regular season strong and letting the rest play out.

The first step the Eagles can take in the right direction is to notch a win over Arkansas State today at 3 p.m. in Jonesboro, Ark. Both teams enter today at 6-4 overall and 4-2 in Sun Belt competition. Both need the win to stay alive in conference championship contention.

“We’re coming off a win where we did a really good job of being prepared,” GS coach Chad Lunsford said. “We were on our toes instead of on our heels.We need to get another good effort this week.

Preparation and planning will continue to be a big part of any success Georgia Southern finds moving forward.

The Eagles’ skill position players remain dangerous, but the team’s option offense often relies on stellar offensive line play to open up opportunities for big plays and quick scoring. Georgia Southern was without four of its projected starting five lineman last week and could very well be in the same position today in Arkansas.

With just over a half-dozen lineman able to suit up and a running back corps that has been similarly ravaged by injury, the Eagles are down to fighting with muscle and determination since variety isn’t much of an option anymore.

But that handicap is just the latest in a season full of adversity for the Eagles.

Georgia Southern has overcome everything from injuries, to bad weather, to dubious police activity. And while the team’s record isn’t perfect, the Eagles have continued to answer the bell and are once again a bowl-eligible team that could also play for a conference championship if a few things break right.

“It’s time to move on (from the win over ULM) and reset,” Lunsford said. “We want to remember what we did well and carry that into the next one. Last week, we were on our toes instead of on our heels. That’s what we need to keep doing.”

With both teams still packing a punch while also reeling from injuries, there’s no telling how this one will go. 

Arkansas State is one of the worst defensive units in the nation when it comes to yards allowed on the ground, which the Eagles’ option attack will look to exploit despite having at least two starting running backs on the shelf.

Georgia Southern entered the season with one of the best defensive secondaries in the G5, but injuries have forced the Eagles to loosen up on what could have been a suffocating pass defense. The Red Wolves have two stellar receivers ready to take advantage of the Eagles’ defensive woes, but Arkansas State is also starting a freshman quarterback in Ty Hatcher who seems susceptible to the sort of pressure that the Eagles’ front line is coached up to deliver. 

With positive and negative signs popping up for both teams in all areas of the game, it’s no wonder that the betting line for today’s game has ventured onto both sides and continues to bounce in both directions just hours before kickoff.

Today’s game is vital for both schools if either wants to maintain a shot at claiming a spot in the 2019 Sun Belt Championship game. Both teams need to win out while also benefiting from the loss of a rival - Appalachian State for Georgia Southern and UL Lafayette for Arkansas State. 

Only one side will end the day with dreams of a conference championship still alive, but both can be assured of a chance to represent the Sun Belt as it attempts to continue its run over the last two seasons as the strongest bowl performer of all the G5 conferences.

Coming off a win where we did a really good job of being prepared

Time to move on. (Sundady) we reset. 

Our guys were into the game. They were into responding to how the last week had gone. On our toes instead of on our heels.

It matters because we’ve had success in it. You can talk about the weather, but it’s more about our team knowing who we are and what we can do in any situation. So we don’t worry too much about the weather, but I guess that could be an advantage for us if another team is facing it for the first time.

BAYLESS --- He’s dynamic and can do a lot once he gets the ball in his hands. He’s great, but the real challenge is that we have to be aware of all the other threats

More gap-schemed thant MINN. QB does a good jub of running the offense. 

Started out as a 4 man front. Injuries have them running odd-man front know, but they’re like us in that theyve found a way to get through injuries and continue to be successful.

When you play a Sun Belt game, you have to be ready to go. In our mentality, anyone replacing a guy has to be ready to do.