The Georgia Southern football team kicks off the 2025 season Saturday evening at Fresno State. The first meeting between the two teams also marks the first time the football team has played in California.

For the first time in the tenure of Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton the question at quarterback is not something that has been discussed as the Eagles return last year’s starter J.C. French. Helton says Saturday the biggest difference is the maturity and growth French has gone through since his season debut last year against Boise State.

“Reps as a college quarterback are so important and to have a guy who went 6-2 in conference play last year and came about one play away from leading us to a conference title game is huge,” Helton said. “Coming off a good season he just has such a sense of urgency this year. I remember him coming off the field after the bowl game last year and saying as long as we are together that will never happen again. He has had a chip on his shoulder from that day on. He is in the best shape of his life and has matured so much.”

With a long trip and an extended stay for the Eagles Helton is happy to have a seasoned team who understand the importance of remembering this is a business trip.

“I have been coaching for 31 years and this is one of the most mature groups I have ever had,” Helton said. “This has been a three-year project of acquiring high school players, growing them up and retaining them. What you see are third, fourth- and fifth-year players that know our system and understand our standards.”

Among the mature players Helton talked about is junior receiver Josh Dallas who will be counted on for his talents on the field, but is also proud to have been named as one of the captains this season.

“It is a childhood dream to be named as a captain of a Division-1 football team,” Dallas said. “It is even more special at Georgia Southern. Since I came in as a freshman, I saw the leaders before me and I don’t know that I would have believed as a freshman that I’s be a captain here. It is a huge honor that I will carry the rest of my life. I told my dad the other night that is I never score another touchdown at Georgia Southern the fact that I have a C on my chest, especially at a place like this means the world to me.”

The Eagles will be taking on a Fresno State team who started the season early with a 31-7 loss to Kansas last weekend. First-year head coach Matt Entz team struggled to run the ball and had trouble against the run. The son of former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, Fresno quarterback E.J. Warner, who was recruited by Georgia Southern was pressured all game and made a few interceptions. Helton says that will be what the Eagles will try and do Saturday as well.

“You saw the blueprint as Kansas was really efficient on first and second down,” Helton said. “The saying is stop the run and have some fun on third down, so that’s what we hope to do. When Kansas marched down the field running the ball and hitting short passes, they were successful. On defense when they forced Fresno into third and long, they gave them trouble as well. We saw the blueprint last week with Kansas and hopefully we can follow that.”

With a few new faces on the defensive side of the ball having good communication could be a key to success this Saturday.

“We have built a lot of trust with getting to know each other and to be in the right places,” said Eagle defensive lineman Jacob Ferguson. “We have built a comradery off the field and you can see it helping us on the field as well. I trust completely that the guy beside me is going to play to the best of his ability and that goes on down to the second and third string as well.”

Georgia Southern and Fresno State are scheduled for a 9:30 p.m. ET start and the game can be viewed on FS-1.