Coastal Carolina University
Georgia Southern
Football Opens Sun Belt Play Against Georgia Southern
10/2/2026 12:34:00 PM | Football
CONWAY, S.C. - Coastal Carolina opens Sun Belt Conference play Saturday night when the Chanticleers host Georgia Southern at Brooks Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the game streaming on ESPN+.
Both teams enter the conference opener at 1-3. Coastal Carolina is coming off a 34-17 setback against Liberty, while Georgia Southern fell 42-28 to No. 25 Houston. Saturday's game will be part of Coastal Carolina University's Family Weekend and Hall of Fame Weekend.
How To Follow
| Television / Stream | ESPN+ |
| Radio | Chanticleer Sports Network |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
| Game Notes | Coastal Carolina | Georgia Southern |
| coastalfootball | |
| X | @CoastalFootball |
| YouTube | Coastal Carolina Athletics |
Matchup Comparison
| Category | Coastal Carolina | Georgia Southern |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Record | 1-3 | 1-3 |
| Head Coach | Ryan Beard | Clay Helton |
| Career Record | 20-19 | 74-52 |
| Record at School | 1-3 | 28-28 |
| Scoring Offense | 25.0 | 23.3 |
| Scoring Defense | 23.5 | 23.8 |
| Rushing Offense | 129.3 | 108.0 |
| Passing Offense | 261.3 | 267.8 |
| Total Offense | 390.5 | 375.8 |
| Total Defense | 377.0 | 301.8 |
| First Downs | 84 | 84 |
| Time of Possession | 28:03 | 32:03 |
Statistics are from the 2026 season. Offense and defense figures are per game unless otherwise noted.
Streaks, Storylines, Sidebars
SUN BELT START: Saturday's matchup will serve as the conference opener for both teams and Coastal Carolina's first Sun Belt game under head coach Ryan Beard. It will also be the first meeting between Beard and Georgia Southern head coach Clay Helton.
THE SERIES: Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern will meet for the 13th time and the 10th consecutive season. The Eagles lead the all-time series 8-4 and own a 4-3 edge in meetings against the Chanticleers at Brooks Stadium.
RECENT HISTORY: Georgia Southern has won three straight in the series, including a 45-40 victory last season in Statesboro. Coastal's most recent win came at Brooks Stadium in 2022, when the Chanticleers erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and scored the deciding touchdown with 38 seconds remaining in a 34-30 victory.
FAMILY WEEKEND: Saturday's game is part of Coastal Carolina University's Family Weekend and Hall of Fame Weekend. It will be the Chanticleers' second consecutive home game and their first Saturday contest at Brooks Stadium since the Sept. 12 win over Fordham.
FOUR FOR FOUR: Colton Hinton has caught a touchdown pass in each of Coastal's first four games, becoming the first Chanticleer to open a season with a scoring reception in four straight contests since Jaivon Heiligh in 2021. Hinton leads the Sun Belt with four touchdown catches.
SACK MACHINE: Ibrahim Diawara leads the Sun Belt with five sacks and is tied for fifth nationally. He also leads Coastal with six tackles for loss and has recorded at least 1.5 sacks in three consecutive games.
FORCING THE ISSUE: Coastal Carolina leads the Sun Belt with six forced fumbles. The Chanticleers also co-lead the conference in red-zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 10 of 15 trips inside the 20-yard line.
PULLIAM PILES THEM UP: Marcellius Pulliam is tied for the Sun Belt lead with 37 total tackles through four games. The linebacker is averaging 9.3 tackles per contest and has reached double figures three times this season.
CONSISTENT THROUGH THE AIR: Deuce Bailey has passed for at least 200 yards in each of his first four games as a Chanticleer. Bailey has completed 66-of-122 passes for 1,039 yards and 10 touchdowns.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Georgia Southern quarterback Max Johnson has completed 104-of-157 passes for 996 yards and five touchdowns with only one interception. He ranks fourth nationally with 26 completions per game.
PLAYMAKERS OUT WIDE: Josh Dallas leads Georgia Southern with 28 receptions and has caught at least seven passes in three consecutive games. Alex Taylor posted six receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns against No. 25 Houston after entering the game with four career catches.
Up Next
Coastal Carolina travels to Huntington, W.Va., to face Marshall on Saturday, Oct. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, with the game streaming on ESPN+.
