The Memphis Tigers (1-0) head to Atlanta for a Week 2 showdown against the Georgia State Panthers (0-1) on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. ET at Center Parc Stadium, kicking off a back-to-back slate against Sun Belt Conference (SBC) opponents. Fresh off a commanding 45-10 victory over FCS Chattanooga, Memphis aims to extend its 11-game win streak against SBC teams and maintain its FBS-best five-game winning streak. Meanwhile, Georgia State is reeling from a 63-7 blowout loss to Ole Miss in Week 1, where its defense surrendered 695 yards, including 400 through the air. An intriguing storyline looms: the potential debut of quarterback TJ Finley, a former three-star recruit who transferred to Georgia State—his sixth program since 2020—after stops at LSU, Auburn, Texas State, Western Kentucky, and a brief stint at Tulane.
While coach Dell McGee hasn’t confirmed Finley’s role against Memphis, his experience and 6’7 “, 255-pound frame add intrigue to a Panthers offense desperate for a spark. With Memphis’s retooled roster led by transfer quarterback Brendon Lewis and a favorable road matchup, this game offers the Tigers a chance to solidify their American Conference title hopes. Below, we break down the storyline, key matchups, X-factors, and predict the outcome.
Storyline
Memphis enters this matchup as a heavy favorite, riding the momentum of a dominant Week 1 performance where Lewis showcased his dual-threat ability (199 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception, plus rushing contributions) in a 35-point rout of Chattanooga. The Tigers, who went 11-2 in 2024 with a Frisco Bowl win over West Virginia, are navigating significant roster turnover, replacing stars like quarterback Seth Henigan and receiver Roc Taylor with over 30 transfers. Their 11-0 record against SBC teams since joining the American Conference in 2013 and a 42-game streak of scoring 20+ points (FBS-best) bode well for a high-powered performance.
Georgia State, however, is licking its wounds after a humiliating loss to Ole Miss, where its defense collapsed, allowing 8.3 yards per play, and its offense managed just 69 passing yards on 12-of-25 attempts. The Panthers’ quarterback situation remains murky, with Christian Veilleux (2,047 yards, 13 TDs in 2024) and Cameran Brown struggling in Week 1, while TJ Finley’s recent arrival adds uncertainty. Finley, who has thrown for 6,128 yards and 37 touchdowns across four programs, could debut, but his lack of fall camp reps raises questions about his readiness. For Memphis, this game is a chance to go 2-0 before facing Troy, while Georgia State seeks a statement win to salvage confidence in coach Dell McGee’s second year.
Key Matchups
Memphis’s Running Game vs. Georgia State’s Run Defense
Memphis’s backfield, featuring transfers Greg Desrosiers Jr. (projected 800+ yards in 2024) Frank Peasant, and Sutton Smith is a strength, averaging 233.0 rushing yards per game this season. Lewis’s mobility (1,270 career rushing yards) adds another dimension. Georgia State’s run defense was gashed for 295 yards by Ole Miss, ranking 12th in the SBC (210.3 yards allowed per game in 2024). The Panthers’ defensive front, led by veteran center Alec Johnson, must contain Memphis’s ground attack to keep the game competitive. If Desrosiers and Peasant exploit gaps, as Ole Miss did, Memphis could control the clock and hit 200+ rushing yards.
Georgia State’s Passing Game vs. Memphis’s Secondary
Georgia State’s offense struggled mightily in Week 1, with Veilleux and Brown combining for a 12-of-25, 69-yard performance. Given his 56.9% completion rate and 1,258 yards at Auburn, Finley’s potential debut could provide a spark. Memphis’s secondary, rebuilt with Arizona State transfer Kamari Wilson allowed 219.7 passing yards per game in 2024 but held Chattanooga to minimal damage. Georgia State’s receivers, including transfers Javon Robinson (43 catches at Grambling State) and Leo Blackburn (Georgia Tech), face a stiff test against Wilson. If Finley plays, his ability to connect on deep balls could challenge Memphis’s coverage, but the Tigers’ pass rush, led by William Whitlow Jr., could disrupt the Panthers’ rhythm.
Memphis’s Offensive Line vs. Georgia State’s Defensive Front
Memphis’s offensive line, replacing two-time All-AAC tackle Xavier Hill, relies on senior Austin Gentle and transfers Travis Burke and Yakiri Walker. Coach McGee praised Memphis’s line as “the strength of their offense,” noting their blocking and pass protection. Georgia State’s defensive front, anchored by Johnson and edge rusher Fuches Lewis II, struggled against Ole Miss, allowing 8.3 yards per play. Memphis’s line must protect Lewis and open lanes for their running backs, while Georgia State needs tackles for loss to disrupt the Tigers’ tempo. This matchup will determine whether Memphis can sustain drives and hit its 42-game 20+ point streak.
X-Factors
Georgia State’s Potential Multi QB System: Finley’s arrival as a sixth-year transfer adds a wild card. His 34 career games (6,128 yards, 37 TDs) bring experience. Still, his lack of fall camp reps and a tumultuous offseason, raise doubts about his readiness. If McGee unleashes Finley’s 6’7″ frame and arm strength, he could exploit Memphis’s secondary, especially on play-action with running back Rashad Amos (68 yards vs. Ole Miss). However, if Veilleux or Brown remain the starters, their Week 1 struggles (2-of-15 on third downs) suggest limited upside. If Finley plays, his impact could keep Georgia State competitive or cause it to falter under pressure.
Brendon Lewis’s Dual-Threat Ability (Memphis): Lewis with 36 starts and 12 rushing touchdowns, showed promise against Chattanooga (22-of-28, 199 yards, one TD). His mobility, absent in Henigan’s game, adds a new wrinkle, as noted by USA Today. If Lewis exploits Georgia State’s porous run defense with designed runs and RPOs, he could open up the passing game for the Memphis wide receiver group. A multi-touchdown performance could signal Lewis as the key to Memphis’s American Conference title hopes.
Georgia State’s Defensive Secondary: Under new coordinator Travis Pearson, Georgia State’s secondary showed flashes in Week 1, with East Carolina transfer Jordan Huff (eight tackles, one interception) and former walk-on Chams Diagne (five tackles, one interception). They’ll face a Memphis passing attack led by Lewis and receivers like Cortez Braham Jr. (6’2″, 4.5 speed), who has chemistry with Lewis. If Huff and Diagne can disrupt Memphis’s rhythm, Georgia State might force turnovers, but another 400-yard passing allowance, as seen against Ole Miss, could spell disaster.
Score Prediction
Memphis is poised to dominate this matchup, leveraging its superior talent and offensive depth against a Georgia State team still reeling from a Week 1 blowout. The Tigers’ running game, led by Smith and Peasant, should exploit the Panthers’ weak run defense, while Lewis’s mobility and emerging receivers like Smith and Braham Jr. will stretch the field. Whether led by Veilleux, Brown, or Finley, Georgia State’s offense faces a steep challenge against Memphis’s pass rush and improving secondary. The Panthers may find some success with Amos’s rushing (68 yards in Week 1), but their 2-of-15 third-down performance against Ole Miss suggests struggles sustaining drives. Memphis’s 11-0 SBC streak and 42-game 20+ point run should continue, with the Tigers pulling away in the second half.
Prediction: Memphis 38, Georgia State 20.
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