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Panthers Trampled by Marshall Thundering Herd

By Caleb Williams
5:34 PM 2 min read Updated Feb 6, 2026
The Panthers have now lost seven consecutive games this season
The Panthers have now lost seven consecutive games this season

It was another rough outing for the Georgia State Panthers, as they lost to the Marshall Thundering Herd 30-18. They now fall to 1-9 on the season and remain winless in conference play. The Panthers have now lost seven consecutive games this season. In their last two matchups against the Thundering Herd, they’ve lost both games by two scores. TJ Finley got the starting nod in absence of an injured Cameran Brown. This would be his first start since Week 7 against Appalachian State. 

Georgia State came out of the gate hot, forcing a three-and-out on Marshall’s first drive of the game. On just the second play from scrimmage for the Panthers, they scored on a 92-yard rushing touchdown behind the legs of senior running back Jordan Simmons. 

The Panther’s defense would go on to force another Marshall punt.  TJ Finley would have the offense humming down the field, converting on third down three times and fourth down once. This would get Marshall to into the redzone where an interception by Jadarious Green-McKnight brought the drive to a grinding halt. Junior quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and the offense would march 85 yards down the field following the turnover. They would cap off the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Michael Allen right before the end of the first quarter.

After both teams traded a series of punts, Del Rio-Wilson tossed two touchdown passes to put the Thundering Herd in the driver’s seat 21-7 late in the second quarter. Just before halftime, kicker Braeden McAlister booted a 60-yard field goal for the Panthers who would receive the second half kick. McAlister’s kick was one for the record books, shattering the Georgia State record previously held by Liam Rickman. The kick also tied the Sun Belt record for longest field goal.

Finley would give the ball right back to the Thundering Herd to start the second half on a deep pass that found the arms of senior safety Daytione Smith. After a Marshall punt, Georgia State would take the ball 96-yards down the field on a marathon drive that lasted almost nine minutes and ended it with a two-yard pass to freshman tight end Grant Hollier. That score brought the game closer for the last time.  

Marshall would go on to score a field goal to start the fourth quarter and force a Georgia State punt. A 97-yard drive capped off by a 29-yard touchdown pass to junior Adrian Norton which would prove to be the final dagger. The Panther’s would string together a solid drive on their ensuing possession, but TJ Finley’s third turnover of the game would seal the deal. 

The Panthers will stay on the road the rest of the season, heading to Alabama for cross-conference clash with the Troy Trojans.

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