CFB Bowl Preview 2025: JLab Birmingham Bowl
By Rory Daniels
Bowl season is in full swing and we will be previewing some of the bigger matchups over the next couple of weeks. This year’s JLab Birmingham Bowl will be contested between the Georgia Southern Eagles and the Appalachian State Mountaineers. Rory-Joe Daniels takes a look at the key matchups.
Where and When
Location: Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama
Date: Monday, December 29
Time: 2.00pm EST / 7.00pm GMT
Story So Far...
The Birmingham Bowl offers the Helton family a chance for double postseason success in 2025. Western Kentucky, led by Ty Helton, were crowned New Orleans Bowl Champions last week, and brother Clay gets his shot here with Georgia Southern. Helton has been to a bowl in each of his first four years in charge, but has yet to win one. The Eagles won 3 of their last 4 games, including beating App State, to secure bowl eligibility after an unsteady start. They lost to Fresno State and USC before losing their opening two Sun Belt games. A bowl win here will cap a late-season run and boost confidence in Helton, who Georgia Southern extended through 2029 during midseason.
For App State, the 2025 season will be viewed as a stepping stone to build on under new Head Coach Dowell Loggains. Loggains has bounced around the NFL as an OC and QB coach and now hopes to recapture the success Eli Drinkwitz and Scott Satterfield had with the Mountaineers. There were green shoots on offense where Loggains implemented his pro-style system, but it wasn’t nearly high-powered enough to make up for a sloppy defense. App State conceded 30 or more points on five occasions, and that will need to change here.
The Quarterbacks
Georgia Southern QB JC French had a steady if unspectacular season. Now in his second year as starter, French’s Big Time Throw percentage dipped, but so did his turnover-worthy plays and interception numbers. Other than a 3-interception performance against Southern Miss, French was generally a safe pair of hands to run the offense through. French projects to return in 2026, but the Eagles are pleased to secure the signing of 3-star recruit Harrison Faulkner to push French next season.
The situation at QB for App State is a little more murky. Both starter AJ Swann and backup JJ Kohl have entered the transfer portal. Swann, on his third team, started the year but threw six interceptions in three outings, leading to his benching. He also dealt with injuries and will look for another fresh start to jolt his career. JJ Kohl was also indifferent when stepping in, which could lead to freshman Noah Gillon taking on starting duties in the bowl game.
Who to Watch
Georgia Southern
Camden Brown, Wide Receiver
This section should have been reserved for star running back OJ Arnold, but an injury could rule him out of this one, meaning more pressure will be placed upon the passing game. French’s favourite target during the season was Camden Brown. He had 1058 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, coming at 16.5 yards per reception. That highlights his value as a deep threat, and he should be licking his chops about lining up vs this App State defense.
App State
Colton Phares, Linebacker
Middle linebacker Colton Phares is the main protagonist on an App State defense that struggled at times in 2025. He led the team in tackles with 89, nine of which came behind the line of scrimmage. His playmaking ability was on show with two sacks, three pass deflections, three interceptions and a forced fumble. With Arnold’s absence in the Eagles’ backfield, Phares could be the big hurdle Georgia Southern need to overcome to take the load off French.
Prediction
This is a re-run of a mid-season battle. Georgia Southern ran out winners in a tight contest that time, and I think they win here, but by a greater margin. App State is dealing with a lot of opt-outs, and the QB situation is less than ideal.
Georgia Southern 24-7 App State
Rory-Joe Daniels
COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.