2021 Georgia State Panthers football team

The 2021 Georgia State Panthers football team represented Georgia State University (GSU) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by fifth-year head coach Shawn Elliott. This was the Panthers' ninth season in the Sun Belt Conference, fourth within the East Division, and 12th since the inception of the program. They played their home games at Center Parc Stadium.

Recruiting class
Source:
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Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released

Preseason
Sources:

Sun Belt coaches poll
The Sun Belt coaches poll was released on July 20, 2021. The Panthers were picked to finish third in the East Division.

Sun Belt Preseason All-Conference teams
Offense

1st team
 * Destin Coates – Running Back, SR
 * Shamarious Gilmore – Offensive Lineman, RS-SR
 * Sam Pinckney – Wide Receiver, RS-JR

2nd team
 * Roger Carter – Tight End, SR
 * Cornelius McCoy – Wide Receiver, SR

Defense

2nd team
 * Hardrick Willis – Defensive Lineman, RS-SR
 * Dontae Wilson – Defensive Lineman, SR
 * Antavious Lane – Defensive Back, RS-SO
 * Quavian White – Defensive Back, SR

Special teams

1st team
 * Noel Ruiz – Kicker, SR

Schedule
The 2021 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season. The Panthers will travel to Sun Belt foes Louisiana–Monroe, Georgia Southern, Louisiana, and Coastal Carolina. Georgia State will play host to Sun Belt foes Appalachian State, Texas State, Arkansas State, and Troy.

The Panthers will host two of the three non-conference opponents at Center Parc Stadium, Army, a FBS Independent and Charlotte of the Conference USA, and will travel to North Carolina of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Auburn of the Southeastern Conference.