attention. The victory marked the second time that Georgia Southern has beaten a Power 5 school since defeating Florida in 2013. Conference affiliations Independent (1924–1941, 1982–1991) Southern Conference (1992–2013) Sun Belt Conference (2014–present) Championships National championships 1985 – Coach Erk Russell and the Eagles won their first national championship vs. Furman University in the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. Quarterback Tracy Ham threw for 419 yards and rushed for another 90 to overcome a 28–6 deficit. 1986 – The Eagles returned to Tacoma to defeat the Arkansas State Indians. Tracy Ham earned 486 rushing and passing yards and three touchdowns. 1989 – In Erk Russell's final game, the Eagles defeated Stephen F. Austin in Statesboro, Georgia, in front of 25,725 fans to complete a perfect 15–0 season. Quarterback Raymond Gross engineered 17 fourth-quarter points, including a game-winning field goal with 1:41 remaining in the game. 1990 – Tim Stowers' Eagles win their fourth national championship vs. Nevada 1999 – Paul Johnson won his first national championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee, vs. Youngstown State in Jim Tressel's last national championship game as a Penguin (Jim Tressel's last game as a Penguin was against the Richmond Spiders in the playoffs in 2000). Adrian Peterson ran for a championship game record 247 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns. 2000 – The Eagles defeated the Montana Grizzlies to win their sixth and final FCS championship. National runners-up 1988 – The Eagles lost to Furman University in Pocatello, Idaho. 1998 – In Paul Johnson's first national championship game, the Eagles lost to UMass. Conference championships † Co-championship Postseason Bowl games The Eagles have participated in five bowl games with a record of 3–2. Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results The Eagles have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs 19 times with an overall record of 45–13. They are six time National Champions (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000) and two time National runner-up (1988, 1998). Head coaches † Interim head coach Rivalries Appalachian State The makings of the rivalry truly began when the Mountaineers beat the Eagles in the quarterfinals of the 1987 I-AA Playoffs. Since Georgia Southern joined Appalachian State in the Southern Conference in 1993, the schools have played each other annually in football. Both teams are now members of the Sun Belt Conference. Appalachian State leads the series 20–16–1 through the 2022 season. It is considered by many to be the most passionate and