Georgia Southern University’s athletes give everyone in the state plenty to root for, from their football and baseball successes to their award-winning women’s golf and softball programs. Our neighbors to the northwest know their way around every kind of field, court and course, which is a fine thing, since this year’s Board of Regents announcement that Georgia Southern will be merging with Armstrong State University and absorbing its historic Southside campus means we’re all Eagles now.

Runner-up: Armstrong Pirates