Max Johnson. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

From SEC to Sun Belt: QB Max Johnson heads to fourth team of collegiate career

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Jan 10, 2026 3:54 PM ET

Once upon a time, quarterback Max Johnson was expected to be one of the most talented quarterbacks in the SEC. The left-hander was a four-star recruit out of his high school in Georgia and committed to pay for the LSU Tigers over some of the other premier programs in the country.

Fast forward six seasons, and what is likely the last stop of Johnson's collegiate career is the one that nobody would've predicted prior to his first career start.

Georgia Southern has its guy

Johnson entered the transfer portal Dec. 5, and after a little over a month, a decision has been made. According to On3's Pete Nakos, Johnson has landed at Georgia Southern for the 2026 season.

The move to the Sun Belt after previous stops at LSU, Texas A&M and North Carolina highlights what a disappointing run it has been at the collegiate level for a once promising quarterback.

BREAKING: North Carolina transfer QB Max Johnson has signed with Georgia Southern, @PeteNakos reportshttps://t.co/kSYG7dZ8sR pic.twitter.com/s5qe1ceBpr
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) January 10, 2026

How did Max Johnson go from the SEC to the Sun Belt?

Johnson going from the SEC to the ACC and now to the Sun Belt is quite different than what most quarterbacks do in today's NIL world. Johnson did suffer a near career-ending injury in Week 1 of the 2024 season.

That injury halted all progress Johnson was hoping to make after transferring out of Texas A&M and landing at UNC. He was never able to fully bounce back from it, eventually getting beaten out by freshman Gio Lopez in the quarterback battle for the Tar Heels prior to the 2025 season.

Georgia Southern will likely be it for Max Johnson

The 2026 season will be the seventh season that Johnson has been on a college roster, and it will likely be the last season that the former four-star recruit plays college football.

He'll be in charge of helping Georgia Southern try and bounce back from a 7-6 season and get back to the Sun Belt Championship Game for the first time 2014, its first year as a part of the conference.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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