The 2026 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represents the University of Southern Mississippi in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Eagles are led by first-year head coach Blake Anderson. The Golden Eagles play their home games at Renasant Stadium, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Preseason
Media poll In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, Southern Miss was picked to finish fifth place in the West Division.
Schedule
Game summaries
Alcorn State (FCS)
Statistics ALCNUSM First downs 11 32 Plays–yards 58–223 84–543 Rushes–yards 35–104 57–317 Passing yards 119 226 Passing: comp–att–int 15–23–4 15–27–1 Turnovers 5 1 Time of possession 28:39 31:21 Team Category Player Statistics Alcorn State Passing Jaylon Tolbert15/22, 119 yards, 4 INT Rushing Joshua Tate8 carries, 33 yards Receiving Tyree Kelly3 receptions, 39 yards Southern Miss Passing Ethan Hampton13/23, 180 yards, TD, INT Rushing Steven Robinson23 carries, 123 yards, 3 TD Receiving Mario Sanders6 receptions, 94 yards, TD
at Auburn
Statistics USMAUB First downs 11 31 Plays–yards 58–221 85–613 Rushes–yards 25–50 51–343 Passing yards 171 270 Passing: comp–att–int 22–33–2 21–34–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:11 32:49 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Miss Passing Ethan Hampton 18/27, 146 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Steven Robinson 15 carries, 51 yards Receiving AJ Little 4 receptions, 27 yards Auburn Passing Byrum Brown 18/29, 226 yards, 2 TD Rushing Omar Mabson II 15 carries, 108 yards, TD Receiving Chas Nimrod 7 receptions, 52 yards
UConn
Statistics CONNUSM First downs 24 21 Plays–yards 71-436 78-401 Rushes–yards 46-213 27-102 Passing yards 223 299 Passing: comp–att–int 18-25-0 29-51-2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 34:04 25:56 Team Category Player Statistics UConn Passing Kalieb Osborne 16/22, 214 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Cyncir Bowers 11 carries, 84 yards, TD Receiving Shamar Porter 2 receptions, 50 yards, TD Southern Miss Passing Landry Lyddy 14/25, 194 yards, TD, INT Rushing Steven Robinson 18 carries, 72 yards, TD Receiving Mario Sanders 7 receptions, 81 yards
at Tulane (Battle for the Bell)
Statistics USMTULN First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving Tulane Passing Rushing Receiving
at Troy
Statistics USMTROY First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving Troy Passing Rushing Receiving
Arkansas State
Statistics ARSTUSM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Arkansas State Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving
Louisiana
Statistics LAUSM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Louisiana Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving
at Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics USMULM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Southern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving Louisiana–Monroe Passing Rushing Receiving
James Madison
Statistics JMUUSM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving
at Louisiana Tech (Rivalry in Dixie)
Statistics USMLT First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving Louisiana Tech Passing Rushing Receiving
South Alabama
Statistics USAUSM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics South Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving Southern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving
at Old Dominion (Oyster Bowl)
Statistics USMODU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Miss Passing Rushing Receiving Old Dominion Passing Rushing Receiving
References