HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The University of Southern Mississippi will open its 110th football season Saturday with a new head coach and a roster featuring more than 70 new players. The Golden Eagles are aiming for their second consecutive bowl appearance in 2026, according to school officials.
The season begins with a game against Alcorn State on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Renasant Stadium. The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+ and can be heard on affiliates of the Southern Miss Sports Network. This marks the fifth meeting between the programs, with Southern Miss winning all four previous games. The most recent victory was a 40-14 win on Sept. 2, 2023.
Southern Miss first faced Alcorn State in 2009, winning 52-0 to start that season. The game will be the first regular-season contest under head coach Blake Anderson, who becomes the program’s 24th full-time head coach in a regular season game. The Braves defeated Miles College 56-7 last weekend in their opener, and Anderson acknowledged their strong start.
“They did everything you’re supposed to do,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t close at any point. Seeing that, I told our guys this is a team capable of beating us here at home. We have to be ready and respect the opponent.”
Southern Miss holds a 68-41 record in season openers, with no score recorded for the 1916 opener against Poplarville High School. Tickets for Saturday’s game are still available and can be purchased online at SouthernMiss.com/Tickets.
