Southern Miss Opens 2026 Spring Practice Under New Coach Blake Anderson

The University of Southern Mississippi football team kicked off spring practice Tuesday afternoon on the Joe P. Park Practice Field in Hattiesburg. It was the first session for the 2026 season and coincidentally, the first-day head coach Blake Anderson celebrated his birthday with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” at practice’s end.

Southern Miss opened with individual drills before transitioning into team periods. Anderson, in his first year leading the team, observed the practice and expressed satisfaction with their energy and effort, despite players feeling the effects of spring break. “I loved the way we practiced,” Anderson said. “The energy was good, and they fought through getting the spring break legs out from underneath them. Tomorrow will be a good telltale of where we’re actually at, but I am still pleased with how they worked today.”

Anderson highlighted the challenges of building a roster after losing most of their production from the 2025 season. “Typically, going into spring, you have a handful of guys that you have seen play, and you kind of know what you’re getting,” he said. “We don’t have that. We are starting from scratch on 99 percent of the roster, and we’re not only having to evaluate every day, but also teach these guys.”

The team will continue practicing toward the Spring Showcase on April 18, with several more sessions planned before then. The 2026 season is set to open Sept. 5 against Alcorn State. Season tickets and renewals are available for the Golden Eagles’ six home games. Fans can purchase tickets at SouthernMiss.com/Tickets and follow @SouthernMissFB on social media for updates.

Southern Miss has also announced its 2026 football schedule and other staff hires, including the addition of Isaac Reed as running backs coach. The team has also signed a home-and-home series with UConn for the upcoming season.

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