The 2025 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Eagles were led by first-year head coach Charles Huff. The Golden Eagles played home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium, located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The Southern Miss Golden Eagles drew an average home attendance of 22,051, the 79th-highest of all NCAA Division I FBS football teams.

Offseason Transfers Outgoing Damion MillerSAlcorn StateWil SaxtonOLArkansas StateKenyon ClayRBArkansas StateEthan CrawfordQBArkansas StateConnor GibbsKAuburnJalen WashingtonRBCentral ArkansasWildrekus JohnsonCBEast Central CCMicheal Caraway Jr.DBFloridaCaleb MooreDLGeorgia SouthernWill JamesDBHoustonVernorrius ChaneyDBJackson StateJo CryerOLMcNeeseDante KellyLBMississippi Valley StateDakota ThomasWRNevadaKlabron PollardOLNichollsDrew LawsonOLNorth AlabamaTanner WelchOLNorthwest Mississippi CCKolbe CageLBNorthwestern StateJack TannehillKSamfordTre'Mon HenryDESouth AlabamaZay FranksDBSouthernSilas CorderQBSouthwest Mississippi CCQues McNealDBStephen F. AustinTiaquelin MimsWRTexas StateAlec ClarkPTulaneJustyn ReidTETulaneArmondous CooleyDLTulaneJordan JohnsonSUT MartinLarry SimmonsWRUtahTate RodemakerQBWestern CarolinaBraxton MyersDBWestern KentuckyJavieon ButlerWRUnknownJa'Len SimsLBUnknownDesmyn BakerLBUnknownKeyshawn BuckleyWRUnknownArian GregoryLBUnknownRyder BurnsLSUnknownJack RichardsonPUnknownJalen OwensDEUnknownKhalid MooreDEUnknownMoses GrayRBUnknownJameer LewisDEWithdrawnReed JesiolowskiTEWithdrawn

Incoming Christian AndersonOLAlabama A&MJ'Mond TappDEArizona StateJacobe RobinsonQBBoston CollegeJosh BattleSChattanoogaMalakai MurphyDBColoradoJez JanvierOTEastern MichiganBroderick RomanIOLEastern MichiganDominick HillDBLibertyGuylijah TheoduleDBMarshallBraylon BraxtonQBMarshallAlec ClarkPMarshallIsaiah Gibson Sr.DLMarshallIan FosterSMarshallJ.J. HawkinsDEMarshallJosh MotenDBMarshallElijah MetcalfWRMarshallChuck MontgomeryWRMarshallIshmael IbraheemDBMarshallBralon BrownWRMarshallAhmere FosterSMarshallJabari IshmaelDEMarshallTychaun ChapmanWRMarshallCorey MyrickSMarshallMaLik CaswellSMarshallCarl ChesterWRMarshallMathis HaygoodLBMarshallMoses GrayRBMarshallAnthony RichardDBMarshallHayes CreelOLMcNeeseLuke BeardLSMississippi StateMason ClintonDLMississippi StateJeffery PittmanRBMississippi StateMicah DavisWROle MissMatt JonesRBOle MissMichael MontgomeryLBPortland StateCooper FrazierOLSamfordAaryn ParksOLSouth CarolinaCarlos SlaydenIOLTroyLandry LyddyQBUABChase MalamalaOTUCFAloali'i MauiOLUtah StateRobert Briggs Jr.RBUtah StateGrant PageWRUtah StateRJ WhiteheadOLUTEPJaden McKinneyDLUTEPQuinzavious WarrenDLUTEPJonathan PennixDBVirginia TechTory JohnsonWRWest VirginiaZachariah KeithDLWest VirginiaElijah KinslerDLWest VirginiaCamden MyersOLWestern CarolinaKadinn MorrisTEWestern Michigan

Coaching staff additions NameNew PositionPrevious TeamPrevious Position SourceCharles HuffHead coachMarshallHead coachBlake AndersonOffensive coordinator/QuarterbacksUtah StateHead coachJason SemoreDefensive coordinator/LinebackersMarshallDefensive coordinatorDominique BowmanDefensive backsTempleCornerbacksAaron DobsonWide receiversMarshallWide receiversTelly LocketteRunning backsMarshallRun game coordinator/Running backsTaveze CalhounCornerbacksWest GeorgiaCornerbacksSean CoughlinOffensive lineEastern MichiganAssistant head coach/Offensive line/Co-offensive run game coordinatorBrandon DeaderickDefensive lineOle MissAnalystJoe BoldenSpecial teamsTulsaSpecial teams/Co-defensive run game coordinatorDalton WilliamsTight endsTexasOffensive analyst

Preseason Media poll In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Golden Eagles were picked to finish fifth place in the West division.

Quarterback Braylon Braxton was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and was named in the first team offense, along with defensive lineman Brodarius Lewis, defensive back Josh Moten and return specialist Ian Foster in the first team defense and special teams, respectively. Tight end Kyirin Heath was named in the second team offense.

Schedule

Game summaries

Mississippi State

Statistics MSSTUSM First downs 23 18 Plays–yards 79–465 74–301 Rushes–yards 42–188 35–104 Passing yards 277 199 Passing: –– 27–37–1 26–39–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 30:21 29:39 Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi State Passing Blake Shapen 26/34, 270 yards, TD, INT Rushing Davon Booth 16 carries, 79 yards, TD Receiving Brenen Thompson 7 receptions, 92 yards Southern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 26/39, 199 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Braylon Braxton 12 carries, 58 yards Receiving Jeffery Pittman 6 receptions, 52 yards

No. 15 (FCS) Jackson State

Statistics JKSTUSM First downs 19 25 Plays–yards 70–322 68–363 Rushes–yards 42–191 36–139 Passing yards 131 224 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–28–2 22–32–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 31:15 28:45 Team Category Player StatisticsJackson State Passing Jacobian Morgan 14/27, 131 yards, INT Rushing Travis Terrell Jr. 10 carries, 80 yards Receiving Nate Rembert 4 receptions, 64 yards Southern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 20/30, 214 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jeffery Pittman 10 carries, 71 yards Receiving Bralon Brown 3 receptions, 52 yards, TD

Appalachian State

Statistics APPUSM First downs 27 18 Plays–yards 90–470 56–389 Rushes–yards 38–95 25–110 Passing yards 375 279 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 31–52–3 22–31–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 36:36 23:24 Team Category Player StatisticsAppalachian State Passing AJ Swann 15/23, 217 yards, 3 INT Rushing Rashod Dubinion 24 carries, 95 yards, TD Receiving Jaden Barnes 10 receptions, 132 yards, TDSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 22/30, 279 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jeffery Pittman 6 carries, 39 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tychaun Chapman 4 receptions, 112 yards

at Louisiana Tech (Rivalry in Dixie)

Statistics USM LT First downs 28 14 Plays–yards 82–514 59–339 Rushes–yards 35–122 38–101 Passing yards 392 238 Passing: comp–att–int 28–47–1 15–21–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 32:36 27:24 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 28/47, 392 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Robert Briggs 9 carries, 47 yards Receiving Carl Chester 4 receptions, 118 yardsLouisiana Tech Passing Blake Baker 15/21, 238 yards Rushing Omiri Wiggins 12 carries, 49 yards, TD Receiving Eli Finley 6 receptions, 154 yards

Jacksonville State

Statistics JVST USM First downs 21 25 Plays–yards 79–390 72–377 Rushes–yards 54–262 50–225 Passing yards 128 152 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–25–2 13–22–0 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 30:58 29:02 Team Category Player StatisticsJacksonville State Passing Caden Creel 9/17, 109 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Caden Creel 23 carries, 161 yards, TD Receiving Cam Cook 4 receptions, 77 yardsSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 13/22, 152 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jeffery Pittman 18 carries, 80 yards, 2 TD Receiving Tychaun Chapman 1 reception, 43 yards

at Georgia Southern

Statistics USMGASO First downs 25 24 Plays–yards 76–421 77–395 Rushes–yards 48–184 34–82 Passing yards 237 313 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–28–0 24–43–3 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 30:57 29:03 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 19/28, 237 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jeffery Pittman 31 carries, 140 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Metcalf 4 receptions, 62 yardsGeorgia Southern Passing JC French IV 24/43, 313 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing OJ Arnold 13 carries, 56 yards Receiving Camden Brown 12 receptions, 158 yards, TD

at Louisiana

Statistics USMLA First downs 14 19 Plays–yards 59–371 75–356 Rushes–yards 41–133 48–221 Passing yards 238 135 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–18–1 14–27–2 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 24:29 35:31 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 13/18, 238 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jeffery Pittman 21 carries, 73 yards Receiving Micah Davis 3 receptions, 134 yards, TDLouisiana Passing Lunch Winfield 12/21, 112 yards, INT Rushing Lunch Winfield 19 carries, 98 yards, TD Receiving Caden Jensen 5 receptions, 45 yards

Louisiana–Monroe

Statistics ULMUSM First downs 22 21 Plays–yards 66–312 61–445 Rushes–yards 40–209 38–197 Passing yards 103 248 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–26–2 18–23–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 34:57 25:03 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Landon Graves 12/26, 103 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Zach Palmer-Smith 11 carries, 111 yards, TD Receiving Jonathan Bibbs 1 reception, 34 yardsSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 18/23, 248 yards, 4 TD Rushing Robert Briggs 7 carries, 55 yards Receiving Tychaun Chapman 3 receptions, 83 yards, TD

at Arkansas State

Statistics USMARST First downs 22 28 Plays–yards 77–528 87–456 Rushes–yards 42–172 34–119 Passing yards 356 337 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–35–2 38–53–5 Turnovers 2 6 Time of possession 29:45 30:15 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 20/29, 228 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jeffery Pittman 18 carries, 75 yards Receiving Elijah Metcalf 5 receptions, 143 yards, TDArkansas State Passing Jaylen Raynor 37/48, 331 yards, 2 TD, 4 INT Rushing Devin Spencer 11 carries, 47 yards Receiving Corey Rucker 7 receptions, 123 yards

Texas State

Statistics TXSTUSM First downs 25 20 Plays–yards 68–449 74–391 Rushes–yards 51–257 30–124 Passing yards 192 267 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–17–0 29–44–2 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 32:04 27:56 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Brad Jackson 14/17, 192 yards, TD Rushing Lincoln Pare 21 carries, 118 yards, TD Receiving Chris Dawn Jr. 5 receptions, 117 yards, TDSouthern Miss Passing Landry Lyddy 29/44, 267 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jeffery Pittman 11 carries, 54 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Metcalf 10 receptions, 116 yards, TD

at South Alabama

Statistics USMUSA First downs 24 26 Plays–yards 75–441 78–449 Rushes–yards 23–41 52–263 Passing yards 400 186 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 31–52–1 23–26–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 22:43 37:17 Team Category Player StatisticsSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 31/52, 400 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jeffery Pittman 12 carries, 41 yards, TD Receiving Carl Chester 5 receptions, 128 yards, 2 TDSouth Alabama Passing Bishop Davenport 20/23, 151 yards Rushing Kentrel Bullock 23 carries, 187 yards, 3 TD Receiving Jeremy Scott 4 receptions, 41 yards

Troy

Statistics TROYUSM First downs 22 20 Plays–yards 73–428 66–304 Rushes–yards 38–132 31–95 Passing yards 296 209 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–35–1 20–35–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 32:30 27:30 Team Category Player StatisticsTroy Passing Goose Crowder 24/34, 285 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Tae Meadows 21 carries, 94 yards, TD Receiving RaRa Thomas 5 receptions, 118 yards, 2 TDSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 20/35, 209 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jeffery Pittman 10 carries, 51 yards Receiving Carl Chester 4 receptions, 76 yards, TD

vs. Western Kentucky (New Orleans Bowl)

Statistics WKU USM First downs 18 21 Plays–yards 73–422 84–377 Rushes–yards 33–155 36–119 Passing yards 267 258 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–40–2 24–48–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 31:24 28:36 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Kentucky Passing Maverick McIvor 12/19, 199 yards, INT Rushing Marvis Parrish 7 carries, 65 yards, TD Receiving Matthew Henry 7 receptions, 126 yardsSouthern Miss Passing Braylon Braxton 24/47, 258 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jeffery Pittman 10 carries, 55 yards Receiving Tychaun Chapman 3 receptions, 50 yards, TD

References