2018 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team
The 2018 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Eagles played their home games at the M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by third-year head coach Jay Hopson. They finished the season 6–5, 5–3 in C-USA play to finish in a three-way tie for second in the West Division. Despite being bowl eligible, they were not invited to a bowl game.
2018 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football | |
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Conference | Conference USA |
West Division | |
2018 record | 6–5 (5–3 C-USA) |
Head coach | Jay Hopson (3rd season) |
Offensive coordinator | Shannon Dawson (3rd season) |
Co-defensive coordinator | Tim Billings |
Co-defensive coordinator | Derek Nicholson |
Home stadium | M. M. Roberts Stadium (Capacity: 36,000) |
2018 Conference USA football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Middle Tennessee x | 7 | – | 1 | 8 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marshall | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIU | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charlotte | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida Atlantic | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Old Dominion | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Kentucky | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UAB x$ | 7 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Texas | 5 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisiana Tech | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southern Miss | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTSA | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTEP | 1 | – | 7 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: UAB 27, Middle Tennessee 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Previous season
The Golden Eagles finished the 2017 season 8–5, 6–2 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Independence Bowl where they lost to Florida State.
Preseason
Award watch lists
Award | Player | Position | Year |
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Lou Groza Award[1] | Parker Shaunfield | K | SR |
Wuerffel Trophy[2] | Picasso Nelson, Jr. | DB | SR |
C-USA preseason awards
On July 16, 2018, Conference USA released their preseason awards, including the preseason all-CUSA team.[3] Kicker Paker Shaunfield was selected as the preseason special teams player of the year. He was the only player named to the all-CUSA team.
Preseason media poll
Conference USA released their preseason media poll on July 17, 2018, with the Golden Eagles predicted to finish in fourth place in the West Division.[4]
West Division | |
Predicted finish | Team |
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1 | North Texas |
2 | Louisiana Tech |
3 | UAB |
4 | Southern Miss |
5 | UTSA |
T–6 | Rice |
T–6 | UTEP |
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Jackson State* | ESPN+ | W 55–7 | 29,176 | |
September 8 | 6:00 p.m. | Louisiana–Monroe* |
| ESPN3 | L 20–21 | 19,579 |
at | Cancelled [lower-alpha 1] | |||||
September 22 | 6:00 p.m. | Rice |
| ESPN+ | W 40–22 | 20,159 |
September 29 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 10 Auburn* | SECN | L 13–24 | 83,792 | |
October 13 | 1:00 p.m. | at North Texas | ESPN3 | L 7–30 | 18,252 | |
October 20 | 6:00 p.m. | UTSA![]() |
| ESPN+ | W 27–17 | 21,259 |
October 27 | 1:00 p.m. | at Charlotte | ESPN3 | L 17–20 | 8,687 | |
November 3 | 2:00 p.m. | Marshall |
| Stadium | W 26–24 | 20,375 |
November 10 | 6:30 p.m. | at UAB | beIN | L 23–26 OT | 25,618 | |
November 17 | 2:30 p.m. | Louisiana Tech |
| Stadium | W 21–20 | 19,142 |
November 24 | 2:00 p.m. | at UTEP | ESPN+ | W 39–7 | 14,962 | |
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- Schedule Source:[5]
- This game has been cancelled in anticipation of Hurricane Florence.
Game summaries
Jackson State
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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2–0 | 2002 | W 55–7 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Tigers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Golden Eagles | 14 | 27 | 7 | 7 | 55 |
at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
- Date: September 1
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 29,176
- TV: ESPN+
Game information | ||
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Louisiana–Monroe
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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4–1 | 2017 | W 28–17 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Warhawks | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Golden Eagles | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
- Date: September 8
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 19,579
- TV: ESPN3
Game information | ||
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Rice
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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4–4 | 2017 | W 43–34 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Owls | 8 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 22 |
Golden Eagles | 10 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 40 |
at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
- Date: September 22
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 20,159
- TV: ESPN+
Game information | ||
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at Auburn
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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17–5 | 2008 | L 13–27 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Golden Eagles | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
No. 10 Tigers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
- Date: September 29
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 83,792
- TV: SECN
Game information | ||
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at North Texas
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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6–6 | 2017 | L 28–43 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Golden Eagles | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Mean Green | 0 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 30 |
- Date: October 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 18,252
- TV: ESPN3
Game information | ||
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UTSA
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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2–2 | 2017 | W 31–29 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Roadrunners | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
Golden Eagles | 6 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
- Date: October 20
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 21,259
- TV: ESPN+
Game information | ||
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at Charlotte
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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2–1 | 2017 | W 66–21 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Golden Eagles | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 17 |
49ers | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
at Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, NC
- Date: October 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 8,687
- TV: ESPN3
Game information | ||
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Marshall
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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7–6 | 2017 | W 28–27 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Thundering Herd | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Golden Eagles | 3 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 26 |
at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
- Date: November 3
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT
- Game attendance: 20,375
- TV: Stadium
Game information | ||
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at UAB
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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10–6 | 2017 | L 12–30 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total | |
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Golden Eagles | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
Blazers | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 26 |
at Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
- Date: November 10
- Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 25,618
- TV: beIN
Game information | ||
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Louisiana Tech
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
---|---|---|
34–15 | 2017 | W 34–27 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Bulldogs | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
Golden Eagles | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at M. M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg, MS
- Date: November 17
- Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 19,142
- TV: Stadium
Game information | ||
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at UTEP
Overall record | Last meeting | Result |
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6–4 | 2017 | W 24–0 |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Golden Eagles | 16 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 39 |
Miners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
- Date: November 24
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 14,962
- TV: ESPN+
Game information | ||
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References
- "Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List". July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- "FB: 2018 Preseason Awards". Conference USA.
- "FB: Preseason Media Poll". Conference USA.
- "2018 Southern Miss Golden Eagles Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved April 5, 2018.