Southern Miss football kicks off a new era in blockbuster fashion Saturday when it hosts in-state rival Mississippi State at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
The matchup, among the most anticipated openers in program history, will air nationally on ESPN with an 11 a.m. kickoff. It also marks the Bulldogs’ first trip to Hattiesburg since 2015 and provides Southern Miss first-year head coach Charles Huff with an immediate measuring stick for the season ahead.
Though Huff has cautioned against defining the entire year by one result, he acknowledges the significance of the moment.
“Huge challenge coming up, Mississippi State is a really good football team,” Huff said. “We expect year two to be a total transformation. I just want to thank Mississippi State for allowing us to play the game here at the Rock.”
Mississippi State’s rebuild mirrors USM
Mississippi State underwent a major roster overhaul in the offseason, losing 37 players to the transfer portal and bringing in 34 newcomers. Second-year head coach Jeff Lebby prioritized the lines of scrimmage, signing 17 offensive and defensive linemen to stabilize a unit that struggled last year.
The Bulldogs also added six wide receivers to replace departed starters such as former top target Kevin Coleman. South Alabama standout running back Fluff Bothwell transferred in to provide an immediate impact in the backfield.
Quarterback Blake Shapen returns after missing the final eight games of 2024 with a shoulder injury. Before going down, Shapen ranked fourth nationally and second in the SEC in Pro Football Focus’ passing grade. His overall offensive grade also stood tied for fourth in the FBS and third in the conference at the time.
“Real dude,” Huff said. “When your quarterback has that type of toughness and grit your team plays with that and they feed off of that. When your quarterback can make all the throws it’s really difficult to get him off platform. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Defensively, the Bulldogs were one of the SEC’s worst units a year ago. They allowed nine more points per game than any other team in the league and gave up 11.4 more points per game in conference play than the next-worst defense.
The secondary should be improved with several returning starters, but the front remains dependent on transfers. Among the newcomers are NC State lineman Red Hibbler, who is coming off an injury-plagued season, and Tennessee linebacker Jalen Smith, a 2024 SEC All-Freshman selection.
There are plenty of questions, but overall the roster has more proven pieces than it did a year ago.
Battle in the trenches
No matter Mississippi State’s struggles a season ago, the formula for Southern Miss remains the same: control the line of scrimmage.
The Golden Eagles have had difficulty doing that in recent SEC matchups. Against Kentucky last fall, they gained just five rushing yards while surrendering 148. Two years earlier against Mississippi State, they ran for 105 but were pushed around defensively, allowing 238 on the ground.
Saturday will come down to whether Southern Miss can hold up against the Bulldogs’ front. Mississippi State plans to rotate heavily on the defensive line, keeping fresh bodies on the field, which will challenge the Golden Eagles’ depth on both lines.
Huff has said he trusts his top five linemen but acknowledges the group still has more to prove against SEC competition.
“I feel good about that group right now,” Huff said. “Now, I don’t know if we’re ready to go play an SEC team yet with that group, but I feel good about where they are from a consistency standpoint, compared to the level that we’re going to be competing against.”
Depth remains the concern. Southern Miss is unlikely to match Mississippi State’s rotations up front, and that disparity could show up late in the game.
Defensively, the Golden Eagles’ starters are expected to compete well with Mississippi State’s offensive line. The real test will be which unit responds better once substitutions are made.
Defining the measuring stick
While the final score will dominate the headlines, Huff has stressed that progress is defined by execution and competitiveness, not just wins and losses. Sustaining drives, limiting mistakes and playing physically for four quarters are the benchmarks he wants to see.
For a program intent on proving it has turned a corner, Saturday is about more than an upset bid. It’s about showing Southern Miss can hold its own.
Last year’s trip to Kentucky ended in a 24-0 halftime deficit, the type of early collapse Huff hopes to avoid. Keeping the game competitive into the second half would mark a tangible step forward.
“Obviously, we have to play really well in order to have a chance to win on Saturday,” Huff said. “We are playing a team from the SEC. I’ve said it before, I think it’s the best conference in the world. The competitiveness from top to bottom, the athletes, the size and strength, the coaching prowess, the chess match that goes on every week in that league is top tier.
“To win these types of games, you need to be very opportunistic. But I’ve told them, we didn’t sign up for a one-game season. We signed up for a journey, and that’s first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter, Sunday of next week, all the way through. If we win enough moments throughout the year, I think we’ll like the result.”
Huff has pointed to the importance of channeling that energy without losing focus.
“We are excited about it, and we have a lot of work to do,” Huff said. “There are going to be a ton of distractions for the next 48 to 72 hours that we’ve got to be able to lock in on everything we do.
“But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you’re from Mississippi or California, we’ve got to execute relentlessly to have a chance. I think our guys understand that. I think our guys value what we have on this team right now, which is really good camaraderie, really good bond, and we’ve got to go out and play together.”
Prediction
Both programs look different than they did a year ago. Southern Miss has renewed energy under Huff, while Mississippi State has rebuilt through the transfer portal.
The Golden Eagles will benefit from a raucous home atmosphere, and that may help them hang around early. But the Bulldogs’ size and depth will start to show late in the game. Expect Mississippi State’s ground game to wear down the Southern Miss defensive line, while the Bulldogs’ defensive front creates problems for the Golden Eagles’ offense late.
Prediction: Mississippi State 24, Southern Miss 17
