Southern Miss enters the 2025 season with more hope than it has had in a while.
The Golden Eagles went just 1-11 last year with their lone victory being against FCS Southeastern. In fact, none of their other games were decided by less than 10 points.
But former head coach Will Hall was fired, and the Golden Eagles went out and hired Charles Huff, who just led Marshall to a Sun Belt Championship in 2024.
Huff brought with him several transfers from Marshall. This team is instantly more talented than it has been. Fans hope that’ll help Southern Miss get back to its winning ways.
Southern Miss Football’s Sun Belt Title Betting Odds
Southern Miss’ odds to win the Sun Belt are +1600, via BetMGM, and the team’s odds of winning the Sun Belt West are +700.
USM’s odds of making the College Football Playoff are +8000.
Southern Miss Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
USM’s win total Over/Under is 5.5, with Under 5.5 at +105 and Over 5.5 at -125.
Southern Miss Football’s 2025 Schedule
Aug. 30 vs. Mississippi State
Sept. 6 vs. Jackson State
Sept. 13 vs. App State
Sept. 20 @ Louisiana Tech
Sept. 27 vs. Jacksonville State
Oct. 9 @ Georgia Southern
Oct. 18 @ Louisiana
Oct. 25 vs. ULM
Nov. 8 @ Arkansas State
Nov. 15 vs. Texas State
Nov. 22 @ South Alabama
Nov. 29 vs. Troy
Dec. 5 Sun Belt Championship
Bold indicates Sun Belt contests
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Southern Miss Football Is A Dark Horse In The Sun Belt
Southern Miss lost plenty of players through the coaching change, but the team gained a few stars who previously played under Charles Huff at Marshall.
Quarterback Braylon Braxton is among them. The Group of Five Preseason All-American and 2024 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year threw for 1,624 yards, 19 touchdowns, and two interceptions while rushing for 610 yards and four touchdowns in 2024.
Southern Miss also added five of Marshall’s top seven receivers from last year. Chuck Montgomery is one of them after ranking second on the Thundering Herd with 32 catches and 393 yards to go with three touchdowns.
Wide receivers Elijah Metcalf (20 catches, 194 yards, and three touchdowns in 2024), Carl Chester (20 catches, 342 yards, and three touchdowns), Tychaun Chapman (17 catches, 146 yards, and a TD), and Bralon Brown (15 catches, 166 yards, and two touchdowns) should also be factors in Southern Miss’ offense. Southern Miss also returns tight end Kyirin Heath, who caught 15 passes for 220 yards and two scores, and wide receiver Davis Dalton, who totaled 172 yards and two touchdowns on 15 receptions in 2024.
Greg Nunnery is back for Southern Miss after starting every game at right tackle for the team last season. Luke Rogers also returns after making a start at right guard for the Golden Eagles.
Per 247Sports, which ranked Southern Miss as having the best transfer class in the Sun Belt, 21 players transferred to USM from Marshall. Many of them were on defense.
Josh Moten is one of those players. The Preseason G5 All-American tied for third in the FBS last season with five interceptions while adding 38 tackles and five pass breakups.
Ian Foster also transferred from Marshall after totaling 48 tackles, five for loss, with four pass breakups and a forced fumble. He’s also a Preseason G5 All-American return specialist after leading the FBS with 32.4 yards per kick return, as he racked up 518 yards on 16 kick returns in 2024.
Defensive linemen JJ Hawkins (22 tackles, two TFLs, one sack, seven quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups in 2024) and Jabari Ishmael (20 tackles, four TFLs, 2.5 sacks, five QB hurries, two forced fumbles, and a pass breakup) as well as safety Ahmere Foster (37 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one sack, and two pass breakups) are also among some of Marshall’s key defenders from last year who are now at Southern Miss.
Defensive lineman Brodarius Lewis is one of the returners who should play a crucial role for Southern Miss. The G5 Preseason All-American led the team with eight tackles for loss and four sacks to go with 39 tackles a season ago.
Linebacker Chris Jones, who was second on USM with 46 tackles while adding 2.5 TFLs and a sack, is also back for the Golden Eagles.
Southern Miss Football Season Prediction
I predict Southern Miss won’t win the Sun Belt Championship but will go well Over 5.5 wins this season.
The Sun Belt is going to be as tough as ever in 2025. I don’t know if Charles Huff can go from winning the SBC at Marshall one season and then leading Southern Miss to a conference title the very next year.
But considering how much talent he brings with him, I don’t think it’s out of the question. Southern Miss might win five games before we even get to October.
If I’m anticipating Southern Miss will lose against Mississippi State – though the Golden Eagles winning wouldn’t surprise me – I think four straight wins against Jackson State, App State, Louisiana Tech, and Jacksonville State is possible.
Southern Miss would need just two more victories to earn bowl-eligibility. Texas State and Louisiana will be tough, but I think the Golden Eagles will at least be competitive against every other Sun Belt team. I especially think USM’s matchups with South Alabama and Troy to close out the regular season will be winnable.
There’s a wide range of outcomes for this Southern Miss team. But I expect the Golden Eagles to play at a high level in Huff’s first year there.
