NEW ORLEANS — The Charles Huff era in Hattiesburg will commence on Saturday, August 30, when the Golden Eagles play host to in-state foe Mississippi State at 12:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. CT on ESPN. 
 
The matchup is the first time the Bulldogs will travel to Hattiesburg since 2015. Mississippi State has won six-straight games in the series, dating back to 1989. 
 
Southern Miss’ non-conference schedule also includes home matchups with in-state foe Jackson State (Sept. 6) and Jacksonville State (Sept. 27) and a road trip to future conference rival Louisiana Tech (Sept. 20). In addition to annual clashes with their West Division counterparts, the Golden Eagles will welcome App State (Sept. 13) to Hattiesburg and travel to Georgia Southern (Oct. 9) from the Sun Belt East Division. 
 
The Golden Eagles were picked fifth in the Sun Belt West Division in last month’s 2025 Sun Belt Conference Football Preseason Coaches Poll. 
 
First-year head coach Charles Huff—who led Marshall to the 2024 Sun Belt football championship—will guide a rebuilt roster that brings back one All-Sun Belt pick from 2024 and had five players listed on the 2025 Preseason All-Sun Belt teams—tied for fifth-most in the conference. Redshirt senior quarterback Braylon Braxton was dubbed the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, after transferring from Marshall. 
 
Southern Miss is coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2024, but owns a rebuilt roster that features three All-Sun Belt honorees from Marshall’s Sun Belt championship squad in Braxton, redshirt sophomore return specialist Ian Foster and redshirt senior defensive back Josh Moten. 
 
In the first season under head coach Charles Huff, the Golden Eagles will attempt to return to Bowl Season for the first time since 2022. Huff led Marshall to Bowl Season invites in each of his four seasons at the helm of the Thundering Herd program, including three-straight to open its Sun Belt tenure. 

To listen to head coach Charles Huff, redshirt senior quarterback Braylon Braxton and sophomore linebacker Chris Jones’ comments from the 2025 Sun Belt Football Media Days, visit the Sun Belt Conference YouTube page. 



2025 SCHEDULE

8/30	Mississippi State
9/6	Jackson State
9/13	App State*
9/20	at Louisiana Tech
9/27	Jacksonville State
10/9	at Georgia Southern*
10/18	at Louisiana*
10/25	ULM*
11/8	at Arkansas State*
11/15	Texas State*
11/22	at South Alabama*
11/29	Troy*

* Sun Belt Conference Game 
 
2024 ALL-SUN BELT RETURNERS
Honorable Mention
DL – Brodarius Lewis, Southern Miss (Gr., DL – Prattville, Ala.) 

2025 PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT SELECTIONS
First Team
QB – Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss (RS Sr., QB – Frisco, Texas) 
DL – Brodarius Lewis, Southern Miss (Gr., DL – Prattville, Ala.) 
DB – Josh Moten, Southern Miss (RS Sr., DB – Waldorf, Md.) 
RS – Ian Foster, Southern Miss (RS So., RS – Brundidge, Ala.) 
 
Second Team
TE – Kyirin Heath, Southern Miss (Sr., TE – Mansfield, Texas)