# 2021 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

The 2021 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2021 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 (CUSA). They were led by first-year head coach Will Hall.
On October 28, 2021, Southern Miss announced that this will be the last season for the team in the C-USA and will join the Sun Belt Conference on July 1, 2022.

## Preseason
### C-USA media days

The Golden Eagles were predicted to finish in fourth place in the West Division in the Conference USA preseason poll.
Media poll (West Division) :
| Predicted finish | Team |
| 1 | UAB |
| 2 | UTSA |
| 3 | Louisiana Tech |
| 4 | Southern Miss |
| 5 | Rice |
| 6 | North Texas |
| 7 | UTEP |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | at South Alabama* | Hancock Whitney StadiumMobile, AL | ESPN+ | L 7–31 | 20,156 |
| September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | Grambling State* | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN3 | W 37–0 | 25,235 |
| September 18 | 6:00 p.m. | Troy* | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN+ | L 9–21 | 24,242 |
| September 25 | 6:30 p.m. | at No. 1 Alabama* | Bryant–Denny StadiumTuscaloosa, AL (rivalry) | SECN | L 14–63 | 100,077 |
| October 2 | 5:30 p.m. | at Rice | Rice StadiumHouston, TX | ESPN3 | L 19–24 | 16,031 |
| October 9 | 6:00 p.m. | UTEP | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN3 | L 13–26 | 26,049 |
| October 16 | 2:30 p.m. | UAB | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | Stadium | L 0–34 | 21,514 |
| October 30 | 2:30 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | ESPN+ | L 10–35 | 10,721 |
| November 6 | 2:00 p.m. | North Texas | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN+ | L 14–38 | 22,478 |
| November 13 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 23 UTSA | AlamodomeSan Antonio, TX | ESPN+ | L 17–27 | 30,105 |
| November 19 | 7:00 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | Joe Aillet StadiumRuston, LA (Rivalry in Dixie) | CBSSN | W 35–19 | 10,410 |
| November 27 | 2:00 p.m. | FIU | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN+ | W 37–17 | 20,041 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP and CFP Rankings after November 2All times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### At South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Jaguars | 0 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| Statistics | USM | USA |
| First downs | 19 | 13 |
| Total yards | 258 | 300 |
| Rushing yards | 125 | 31 |
| Passing yards | 133 | 269 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:27 | 28:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Trey Lowe | 13/29, 133 yards, 2 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 19 rushes, 81 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jakarius Caston | 3 receptions, 38 yards |
| South Alabama | Passing | Jake Bentley | 17/22, 269 yards, 2 TD |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Kareem Walker | 18 rushes, 26 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 5 receptions, 168 yards |

### Grambling State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 37 |
| Statistics | GRAM | USM |
| First downs | 9 | 22 |
| Total yards | 141 | 439 |
| Rushing yards | 51 | 290 |
| Passing yards | 90 | 149 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:00 | 32:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Grambling State | Passing | Aldon Clark | 8/19, 60 yards, INT |
| Grambling State | Rushing | Darqueze Brutton | 8 rushes, 35 yards |
| Grambling State | Receiving | Donald Johnson III | 3 receptions, 26 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Trey Lowe | 10/13, 99 yards, TD |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 21 rushes, 162 yards, TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jakarius Caston | 4 receptions, 50 yards, TD |

### Troy

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trojans | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Golden Eagles | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Statistics | TROY | USM |
| First downs | 17 | 14 |
| Total yards | 304 | 156 |
| Rushing yards | 49 | -1 |
| Passing yards | 255 | 157 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:54 | 29:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Troy | Passing | Taylor Powell | 27/39, 255 yards, 2 TD |
| Troy | Rushing | Kimani Vidal | 17 rushes, 45 yards, TD |
| Troy | Receiving | Tez Johnson | 10 receptions, 106 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Ty Keyes | 16/27, 157 yards, 2 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 15 rushes, 31 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Antoine Robinson | 3 receptions, 49 yards |

### At No. 1 Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| No. 1 Crimson Tide | 21 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 63 |
| Statistics | USM | ALA |
| First downs | 11 | 22 |
| Total yards | 213 | 606 |
| Rushing yards | 82 | 211 |
| Passing yards | 131 | 395 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:18 | 28:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Ty Keyes | 11/24, 131 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Ty Keyes | 12 rushes, 41 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Grayson Gunter | 3 receptions, 61 yards |
| Alabama | Passing | Bryce Young | 20/22, 313 yards, 5 TD, INT |
| Alabama | Rushing | Roydell Williams | 11 rushes, 110 yards, TD |
| Alabama | Receiving | Jahleel Billingsley | 5 receptions, 105 yards, TD |

### At Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 19 |
| Owls | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Statistics | USM | RICE |
| First downs | 21 | 15 |
| Total yards | 378 | 315 |
| Rushing yards | 57 | 108 |
| Passing yards | 321 | 207 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 28:22 | 31:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jake Lange | 23/37, 304 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 17 rushes, 79 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 8 receptions, 127 yards |
| Rice | Passing | Jake Constantine | 16/22, 192 yards, 2 TD |
| Rice | Rushing | Cedric Patterson III | 1 rush, 38 yards, TD |
| Rice | Receiving | Jake Bailey | 5 receptions, 83 yards, TD |

### UTEP

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 26 |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UTEP –2 | 44.5 |
| Statistics | UTEP | USM |
| First downs | 16 | 17 |
| Total yards | 392 | 254 |
| Rushing yards | 265 | 15 |
| Passing yards | 127 | 239 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:48 | 29:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 7/17, 127 yards, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 18 rushes, 159 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Tyrin Smith | 1 reception, 55 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jake Lange | 20/31, 239 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 16 rushes, 43 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jakarius Caston | 4 receptions, 94 yards |

### UAB

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blazers | 3 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 34 |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statistics | UAB | USM |
| First downs | 20 | 9 |
| Total yards | 388 | 107 |
| Rushing yards | 223 | 75 |
| Passing yards | 165 | 32 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:08 | 25:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UAB | Passing | Dylan Hopkins | 8/13, 147 yards, TD |
| UAB | Rushing | DeWayne McBride | 17 rushes, 137 yards, TD |
| UAB | Receiving | Jermaine Brown Jr. | 4 receptions, 48 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jake Lange | 3/10, 18 yards |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 13 rushes, 40 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 1 reception, 14 yards |

### At Middle Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Blue Raiders | 14 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| Statistics | USM | MTSU |
| First downs | 22 | 15 |
| Total yards | 234 | 287 |
| Rushing yards | 50 | 145 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 142 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 33:00 | 27:00 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jake Lange | 16/34, 166 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 20 rushes, 83 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 9 receptions, 120 yards, TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Mike DiLiello | 8/12, 78 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Mike DiLiello | 11 rushes, 77 yards, 2 TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Jarrin Pierce | 3 receptions, 75 yards |

### North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mean Green | 0 | 7 | 21 | 10 | 38 |
| Golden Eagles | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | UNT | USM |
| First downs | 25 | 11 |
| Total yards | 537 | 229 |
| Rushing yards | 321 | 113 |
| Passing yards | 216 | 116 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 34:14 | 25:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 16/30, 216 yards, INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Isaiah Johnson | 17 rushes, 119 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Detraveon Brown | 4 receptions, 85 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jake Lange | 17/25, 116 yards, TD |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 12 rushes, 82 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 4 receptions, 53 yards, TD |

### At No. 23 UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| No. 23 Roadrunners | 0 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Statistics | USM | UTSA |
| First downs | 10 | 16 |
| Total yards | 189 | 370 |
| Rushing yards | 137 | 143 |
| Passing yards | 52 | 227 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 37:14 | 22:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Frank Gore Jr. | 2/3, 33 yards |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 20 rushes, 123 yards, TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 3 receptions, 51 yards |
| UTSA | Passing | Frank Harris | 17/30, 227 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| UTSA | Rushing | Sincere McCormick | 19 rushes, 90 yards, TD |
| UTSA | Receiving | Joshua Cephus | 8 receptions, 106 yards, TD |

### At Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 35 |
| Bulldogs | 3 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 19 |
| Statistics | USM | LT |
| First downs | 17 | 14 |
| Total yards | 294 | 250 |
| Rushing yards | 184 | 150 |
| Passing yards | 110 | 100 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 5 |
| Time of possession | 35:06 | 24:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Frank Gore Jr. | 4/8, 75 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Dajon Richard | 22 rushes, 120 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 5 receptions, 67 yards, 2 TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Aaron Allen | 11/26, 100 yards, 2 INT |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Marcus Williams Jr. | 17 rushes, 76 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Smoke Harris | 4 receptions, 48 yards |

### FIU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Panthers | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Golden Eagles | 21 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 37 |
| Statistics | FIU | USM |
| First downs | 14 | 18 |
| Total yards | 391 | 444 |
| Rushing yards | 160 | 322 |
| Passing yards | 231 | 122 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 28:04 | 31:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| FIU | Passing | Max Bortenschlager | 13/24, 231 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| FIU | Rushing | Lexington Joseph | 16 rushes, 105 yards, TD |
| FIU | Receiving | Tyrese Chambers | 5 receptions, 155 yards, TD |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Frank Gore Jr. | 4/5, 81 yards, 2 TD |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Dajon Richard | 16 rushes, 107 yards, TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 5 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD |