# 2020 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

The 2020 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2020 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). Head coach Jay Hopson, who was in his fifth year, resigned after one game and was replaced by interim head coach Scotty Walden. Walden himself resigned after four games to become the head coach at Austin Peay and was replaced by Tim Billings.

## Preseason
### Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released
| Award | Player | Position | Year |
| TBD ||||

### CUSA media days

The CUSA Media Days will be held virtually for the first time in conference history.
Media poll (West Division) :
| Predicted finish | Team |
| 1 | Louisiana Tech |
| 2 | North Texas |
| 3 | Rice |
| 4 | Southern Miss |
| 5 | UAB |
| 6 | UTEP |
| 7 | UTSA |
Media poll (CUSA Championship) :
| Rank | Team | Votes |
| TBD |||

### Preseason All-CUSA teams

To be released

## Schedule

Southern Miss announced its 2020 football schedule on January 8, 2020. The 2020 schedule consists of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season.
The Golden Eagles had games scheduled against Auburn, Jackson State, Tennessee Tech and UTEP that were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced on August 6, 2020 that Auburn would be replaced by Tulane and Jackson State would be replaced by Tennessee Tech.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 8:00 p.m. | South Alabama* | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | CBSSN | L 21–32 | 0 |
| September 19 | 6:30 p.m. | Louisiana Tech | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS (Rivalry in Dixie) | ESPN2 | L 30–31 | 7,140 |
| September 26 | 1:30 p.m. | Tulane* | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS (Battle for the Bell) | Stadium | L 24–66 | 0 |
| October 3 | 6:30 p.m. | at North Texas | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | Stadium | W 41–31 | 6,490 |
| October 24 | 5:00 p.m. | at Liberty* | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPN3 | L 35–56 | 1,000 |
| October 31 | 2:00 p.m. | Rice | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN3 | L 6–30 | 0 |
| November 7 | 2:00 p.m. | North Alabama* | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN3 | W 24–13 | 0 |
| November 14 | 5:00 p.m. | at Western Kentucky | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY | CBSSN | L 7–10 | 3,815 |
| November 21 | 2:00 p.m. | UTSA | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN+ | L 20–23 | 0 |
| December 10 | 5:30 p.m. | Florida Atlantic | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | CBSSN | W 45–31 | 0 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 24 released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### South Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Jaguars | 13 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 29 |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 10 | 3 | 8 | 21 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USM −12 | 55 |
| Statistics | South Alabama | Southern Miss |
| First downs | 23 | 20 |
| Total yards | 529 | 409 |
| Rushing yards | 166 | 95 |
| Passing yards | 363 | 314 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:08 | 30:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| South Alabama | Passing | Desmond Trotter | 16/27, 299 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| South Alabama | Rushing | Carlos Davis | 15 carries, 85 yards |
| South Alabama | Receiving | Jalen Tolbert | 6 yards, 169 yards, 2 TD |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jack Abraham | 22/32, 314 yards |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 12 carries, 32 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Tim Jones | 6 receptions, 139 yards |

### Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Bulldogs | 7 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 30 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| USM −7 | 59 |
| Statistics | Louisiana Tech | Southern Miss |
| First downs | 26 | 20 |
| Total yards | 381 | 377 |
| Rushing yards | 163 | 137 |
| Passing yards | 218 | 240 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:52 | 27:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Luke Anthony | 13/21, 149 yards, 3 TDs |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Justin Henderson | 18 carries, 69 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Adrian Hardy | 5 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jack Abraham | 23/31, 240 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Don Ragsdale | 11 carries, 56 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Tim Jones | 8 receptions, 160 yards, 2 TDs |

### Tulane

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Green Wave | 7 | 24 | 21 | 14 | 66 |
| Golden Eagles | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TULN −3.5 | 54.5 |
| Statistics | Tulane | Southern Miss |
| First downs | 27 | 19 |
| Total yards | 572 | 369 |
| Rushing yards | 430 | 70 |
| Passing yards | 142 | 299 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:08 | 30:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Tulane | Passing | Michael Pratt | 8/18, 142 yards, 2 TDs |
| Tulane | Rushing | Cameron Carroll | 15 carries, 163 yards, 3 TDs |
| Tulane | Receiving | Jha'Quan Jackson | 1 reception, 42 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jack Abraham | 23/38, 299 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Dee Baker | 6 carries, 44 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 3 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD |

### At North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Golden Eagles | 17 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 41 |
| Mean Green | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UNT –1.5 | 74 |
| Statistics | Southern Miss | North Texas |
| First downs | 22 | 27 |
| Total yards | 437 | 483 |
| Rushing yards | 202 | 144 |
| Passing yards | 235 | 339 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 35:16 | 24:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jack Abraham | 16/30, 235 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 23 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 4 receptions, 110 yards, 1 TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 28/47, 339 yards, 2 TDs |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 15 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Deonte Simpson | 5 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD |

### At Liberty

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 35 |
| • Flames | 14 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 56 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LIB −14 | 59.5 |
| Statistics | Southern Miss | Liberty |
| First downs | 19 | 25 |
| Total yards | 416 | 537 |
| Rushing yards | 215 | 192 |
| Passing yards | 201 | 345 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:37 | 32:23 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Tate Whatley | 15/26, 188 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Tate Whatley | 12 carries, 52 yards, 4 TDs |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 5 receptions, 114, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 24/31, 345, 6 TDs |
| Liberty | Rushing | Malik Willis | 12 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Demario Douglas | 6 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD |

### Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Owls | 3 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 30 |
| Eagles | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| RICE −1 | 59 |
| Statistics | Rice | Southern Miss |
| First downs | 22 | 11 |
| Total yards | 412 | 269 |
| Rushing yards | 179 | 100 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 169 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 36:52 | 23:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rice | Passing | Mike Collins | 12/17, 233 yards, 4 TDs |
| Rice | Rushing | Juma Otoviano | 25 carries, 111 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | Austin Trammell | 7 receptions, 143 yards, 3 TDs |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jack Abraham | 12/17, 112 yards, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 11 carries, 71 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Antoine Robinson | 3 receptions, 41 yards |

### North Alabama

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| • Golden Eagles | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Turnovers
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| North Alabama | Passing |
| North Alabama | Rushing |
| North Alabama | Receiving |
| Southern Miss | Passing |
| Southern Miss | Rushing |
| Southern Miss | Receiving |

### At Western Kentucky

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| • Hilltoppers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| WKU –7.5 | 45 |
| Statistics | Southern Miss | Western Kentucky |
| First downs | 13 | 19 |
| Total yards | 221 | 304 |
| Rushing yards | 154 | 121 |
| Passing yards | 67 | 183 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:18 | 34:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Trey Lowe | 6/14, 67 yards |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Kevin Perkins | 8 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Antoine Robinson | 2 receptions, 25 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 19/30, 183 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Jakairi Moses | 12 carries, 40 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Xavier Lane | 5 receptions, 90 yards |

### UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Roadrunners | 0 | 9 | 14 | 0 | 23 |
| Golden Eagles | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UTSA –9 | 53 |
| Statistics | UTSA | Southern Miss |
| First downs | 16 | 18 |
| Total yards | 304 | 347 |
| Rushing yards | 233 | 75 |
| Passing yards | 71 | 272 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:30 | 28:30 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTSA | Passing | Frank Harris | 12/19, 71 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| UTSA | Rushing | Sincere McCormick | 32 carries, 173 yards, 2 TDs |
| UTSA | Receiving | Joshua Cephus | 5 receptions, 44 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Tate Whatley | 22/39, 272 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 13 carries, 70 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Tim Jones | 5 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD |

### Florida Atlantic

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Owls | 7 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
| • Golden Eagles | 10 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| FAU −8.5 | 41 |
| Statistics | Florida Atlantic | Southern Miss |
| First downs | 19 | 22 |
| Total yards | 326 | 514 |
| Rushing yards | 164 | 305 |
| Passing yards | 162 | 209 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 28:41 | 31:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Florida Atlantic | Passing | Nick Tronti | 17/33, 162 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Florida Atlantic | Rushing | James Charles | 16 carries, 79 yards, 2 TD |
| Florida Atlantic | Receiving | Brandon Robinson | 5 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Trey Lowe | 13/19, 209 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 9 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 3 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD |