2018 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team


The 2018 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2018 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. They were led by third-year head coach Jay Hopson. They finished the season 6–5, 5–3 in C-USA play to finish in a three-way tie for second in the West Division. Despite being bowl eligible, they were not invited to a bowl game.

Previous season

The Golden Eagles finished the 2017 season 8–5, 6–2 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for second place in the West Division. They were invited to the Independence Bowl where they lost to Florida State.

Preseason

Award watch lists

C-USA preseason awards

On July 16, 2018, Conference USA released their preseason awards, including the preseason all-CUSA team. Kicker Paker Shaunfield was selected as the preseason special teams player of the year. He was the only player named to the all-CUSA team.

Preseason media poll

Conference USA released their preseason media poll on July 17, 2018, with the Golden Eagles predicted to finish in fourth place in the West Division.
West Division

Schedule

Game summaries

Jackson State

Overall recordLast meetingResult
2–02002W 55–7

Louisiana–Monroe

Overall recordLast meetingResult
4–12017W 28–17

Rice

Overall recordLast meetingResult
4–42017W 43–34

at Auburn

Overall recordLast meetingResult
17–52008L 13–27

at North Texas

Overall recordLast meetingResult
6–62017L 28–43

UTSA

Overall recordLast meetingResult
2–22017W 31–29

at Charlotte

Overall recordLast meetingResult
2–12017W 66–21

Marshall

Overall recordLast meetingResult
7–62017W 28–27

at UAB

Overall recordLast meetingResult
10–62017L 12–30

Louisiana Tech

Overall recordLast meetingResult
34–152017W 34–27

at UTEP

Overall recordLast meetingResult
6–42017W 24–0