JOURNAL SPORTS
This year’s version is non-conference.
In the very near future, though, when Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss square off on the gridiron — and other sports — it will be a league contest.
The Bulldogs host the Golden Eagles tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium as both teams put identical 2-1 records on the line.
The contest can be seen on ESPN+ with Malcolm Butler (PxP), Luke McCown (Analyst), and Madison Kaufman (sideline) providing the call of the action.
Tonight marks the 54th all-time meeting between the two programs in a series dating back to 1935. The Golden Eagles defeated the Bulldogs 35-19 in the most recent edition at Joe Aillet Stadium in 2021. USM has won six of the past 10 match-ups.
Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie admitted he knows how important this rivalry game is for the Bulldog fan base.
“My first year, I think it was Northwestern State,” said Cumbie. “I heard how we couldn’t lose to them. It’s all I heard. And then the same with Southeastern (Louisiana). And it’s really been the same with this game too.
“I know there is a lot of excitement that we are playing Southern Miss again, a game that both fan bases circle on the schedule. It’s these types of regional rivalries that make college football great.”
Tech (2-1, 1-0 CUSA) is coming off one of its most complete performances over the past few seasons with a 49-14 victory over New Mexico State in the CUSA opener. Tech will be attempting to start 3-0 at home for the first time since 2019 and will be looking for the program’s 650th win all-time.
The Bulldogs used a two-QB system last week with Blake Baker and Trey Kukuk teaming up to help Tech rack up more than 550 yards of total offense, including the most in a half by a CUSA team in more than 12 years.
Baker became just the second Tech QB in modern day history to rush for more than 100 yards in a game.
“I was very pleased with how Blake ran the football,” said Cumbie. “He ran and he played with confidence. He was decisive throwing the football. There was no hesitation. I think he just played aggressively. I think the biggest takeaway were the plays he made with his feet.”
Defensively, Tech continued it’s impressive play which included three takeaways in the second half, including the second defensive score of the young season on Jacob Bradford’s 20-yard fumble return for a TD.
“Outside of a couple of explosive plays, I am very proud of how they played, especially how the rebounded after halftime,” said Cumbie. “Those guys continue to play aggressively and decisively.”
Tech’s defense has totaled 25 tackles for loss, 18 pass break ups, and a total of seven takeaways through the first three games.
Southern Miss (2-1, 1-0 SBC) has won two straight games, including a 38-20 win over Appalachian State last weekend in its league opener. The Golden Eagles will be venturing away from home for the first time this season after opening with three straight contests in Hattiesburg.
“It comes down to blocking and tackling,” said USM head coach Charles Huff. “If we block better than LA Tech and tackle better than LA Tech, we’ll win the game. The consistency of that is what you have to continue to work on. So, we try to constantly focus on the fundamentals.”
The Golden Eagles are led by transfer QB Braylon Braxton (Tulsa, Marshall), who has passed for 692 yards and seven scores and rushed for another 105 yards.
“Braylon is right on par with what he thought he would be doing,” said Huff. “He’ll tell you there’s probably a handful of throws in each game that he would love to have back. There’s probably a handful of throws in each game that, you know, he was fired up about.
“But I think, again, I think the internal expectation, the internal kind of energy, is different than the external. I get it, and no one gets to see these guys practice, no one gets to see the kids out here at 8:30 every day throwing with his receivers, no one gets to see that.”
Southern Miss’s roster boasts 64 four-year transfers, including 21 that were on Marshall’s 2024 roster and who followed Huff to Hattiesburg.
