HATTIESBURG — Southern Miss football will net $1.55 million from its four nonconference games in the 2024 season, according to an open records request by the Hattiesburg American.
The Golden Eagles will begin the season at Kentucky on Aug. 31 before two home games against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 7 and USF on Sept. 14. Southern Miss will round out the nonconference schedule with a road game at Jacksonville State on Sept. 21.
Here are contract details for each game.
Kentucky
Southern Miss acquired Kentucky for the 2024 season opener as part of a four-team swap last November.
The Golden Eagles were supposed to play at Ohio State, but that game was canceled. Instead, the Buckeyes will host Akron. It helped Kentucky get out of playing a road game at Akron, while Southern Miss breaks even to play at Kentucky instead of at Ohio State.
The Wildcats will pay Southern Miss $950,000 for the game. Southern Miss received an additional $950,000 from Ohio State for the cancellation, bringing the total to $1.9 million.
Kentucky had a 7-6 record for the second season in a row in 2023.
Southeastern Louisiana
The only game Southern Miss will dish out a payment for is Southeastern Louisiana.
The Golden Eagles will pay Southeastern Louisiana $350,000 to play at M. M. Roberts Stadium.
The Lions went 3-8 last season, and lost FBS games to Mississippi State and South Alabama. Southern Miss is 18-3 all-time against Southeastern Louisiana with the last meeting in 2011 in Hattiesburg.
USF
Southern Miss and USF begin a home-and-home series in 2024. The Bulls will first play in Hattiesburg, with the Golden Eagles making the return trip to Tampa, Florida, in September 2028. No payments will be made by either team.
USF, who went 7-6 last season under first-year coach Alex Golesh, currently plays at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL stadium. However, it’s expected to complete construction of a new on-campus stadium for the 2027 season.
Southern Miss has played USF twice, winning both matchups in 2000 and 2004.
Jacksonville State
Southern Miss is also beginning a home-and-home with Jacksonville State this season. It will play at Jacksonville State to start, with the Gamecocks coming to Hattiesburg in September 2025. Neither team will receive compensation.
Jacksonville State, located in Alabama, was elevated from FCS to FBS in 2023 and had a darling 9-4 season under coach Rich Rodriguez. It beat Louisiana in overtime of the New Orleans bowl.
Southern Miss and Jacksonville State have met only twice, with the Golden Eagles winning 58-0 in 1937 and 65-0 in 1946. The Gamecocks are 50-12 at home in the last 10 years.
Sam Sklar is the Southern Miss beat reporter for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at ssklar@hattiesb.gannett.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
Most Popular
Comments / 0