It’s fair to say (though difficult to admit) that the Golden Eagles football program has had a more storied existence than our cherished Red Wolves. Southern Miss has gone to twice as many bowl games, has rostered two NFL hall of famers (Brett Favre and Ray Guy), and has enjoyed three seasons in which they were ranked in the AP Top 25, ascending all the way to #14 at the conclusion of the 1999 season. Ah, those were golden days for the Golden Eagles!
Noting that some of the luster has worn from the Southern Miss brand is fair to say, too. Since losing to the Florida State Seminoles in the 2017 Independence Bowl, it’s been nothing but horrendous (and occasionally mediocre) seasons. Recent history has been brutal. The Golden Eagles clocked a 3-9 record in 2023, then followed it up with a 1-11 effort in 2024, prompting decision makers in Hattiesburg to bounce cheerful head coach Will Hall from the Mississippi Delta and bring in the most immediate Sun Belt winner possible, Charlie Huff – who had just won an SBC title with Marshall.
Coach Huff’s gravity has shifted Southern Miss out of disaster’s orbit. Not only has Coach Huff installed a winning attitude in Hattiesburg, he brought along with him about 20 nice players from Huntington, including all-star quarterback Braylon Braxton, cornerback Josh Moten, receiver Carl Chester, defensive back Ian Foster, and wide receiver Tychaun Chapman. All of these former Herders are making A-lister plays for Southern Miss. “We’re playing the defending champion,” said Coach Jones.
Is it possible to simply transfer an entire championship staff and team from one conference division to another and then win another championship? We won’t definitively know the answer to that question until early December, but the Red Wolves are in position to alter the outcome on Saturday morning.
Supposedly, This Is the First 11AM Game to Ever Be Played in Jonesboro
Will I be seen as an alcoholic if I’m witnessed cracking open a beer at kick off? Is a hot dog a breakfast sandwich? Can we attend in our pajamas?
Blame the loss of beauty sleep on ESPNU and the rising importance of this game. This will be the second week in a row Arkansas State is featured on ESPNU, which qualifies as a residency in my opinion.
Distance Between Campus and Closest Waffle House
It’s just a seven minute, 2.8 mile drive between Centennial Bank Stadium and the nearest Waffle House on Red Wolf Boulevard.
Southern Miss Is Awfully Well Balanced
“I know Butch wants to paint us as the 1985 Bears, but we’re not,” said Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff at Monday’s SBC presser. True, coach Butch Jones has been quick to credit Southern Miss as the “team to beat in the West” all season, noting that so much of Marshall’s championship-winning team moved over to Hattiesburg. While the 2025 Golden Eagles aren’t the 1985 Bears, both teams had dynamic quarterbacks and fearsome defenses.
Brayon Braxton, the preseason SBC Offensive Player of the Year, currently trails only Colton Joseph for passing touchdowns (18) but has only thrown four interceptions. Only Arkansas State’s Jaylen Raynor has thrown more completions then Braxton. According to Sun Belt stat collectors, only ULM has surrendered fewer sacks, and the Golden Eagles bear the conference’s fourth best offense.
Those same statisticians credit Southern Miss for the fourth best defense, too. Defensive back Ian Foster and linebacker Chris Jones are the most prolific tacklers in the entire Sun Belt. Thanks to the diligence of Foster and Josh Moten, the team has only allowed six passing touchdowns all season.
However, you can run on Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles have surrendered 18 rushing touchdowns and nearly five yards per un this season. In a win against ULM, Southern Miss allowed running back Zach Palmer-Smith 111 yards and a score. Louisiana quarterback Lunch Winfield nearly put up 100 on Southern Miss, and Jackson State quarterback Caden Creel ran for 161 yards and a touchdown, too. If Southern Miss has a glaring weakness, it could be the Running Quarterback.
Red Wolves Earn a Spectacular D
At the start of the year, the Red Wolves’ defense was a creation of pure misery, allowing enormous amounts of first quarter points with sluggish abandon. After spotting Kennesaw State a 21 point lead in Week 4, something finally triggered A-State defense to excellence. Since that day, the defense have allowed an average of just under 19 points per game, a reasonable number for even Arkansas State’s offense to overcome.
Against Troy, who were at the time undefeated in conference play, the Red Wolves submitted their first first-quarter shut out of the season while sacking doomed Trojan quarterback Tucker Kilcrease nine times. New defensive coordinator Griff McCarley has dialed up the aggression, setting lose Bryan Whitehead, Demarcus Hendricks, Drew Collins, Ethan Hassler, Chris Boti and Cody Sigler upon unsuspecting offensive lines. The degree of difficulty does increase against Southern Miss, who allows the fewest sacks in the Belt (tied for 30th nationally).
While the defensive line has become a true quarterback terror, the Red Wolves linebacker group continues to persevere despite subtractions. With starting linebacker Kyle Taylor serving a half game suspension against Troy, Nigel Nelson and Aaron Alexander more than made up for the absence, accounting for 15 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. Combined with a secondary that is missing far fewer assignments and making far more plays, the Red Wolves defense has become the main driver for the team.
Braxton Likes a Nice Even Peppering
Much like Troy’s Tucker Kilcrease, Southern Miss signal caller Braylon Braxton is not reliant on a single receiver, or even a handful of guys. At least seven receivers are significantly involved in offensive coordinator Blake Anderson‘s offense, including yards leader Tychaun Chapman (306 yards, two touchdowns), scoring leader Micah Davis (208 yards, four touchdowns) and two big passing catching tight ends: Kadinn Morris (6’3″ 235) and Kyirin Heath (6’5″ 240).
Braxton will test every aspect of the Red Wolves pass defense. While cornerbacks Avante Dickerson and Trenton Alan Yowe have had assorted adventures in the backfield early in the season, the pair’s experience is certainly beginning to pay dividends. The Red Wolves did a fine job limiting the damage Kilcrease and Troy’s deep stable of receivers normally inflicts, holding the pass game to just 166 yards. Red Wolves safeties have also gone largely unheralded, with the Two Brandons (Brandon Greil and Brandon Barnes) providing capable coverage.
Will the Red Wolves Offense Make a Cameo Appearance?
To be fair, Arkansas State’s offense was overwhelming against Troy in the first quarter, when the Red Wolves scored all the points needed for victory. Jaylen Raynor was especially efficient, throwing for 247 yards and two touchdowns on 21/29 passing. However, after scoring 17 in game’s opening quarter, Arkansas State’s offense went into deep hibernation, scoring only six for the game’s remainder.
“That allowed us to do different things from a schematic standpoint,” Butch Jones after scoring 17 points in the first quarter. “We left too many points out there,” he later conceded.
Much of this can be explained by Butch Brand™ Football, which appears to focus on ball protection and field position. Once the Red Wolves had a comfortable lead, Jones was content with playing it safe and allowing the team’s sizzling hot defense to make plays. Could such a strategy work against Southern Miss?
We mentioned the Golden Eagles’ 98th ranked run defense earlier. The A-State offensive line has been playing exceptional well, led by former Golden Eagle Will Saxton and Tristan Smith (who left the Trojan gridiron on a cart on Saturday and is OUT for the season). A well-run run game is essential to Coach Jones’ desire for safety and control. The last time the Red Wolves were in town, Devin Spencer and Kenyon Clay combined for more than 240 yards of rushing. Look to see a heavy dose of these two in an effort to exploit the Golden Eagles’ suspect run defense.
The Depth Chart
Normally, Butch Jones depth charts reveal zip. However, this one reflects changes on the offensive line now that Smith is out for the season. Redshirt freshman Baker North takes over for Smith at left guard, with freshman Cade Channell as backup. Also notable, Tyler Little is back, but Butch Jones was cautious about detailing his playing time.
Who In, Who Out?
Coach Butch Jones hinted that tight end Tyler Little may be available for Saturday’s game (though he was hesitant to elaborate on playing time). Safety Brandon Greil also looks to make a return.
The Threads
“Black” ain’t just a Pearl Jam song.
The Final Analysis
Arkansas State is the Vegas underdog against Southern Miss as it was against Texas State, South Alabama and Troy. The Red Wolves seem to enjoy the subterfuge provided by low expectations, Troy was clearly stunned by A-State’s energy and fury. However, the Red Wolves will not be sneaking up on the Golden Eagles.
Despite the incredible play of the defense, the Red Wolves wins streak cannot be sustained by many more scoreless quarters. The A-State run game is important, but Raynor needs to continue finding Corey Rucker, Chauncey Cobb and Hunter Summers – and using sure handed TE Tyler Fortenberry as his reliable safety valve. If the offense choses to compliment the defense on Saturday, it will be very difficult to beat Arkansas State at Centennial Bank Stadium.
MAIN IMAGE: AI monstrosity
Howlraiser 