University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Football Nationally Ranked for First Time Since 2004
10/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 23, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team, fresh off a 27-3 Conference USA victory over SMU, garnered its first Top 25 ranking in seven seasons by being tabbed No. 25 in today's edition of the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.
The Golden Eagles improved to 6-1 following their win over the Mustangs and won for the fifth consecutive time.
The ranking was the first for the program since collecting a No. 21 spot in both the USA Today/ESPN Coaches and Associated Press polls on Nov. 2, 2004. Southern Miss accumulated 128 points for its No. 25 ranking and trail No. 24 West Virginia, who received 155 points, in the voting.
The Golden Eagles collected 48 points in the AP poll, which was the second highest team to receive votes that did not make entry into the poll, coming in 16 points behind Auburn.
Southern Miss returns to action Saturday when they travel to El Paso, Texas, for a Conference USA showdown against UTEP. Game time is set for 7 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast on the Southern Miss IMG Sports Network as well as being televised by the CBS Sports Network.
