University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Bowl Eligible After Victory Over UTEP
10/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss football team captured its sixth victory of the season Saturday after defeating Conference USA West Division foe, UTEP, 34-13, at Carlisle-Faulkner Field at M.M. Roberts Stadium to become bowl eligible.
The Golden Eagles reached bowl eligibility for the first time since their Conference USA championship season in 2011 and now have registered at least six victories in as season for the 19th time in the last 22 campaigns and have played in a postseason bowl contests in 14 of the last 17 seasons heading into 2015.
While the team has six countable victories, Southern Miss must win at least one of its final three regular-season contests to help assure themselves of a bowl game this fall.
In placing teams for bowl games, Conference USA regulations state that all teams with a winning record (i.e., seven countable wins) get into conference bowls prior to any other bowl eligible teams without a winning record (i.e., six countable wins).
The Southern Miss Athletic Ticket Office is anticipating the Golden Eagles to return to a bowl game in 2015 and now is accepting bowl deposits by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office weekdays from 8 a.m., until 5 p.m. The Southern Miss Department of Athletics ask fans to purchase their bowl tickets through the Southern Miss Athletic Ticket Office as it assures fans that they will sit together with fellow Golden Eagles at the bowl game and helps in the school's effort in showing bowl games about its fan support for the event.
Conference USA has secured guaranteed commitments with seven bowl partners for the 2015 season, as well as one secondary agreement: The Nova Home Loans Arizona, Gildan New Mexico, Miami Beach, Popeyes Bahamas, R+L Carriers New Orleans, St. Petersburg and Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowls are primary agreements. The Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., is a secondary agreement, should the ACC or SEC not be able to provide a bowl-eligible team. There is no set selection order among C-USA's bowl partners.
As a member of the College Football Playoff, Conference USA will be a part of one of the CFP bowls if it produces the highest rated champion from among the American Athletic, C-USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt Conferences.
The following are the bowl games with their respective dates and game times:
2015-16 Conference USA Bowl Games (All Times Central)
Gildan New Mexico Bowl - Saturday, Dec. 19, 1 p.m.
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - Saturday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m.
Miami Beach Bowl - Monday, Dec. 21, 1:30 p.m.
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl - Thursday, Dec. 24, 11 a.m.
St. Petersburg Bowl - Saturday, Dec. 26, 10 a.m.
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl - Saturday, Dec. 26, 1:20 p.m.
Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl - Sunday, Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m.
Camping World Independence Bowl - Saturday, Dec. 26, 4:45 p.m. (Secondary agreement)
