University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Opens 2024 Football Season at Kentucky Saturday
8/30/2024 4:36:00 PM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss opens its 108th football season Saturday when they travel to Lexington to face Southeastern Conference foe Kentucky.
Game time is set for 6:45 p.m. CT from Kroger Field on the Wildcat campus. The game will be shown on television and via streaming on the SEC Network and fans can also listen to the Southern Miss Sports Network through one of the Golden Eagle radio affiliates as well as the audio only at SouthernMiss.com.
This game marks the fifth time the two schools have played each other with the Wildcats holding a 3-1 series advantage.
The Golden Eagles, though, registered their biggest comeback in school history the last time the two schools played in Lexington to open the 2016 season. After falling behind 35-10 with 56 seconds remaining before halftime, Southern Miss rallied with 34 unanswered points to register a 44-35 victory.
UK, though, won the next year 24-17 in the only meeting ever played at The Rock in Hattiesburg.
Southern Miss starts year four of the Will Hall era and the Golden Eagles have assembled a team that looks to be its strongest in its last four seasons. The Golden Eagles look to reach a bowl game for the second time in three campaigns and for the 20th time since 1994.
While the Golden Eagles have one of the largest carryovers on their roster makeup, their new players understand where they are playing at this weekend.
"A lot of those kids at one point in their lives have played in SEC venues, so I don't think our kids will be in awe of that by any means," said Hall. "We are going to have respect for that, but we are not going to be in awe of that. We understand at the end of the day, it's football."
Southern Miss will start either junior Florida State transfer Will Rodemaker or sophomore returnee Ethan Crawford at quarterback against UK. Both are expected to play in the contest.
The Golden Eagles also must replace the school's third career best rushing leader, who amassed 4,022 yards from 2020-23. Returner Dreke Clark is tops among the backs getting the ball on the ground in 2024. Clark registered 429 yards on 76 carries for a 5.6 rushing average a year ago with a pair of running touchdowns.
On defense, the Golden Eagles bring back top tackler Dylan Lawrence from last season, who recorded 78 tackles (38 solo) as he was only one of two players to start in every game in 2023.
During the game Saturday, and for the entire season, the Golden Eagles will honor the memory of their fallen teammate M.J. Daniels, who was lost over the summer. The team will wear a decal to honor him on their helmets as well as have his jersey on the sideline during the year in remembrance of his life.
Following the season opener, Southern Miss returns to action Saturday, Sept. 7, when they play host to the first of two home games starting with Southeastern Louisiana. Game time is set for 6 p.m., at The Rock.
Season tickets for the six Southern Miss home games can be purchased by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office at the corner of 4th Street and Golden Eagle Way weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Game time is set for 6:45 p.m. CT from Kroger Field on the Wildcat campus. The game will be shown on television and via streaming on the SEC Network and fans can also listen to the Southern Miss Sports Network through one of the Golden Eagle radio affiliates as well as the audio only at SouthernMiss.com.
This game marks the fifth time the two schools have played each other with the Wildcats holding a 3-1 series advantage.
The Golden Eagles, though, registered their biggest comeback in school history the last time the two schools played in Lexington to open the 2016 season. After falling behind 35-10 with 56 seconds remaining before halftime, Southern Miss rallied with 34 unanswered points to register a 44-35 victory.
UK, though, won the next year 24-17 in the only meeting ever played at The Rock in Hattiesburg.
Southern Miss starts year four of the Will Hall era and the Golden Eagles have assembled a team that looks to be its strongest in its last four seasons. The Golden Eagles look to reach a bowl game for the second time in three campaigns and for the 20th time since 1994.
While the Golden Eagles have one of the largest carryovers on their roster makeup, their new players understand where they are playing at this weekend.
"A lot of those kids at one point in their lives have played in SEC venues, so I don't think our kids will be in awe of that by any means," said Hall. "We are going to have respect for that, but we are not going to be in awe of that. We understand at the end of the day, it's football."
Southern Miss will start either junior Florida State transfer Will Rodemaker or sophomore returnee Ethan Crawford at quarterback against UK. Both are expected to play in the contest.
The Golden Eagles also must replace the school's third career best rushing leader, who amassed 4,022 yards from 2020-23. Returner Dreke Clark is tops among the backs getting the ball on the ground in 2024. Clark registered 429 yards on 76 carries for a 5.6 rushing average a year ago with a pair of running touchdowns.
On defense, the Golden Eagles bring back top tackler Dylan Lawrence from last season, who recorded 78 tackles (38 solo) as he was only one of two players to start in every game in 2023.
During the game Saturday, and for the entire season, the Golden Eagles will honor the memory of their fallen teammate M.J. Daniels, who was lost over the summer. The team will wear a decal to honor him on their helmets as well as have his jersey on the sideline during the year in remembrance of his life.
Following the season opener, Southern Miss returns to action Saturday, Sept. 7, when they play host to the first of two home games starting with Southeastern Louisiana. Game time is set for 6 p.m., at The Rock.
Season tickets for the six Southern Miss home games can be purchased by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office at the corner of 4th Street and Golden Eagle Way weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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