Football Travels to Arkansas State for Pivotal Sun Belt West Clash

Saturday, November 8

Jonesboro, Ark. / Centennial Bank Stadium

11 a.m.

Southern Miss

Arkansas State

Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com

Football Travels to Arkansas State for Pivotal Sun Belt West Clash

11/7/2025 9:03:00 AM | Football

Football Press Box

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss football looks to keep its top spot in the Sun Belt Conference West Division standings when they travel to Arkansas State this week for a key league matchup.

The Golden Eagles (6-2 overall, 4-0 Sun Belt) bring a four-game winning streak into the 11 a.m. Saturday contest at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro. The game can be seen via ESPNU, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network.

A-State (5-4, 4-1) holds a four-game winning streak of their own heading after winning at Troy 23-10 last weekend. First-year Golden Eagle coach Charles Huff praised a Red Wolves club that has played extremely well over the last month.

"Arguably the hottest team in the conference right now, on the four-game win streak, doing a really good job of finding ways to have gritty wins," said Huff. "I truly believe good teams find ways to win games; bad teams find ways to lose them.

"Over the last month, Arkansas State has done a really good job of finding ways to win games. (A-State) Coach Butch Jones does a phenomenal job. You can see the culture. You can see the process that they have, how they go about it. I think they play extremely hard on both sides of the ball."

Southern Miss will have to continue to use its formula that has helped them obtain bowl eligibility in just eight games. That is an offense that has averaged 33 points a game this fall, coupled by a defense that ranks first nationally in turnover margin.

Senior quarterback Braylon Braxton has thrown for 1,959 yards on 159-of-237 throws with 18 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all eight games and has tossed for multiple scores in seven of those contests. He is also the third leading rusher for the squad, posting 215 yards on the ground with a running score.

Braxton needs just 41 passing yards to become the eighth Golden Eagle quarterback to throw for more than 2,000 yards in a season as it has been done 16 times total in the school's history.

Jeffery Pittman leads the Golden Eagle ground attack with 419 yards on 95 carries with a team-best six rushing scores. Matt Jones is next with 229 yards and four touchdowns.

In the air, Elijah Metcalf holds the team lead in receptions with 25, while Micah Davis ranks first in receiving yards (286) and touchdown grabs (4). Eight different Southern Miss players have caught at least 10 passes this season.

On defense, the Golden Eagles have been able to lead the nation in turnover margin by collecting 15 interceptions and four fumbles, while giving the ball up just seven times during the campaign. Five different Golden Eagles have picked off two passes this season, including a pair by Ian Foster who has returned them 99 and 49 yards for touchdowns.

The linebacking corps of Chris Jones and Michael Montgomery also rank among the nation's best tacklers. Jones, who is tops for tackles in the Sun Belt at 9.8 stops per game, ranks No. 12 nationally. Montgomery is third in the league and No. 16 nationally at 9.3 tackles per game.

The Golden Eagles look to snap a two-game losing streak to the Red Wolves in a series they lead 10-4 all-time.

Following the A-State contest, the Golden Eagles return home the next Saturday when they entertain Texas State. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m. and will be shown via ESPN+.