University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
7-6 , 5-3
Western Kentucky
9-4 , 6-2
Football Falls in 25th Annual New Orleans Bowl
12/23/2025 9:27:00 PM | Football
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- WKU quarterback Maverick McIvor came off the bench to lead three second-half touchdown drives and to rally past Southern Miss 27-16 on Tuesday night to win the New Orleans Bowl at Caesars Superdome.
McIvor completed 12 of 19 passes for 199 yards with one interception and rushed for a season-high 48 yards and a score on eight carries. Matthew Henry had seven receptions for 126 yards. Jack Cannon kicked two field goals.
Braylon Braxton threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Tychaun Chapman in the first quarter and Creighton Wilbanks kicked two field goals in the second to help the Golden Eagles (7-6) take a 13-6 lead into halftime.
Southern Miss piled up 265 yards in the first half, while holding WKU to 84. The Hilltoppers outgained the Golden Eagles 338-112 after halftime.
Freshman quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. completed 9 of 20 passes for 65 yards with an interception for WKU before leaving right before halftime after taking a hard hit.
McIvor, who hadn't played since starting the first seven games, led the second-half charge.
McIvor capped an eight-play drive with an 11-yard touchdown run to tie it 13-all midway through the third quarter before Wilbanks kicked a 41-yard field goal to put Southern Miss up 16-13 heading to the fourth.
McIvor had a 23-yard run to the Golden Eagles' 1 and George Hart III plunged into the end zone two plays later for a 20-16 lead 7:48 remaining.
McIvor completed a 14-yard pass to Matthew Henry on third-and-11 and Marvis Parrish raced 54 yards for a score on the next play to set the final margin with 3:38 left. The Hilltoppers were successful on all eight third-down opportunities in the second half after going 1 for 9 in the first.
Braxton totaled 258 yards on 24-for-47 passing with an interception. The senior from Frisco, Texas, also threw a touchdown pass in all 12 games he played in this season.
Corey Myrick added a fumble recovery and an interception to lead the Golden Eagle defense.
Team Stats
WKU 3, USM 0
WKU - Cannon,John 31 yd field goal 4 plays, -1 yards, TOP 01:16
WKU 3, USM 7
USM - Chapman,Tychaun 35 yd pass from Braxton,Braylon (Wilbanks,Creighton kick) 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 01:22
WKU 6, USM 7
WKU - Cannon,John 30 yd field goal 8 plays, 31 yards, TOP 03:08
WKU 6, USM 10
USM - Wilbanks,Creighton 25 yd field goal 7 plays, 16 yards, TOP 02:11
WKU 6, USM 13
USM - Wilbanks,Creighton 29 yd field goal 10 plays, 77 yards, TOP 01:10
WKU 13, USM 13
WKU - McIvor,Maverick 11 yd run (Cannon,John kick), 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:24
WKU 13, USM 16
USM - Wilbanks,Creighton 41 yd field goal 9 plays, 44 yards, TOP 03:15
WKU 20, USM 16
WKU - Hart III,George 1 yd run (Cannon,John kick), 11 plays, 65 yards, TOP 05:12
WKU 27, USM 16
WKU - Parrish,Marvis 54 yd run (Cannon,John kick), 7 plays, 83 yards, TOP 02:39
