University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Saturday, September 26
New Orleans, La.
6 pm
Southern Miss
at
Tulane
Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com
Southern Miss Football Travels to New Orleans to Reclaim the Bell
9/25/2026 9:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss football looks to reclaim some hardware this Saturday when they renew its "Battle for the Bell" series at Tulane in New Orleans with a 6 p.m. contest at Yulman Stadium.
The game can be seen via ESPN+, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network or via SouthernMiss.com.
The meeting in New Orleans marks the 35th between the two schools dating back to 1979 with the Golden Eagles holding a 24-10 advantage overall in the series. The two schools played every season between that initial meeting through 2006, including time as members of Conference USA.
The "Battle for the Bell" label for the series was added prior to the 1999 campaign when the two schools, which sit about only 110 miles apart, added a travel trophy, which is a large bell.
The Golden Eagles were last able to ring that bell in 2022, on their last trip to Yulman Stadium. Down 14-0 in the contest, Southern Miss rallied behind two touchdown passes from then quarterback Zach Wilcke, a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by Eric Scott, Jr., and a Jay Jones blocked punt helping the visitors to a 27-24 victory. Tulane won the last meeting in Hattiesburg the next season, 21-3.
This year, both teams are off to 1-2 starts. The Golden Eagles opened the season with a 49-3 win over Alcorn State before falling at Auburn (43-8) and dropping a 48-20 decision last weekend at home to UConn.
The Green Wave started its season under first-year coach Will Hall with a 17-3 setback at Duke, before rebounding with a 28-24 triumph over South Alabama in its home opener. Tulane then fell last weekend at Kansas State 31-20.
Heading into this contest, redshirt senior Landry Lyddy is expected to make his second career start for the Golden Eagles against Tulane. In limited duty, he has thrown for 265 yards on 20-of-33 passes with a touchdown and an interception.
The top offensive weapon for Southern Miss this fall has been running back Steven Robinson, who has rushed for a team-high 246 yards with four rushing touchdowns and one receiving score. Jamarice Wilder ranks second on the squad in rushing with 120 yards.
Mario Sanders leads the team in receiving yards with 233 on 16 catches and a touchdown reception. AJ Little is next with 101 yards on 11 receptions, followed by MJ Johnson with seven catches for 103 yards.
On defensive side, Mathis Haygood leads the way for tacklers with 23 to go along with a team-best 2.5 tackles for loss, while Laquan Robinson is next with 20 stops.
Following the Tulane contest, the Golden Eagles stay on the road to play Troy in a Tuesday, Oct. 6, matchup set for ESPN2. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
The game can be seen via ESPN+, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network or via SouthernMiss.com.
The meeting in New Orleans marks the 35th between the two schools dating back to 1979 with the Golden Eagles holding a 24-10 advantage overall in the series. The two schools played every season between that initial meeting through 2006, including time as members of Conference USA.
The "Battle for the Bell" label for the series was added prior to the 1999 campaign when the two schools, which sit about only 110 miles apart, added a travel trophy, which is a large bell.
The Golden Eagles were last able to ring that bell in 2022, on their last trip to Yulman Stadium. Down 14-0 in the contest, Southern Miss rallied behind two touchdown passes from then quarterback Zach Wilcke, a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by Eric Scott, Jr., and a Jay Jones blocked punt helping the visitors to a 27-24 victory. Tulane won the last meeting in Hattiesburg the next season, 21-3.
This year, both teams are off to 1-2 starts. The Golden Eagles opened the season with a 49-3 win over Alcorn State before falling at Auburn (43-8) and dropping a 48-20 decision last weekend at home to UConn.
The Green Wave started its season under first-year coach Will Hall with a 17-3 setback at Duke, before rebounding with a 28-24 triumph over South Alabama in its home opener. Tulane then fell last weekend at Kansas State 31-20.
Heading into this contest, redshirt senior Landry Lyddy is expected to make his second career start for the Golden Eagles against Tulane. In limited duty, he has thrown for 265 yards on 20-of-33 passes with a touchdown and an interception.
The top offensive weapon for Southern Miss this fall has been running back Steven Robinson, who has rushed for a team-high 246 yards with four rushing touchdowns and one receiving score. Jamarice Wilder ranks second on the squad in rushing with 120 yards.
Mario Sanders leads the team in receiving yards with 233 on 16 catches and a touchdown reception. AJ Little is next with 101 yards on 11 receptions, followed by MJ Johnson with seven catches for 103 yards.
On defensive side, Mathis Haygood leads the way for tacklers with 23 to go along with a team-best 2.5 tackles for loss, while Laquan Robinson is next with 20 stops.
Following the Tulane contest, the Golden Eagles stay on the road to play Troy in a Tuesday, Oct. 6, matchup set for ESPN2. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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