Southern Miss Holds Off Georgia Southern in Thrilling Sun Belt Showdown

On October 9, 2025, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (4-2, 2-0 Sun Belt) faced off against the Georgia Southern Eagles (2-4, 0-2 Sun Belt) at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. Southern Miss secured a narrow 38-35 victory, overcoming a 21-point halftime lead as Georgia Southern mounted a fierce second-half comeback.

Southern Miss vs Georgia Southern Pick & Prediction – 10/9/2025Southern Miss vs. Georgia Southern Prediction, Thursday CFB PicksWJCL - Savannah NewsWJCL - Savannah NewsCBS SportsWDAM - Hattiesburg NewsFurious Comeback Falls Short Against Southern Miss, 38-35Southern Miss beats Georgia Southern for first road win since 2023Biloxi Sun Herald

Georgia Southern opened the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run by David Mbadinga, following a 25-yard pass from quarterback J.C. French IV to Camden Brown. Southern Miss quickly responded with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Braylon Braxton to Tychaun Chapman, igniting a 28-0 scoring run that culminated in a 28-7 halftime lead.

WJCL - Savannah NewsFurious Comeback Falls Short Against Southern Miss, 38-35WDAM - Hattiesburg NewsSouthern Miss beats Georgia Southern for first road win since 2023Biloxi Sun HeraldSouthern Miss vs. Georgia Southern Prediction, Thursday CFB PicksSouthern Miss vs Georgia Southern Pick & Prediction – 10/9/2025CBS Sports

In the second half, Georgia Southern began to close the gap, starting with a 12-play, 87-yard drive capped by French's five-yard touchdown run. Southern Miss answered with a touchdown and a 42-yard field goal, extending their lead to 38-21. However, Georgia Southern scored two quick touchdowns, including a 26-yard pass to Brown and a two-yard run by French, narrowing the score to 38-35 with just over two minutes remaining. An onside kick attempt by Georgia Southern was unsuccessful, allowing Southern Miss to run out the clock.

WJCL - Savannah NewsWDAM - Hattiesburg NewsFurious Comeback Falls Short Against Southern Miss, 38-35Southern Miss beats Georgia Southern for first road win since 2023Biloxi Sun HeraldSouthern Miss vs. Georgia Southern Prediction, Thursday CFB PicksSouthern Miss vs Georgia Southern Pick & Prediction – 10/9/2025CBS Sports

Braylon Braxton led Southern Miss with 237 passing yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jeffery Pittman had a standout performance, rushing for a career-high 140 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries. For Georgia Southern, J.C. French IV threw for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions, while Camden Brown recorded 12 receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown, tying a school record for receptions in a game.

Furious Comeback Falls Short Against Southern Miss, 38-35WJCL - Savannah NewsSouthern Miss vs. Georgia Southern Prediction, Thursday CFB PicksSouthern Miss beats Georgia Southern for first road win since 2023WDAM - Hattiesburg NewsCBS SportsBiloxi Sun HeraldSouthern Miss vs Georgia Southern Pick & Prediction – 10/9/2025

This victory marked Southern Miss's first road win since November 2023 and improved their conference record to 2-0, a significant turnaround from their previous season's struggles. The win also positioned Southern Miss favorably in the Sun Belt standings, while Georgia Southern's loss deepened their challenges in the conference.

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Southern Miss head coach Charles Huff expressed pride in his team's performance, noting, “It’s hard to win. We won tonight, so I’m really proud of these guys.” Georgia Southern's players acknowledged the need for improvement, with J.C. French stating, “I had no confidence in the first half, and it showed, but I found it down the stretch.”

Biloxi Sun Herald

Despite the victory, Southern Miss's defense faced scrutiny for allowing Georgia Southern to score 28 points in the second half. Linebacker Mike Montgomery commented on the need to maintain intensity throughout the game, indicating that the team "let up a little bit."

Biloxi Sun Herald

Southern Miss will look to build on their momentum as they prepare to face the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns on October 18, 2025. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern will host Georgia State on the same day, seeking to secure their first conference win of the season.

WJCL - Savannah News

This matchup highlighted the competitive nature of the Sun Belt Conference, showcasing both teams' potential as they navigate the remainder of the season.

Southern Miss vs. Georgia Southern Prediction, Thursday CFB Picks