Southern Miss will host Arkansas State at 6 p.m. CT on October 17 in their Week 7 Sun Belt Conference matchup, with the game streaming live on ESPN+. The announcement was made on October 5, setting the stage for a contest at Renasant Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The Golden Eagles enter the game with a 1-3 record overall and have yet to start conference play. Their only victory so far came in a 49-3 rout of Alcorn State on September 5. Since then, Southern Miss has dropped three straight games, including close losses to Tulane and UConn. Arkansas State arrives at 2-3, with a 0-1 conference record after a narrow 23-20 defeat to Louisiana. The Red Wolves’ wins this season were against West Georgia and Kennesaw State.
The historical series favors Southern Miss, who lead 11-4. The teams last met in 2025 when the Golden Eagles edged Arkansas State 27-21. Their first encounter dates back to 1960, making this an established rivalry in the Sun Belt.
Blake Anderson, Southern Miss' head coach, brings an interesting storyline to the matchup. Anderson was at Arkansas State from 2014 to 2020, where he compiled a 51-37 record and won two Sun Belt titles. Despite his long tenure there, he never faced Southern Miss as a coach during that period. His return to face the Red Wolves as the Golden Eagles’ coach adds a layer of intrigue to the encounter.
Southern Miss will look to rebound after their upcoming game at Troy on October 6, which kicks off at 7 p.m. CT and will air on ESPN2. Troy holds a 2-2 record and has yet to start Sun Belt play. Arkansas State’s next game after Southern Miss will be against South Alabama on October 8.
The Southern Miss schedule continues with a home game against Louisiana on October 24, followed by a trip to Louisiana Monroe on October 31. November brings a home game against James Madison on the 5th, with further matchups including Louisiana Tech, South Alabama, and Old Dominion.
Arkansas State’s season remains in flux as they try to improve a start that has seen more losses than wins. Their next few games will test their ability to respond after setbacks, especially with a challenging Sun Belt slate ahead.
Southern Miss and Arkansas State’s Week 7 game will be a significant Sun Belt contest, broadcast on ESPN+, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT at Renasant Stadium.
According to Yahoo Sports.
