The South Florida Bulls are set to face the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in a non-conference showdown on September 14, 2024, at M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Both teams are off to contrasting starts this season, with Southern Miss riding a wave of confidence following a 2-0 start. The Golden Eagles, under head coach Will Hall, have displayed a balanced approach on both sides of the ball, securing a solid win against Alcorn State and an impressive upset over Tulane. Quarterback Billy Wiles has been effective in managing the offense, throwing for 521 yards and six touchdowns with only one interception in the first two games. The running game, led by Frank Gore Jr., has also been a key factor, with Gore rushing for 234 yards and three touchdowns, providing a steady ground attack that keeps defenses honest. On the other hand, South Florida, under head coach Alex Golesh, comes into this game with a 1-1 record.

The Bulls showed promise in their victory over Western Kentucky but were outclassed by Alabama. Quarterback Byrum Brown has had a decent start, throwing for 481 yards and four touchdowns but has also thrown three interceptions, reflecting some inconsistency. Running back Nay’Quan Wright leads the ground attack with 155 rushing yards and a touchdown, but the Bulls need more from their offense to compete against a Southern Miss team that has shown efficiency on both sides of the ball. The key to this game will be whether South Florida can find a way to penetrate Southern Miss’s defense, which has allowed an average of just 17 points per game. The Bulls’ defense, which has struggled against both the pass and the run, must improve significantly to contain the dual-threat capabilities of Wiles and Gore. For Southern Miss, maintaining their defensive discipline and continuing their balanced offensive attack will be crucial to securing another win at home and covering the spread.