Cautiously optimistic, I am as excited for Southern Miss football as I’ve been in years.
The Sun Belt is the thank for that.

Southern Miss returns to the football field this Saturday. They do so in the conference perfectly suited for them in 2022.

In recent years it has been tough to care. A good fight in a loss to Auburn was more exciting than battling against Rice and UTEP for a bowl bid.

In Conference USA, no one cares about Conference USA. Programs care only about impressing the powers that be in order to escape Conference USA.

It is impossible to know what the future holds for college football, but if the non-“Power Two” teams are going to be left behind in some form or fashion, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

The 2022 Sun Belt is a refreshing return to what makes college football great. But it isn’t going to be a smooth first season for Southern Miss.

🟢 7 Wins, ❌ 5 Losses, 🤞 Bowl Game

My 2020 Southern Miss predictions…

Game 1: Liberty — ❌ Loss

Game 2: @ Miami (FL) — ❌ Loss

Game 3: Northwestern State — 🟢 Win

Game 4: @ Tulane — 🟢 Win

Game 5: @ Troy — 🟢 Win

Game 6: Arkansas State — 🟢 Win

Game 7: @ Texas State — 🟢 Win

Game 8: Louisiana — ❌ Loss

Game 9: Georgia State — ❌ Loss

Game 10: @ Coastal Carolina — ❌ Loss

Game 11: South Alabama — 🟢 Win

Game 12: @ ULM — 🟢 Win

Hopefully, we’ll see a bowl game in Will Hall’s second year, which will be good enough. But this will be the last year of Hall’s tenure where a 7-win bowl appearance will be good enough.

Southern Miss is two years removed from a Covid season where we saw 3 wins, 3 head coaches, and 2 canceled games. It was chaos, and in many ways, Southern Miss taking 3 wins in 2021 was quite impressive. This is why I think 7 wins in 2022 is not only good, it’s great.

Southern Miss to the top.