Southern Miss looks to surprise this upcoming football season

We’re officially kicking off our 2026 football coverage as Southern Miss took center stage at Sun Belt Football Media Days in New Orleans.
Head coach Blake Anderson was joined by wide receiver Davis Dalton and linebacker Mathis Haygood as they represented the Golden Eagles alongside the rest of the Sun Belt West Division. While plenty of questions surround this year’s team and the upcoming season, Southern Miss says it’s embracing the challenge, believing this group has what it takes to surprise plenty of people this fall.

“We’ve got the chance to do something nobody else can do,” said Head Coach Blake Anderson. “There’s no team in the country that’s turned over more players. There’s no team in the country that’s going to go out and really build the entire two deep from scratch like we’re going to, so how do you not get excited about the challenge? Do something nobody has ever done. Do something people say can’t be done, so if that doesn’t fire you up, something’s wrong with you. That’s exactly the approach the staff and players are taking. It’s our time. Why not us? Get it done regardless.”
“I think we have strengths in all aspects of our team. Offensive, defensively, special teams, I really think we brought in a bunch of good players,” said Davis Dalton. “We have 73 new guys on our roster and I think everybody coming together this off season. Since January we’ve built great relationships with everybody and we have bunch of good strengths that brings us into the season with a positive mindset.”

“The surprise aspect for sure,” said Mathis Haygood. “I don’t think anyone knows fully what we have or what we’re fully capable of yet, even us, so we’re looking forward to September 5th, our first game, and that’s all we can think about.”

As Haygood said, their first task at hand is September 5th as they host Alcorn State with a 5pm kickoff. We’ll see you then at The Rock!