When Charles Huff was announced as the new head coach at Southern Miss, Golden Eagles fans did not just get a name–they got a resume.
A national title-winning assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama, Huff brings a winning pedigree to a program desperately in need of a reboot. Coming to Hattiesburg from conference rival Marshall, Huff is coming off a Sun Belt title win and compiled a 33-20 in four seasons. The Golden Eagles, by contrast, are coming off an 1-11 season–their seventh losing season since Larry Fedora left for North Carolina following the 2011 campaign.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄 🔝🏈
Introducing Southern Miss Football Head Coach Charles Huff
🦅@CoachHuff #SMTTT pic.twitter.com/uDNUIHoUeP
— Southern Miss Football (@SouthernMissFB) December 12, 2024
The bar is admittedly low, but with 54 transfers–including over 20 from Marshall alone–Huff’s first year promises to be anything by quiet.
With Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Brayton Braxton at quarterback, Southern Miss is betting big on instant chemistry and a culture reset. Whether it translates to the wins remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: This is a brand-new Southern Miss.
Roster Turnover
In the era of the transfer portal, a coaching change often brings a complete roster overhaul. This was no different at Southern Miss, which saw a staggering 85 players depart–good for a 77.3% turnover rate.
Not many contributors return from a team that ranked near the bottom of the FBS in most statistical categories. Linebacker Chris Jones (46 tackles) and tight end Kyirin Heath (220 receiving yards) headline a skeleton crew of returners.
The offense lost four of its top six receivers and all of its backfield production, including quarterback Tate Rodemaker (Western Carolina) and Ethan Crawford (Arkansas State).
Enter Braxton–Huff’s handpicked leader under center and one of the many former Marshall players to follow him to Hattiesburg. Braxton accounted for more than 2,200 total yards and 23 touchdowns last year and will be supported by Mississippi State transfer Jeffrey Pittman at running back. While Pittman did not play in 2024, he did run for 98 yards against Southern Miss in Nov. 2023.
The receiving corps is just as new: Micah Davis, at his fourth school in four years after spending 2024 at Ole Miss, joins Elijah Metcalf and Carl Chester from Marshall. Huff was asked about the group during his weekly press conference leading into the season opener.
“I think everyone in that room that will probably contribute right now has played some level of college football,” Huff said. “And I think that goes deeper than just at practice, it goes into your off the field habits, it goes into what are you doing in the film room, it’s not the first time that you have seen a different coverage, it’s not the first time that you have seen the game at this speed.”
On defense, ball-hawking corner Joshua Moten–six interceptions in two seasons at Marshall–leads the infusion of talent and joins Jones as a foundational of the unit. The redshirt senior was named to the 2025 Chuck Bednarik watch list.
It is not just a facelift–it is an identity transplant.
More in-depth information about what the 2025 Southern Miss roster may look like can be found here.
Schedule Breakdown
The 2025 Southern Miss schedule presents a balanced mix of early challenges and late-season opportunities, giving Huff a realistic shot at a bowl berth in his debut season. The Golden Eagles open with a high-profile home matchup against in-state SEC rival Mississippi State, a game that was part of a three-game agreement signed between the schools in 2017.
The rest of the nonconference schedule features winnable tune-ups, including FCS opponent Jackson State and the return of the “Rivalry in Dixie” against Louisiana Tech–the first meeting since 2021 when both programs were in Conference USA. Despite the layoff, Southern Miss holds a 35-17 lead in the all-time series.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗘𝗿𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝘄 🔝🏈
Introducing Southern Miss Football Head Coach Charles Huff
🦅@CoachHuff #SMTTT pic.twitter.com/uDNUIHoUeP
— Southern Miss Football (@SouthernMissFB) December 12, 2024
Sandwiched between those nonconference games is a pivotal home test against Appalachian State on Sept. 13, a matchup that should offer an early read on Huff’s rebuilt roster. October features back-to-back road games against Georgia Southern and Louisiana–two programs with strong track records in the Sun Belt that could challenge a team still developing its identity.
A three-game stretch to end the season will likely determine whether Southern Miss plays in December or ends the season below .500. That run begins with Texas State’s final trip to Hattiesburg as a Sun Belt member, followed by a road game at South Alabama. The regular season concludes with Troy visiting “The Rock” on Black Friday–a game that could carry bowl implications.
Projected 2025 Record
Ceiling: 8-4
Floor: 3-9
Projection: 6-6
Story to Watch
Few quarterbacks in the country will enter the season more familiar with their head coach than Braxton. The duo clicked in Huntington, where he emerged as a dynamic dual-threat and leader. Now in Hattiesburg, they will try to replicate–and even exceed–that success.
His connection with new targets like Davis will be critical, especially in high-leverage games against Mississippi State and Appalachian State. If Braxton can elevate those around him and take care of the football, Southern Miss could surprise in Year 1 of the Huff era. If not, it may be another year of rebuilding–but this time with a much firmer foundation.
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