Honestly, if you aren't paying attention to the Sun Belt right now, you’re missing the best soap opera in college sports. People love to talk about the SEC or the Big Ten, but for folks in the Pine Belt and the Wiregrass, the only thing that matters is Southern Mississippi vs Troy. It isn't just about a game on a schedule. It is about a literal turf war that has been simmering since 1935.
I was looking at the recent box scores, and let’s just be real: Troy has been living in Southern Miss’s head rent-free for a while now. They just met on the hardwood on January 14, 2026, and it wasn't even close. Troy walked away with a 91-65 blowout win. Cobi Campbell went absolutely nuclear, dropping 30 points and shooting 6-of-9 from deep. It was a clinic. But while the basketball court is providing the current fireworks, the football history between these two is where the real scars are.
The Football Power Shift in the Sun Belt West
For decades, Southern Miss was the big brother. They were the program that went into Lincoln or Auburn and pulled off upsets that made national headlines. But the script has flipped. Looking at the football grid, Troy has won the last five meetings on the gridiron. Five. That hurts if you're a Golden Eagle fan.
The most recent football clash on November 29, 2025, was basically a microcosm of where these two programs sit. It was a winner-take-all game for the Sun Belt West Division title. The stakes couldn't have been higher. Troy went into Hattiesburg—The Rock—and walked out with a 28-18 victory and a trophy.
Why did Southern Miss struggle?
They just couldn't run the ball. Troy's defense, led by guys like Smith (who finished the year with a league-leading nine sacks), held the Golden Eagles to under 100 yards on the ground. Braylon Braxton threw for over 250 yards, but he was under fire all night. Meanwhile, Troy’s Tae Meadows was a hammer, and Goose Crowder’s 75-yard bomb to Thomas in the fourth quarter basically sucked the oxygen out of M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Southern Mississippi vs Troy: A History of Streaks
If you look at the all-time record, Southern Miss leads 8-7. But that number is incredibly misleading. Southern Miss dominated the early years—we’re talking 1930s and 40s—when Troy was still "Troy State." Then they didn't play for nearly 30 years.
When the rivalry revived in the modern era, it became a slugfest.
- The 2008 New Orleans Bowl: Southern Miss won a 30-27 thriller.
- 2019: A wild 47-42 shootout that Southern Miss grabbed.
- The Drought: Since 2021, Troy has dominated, outscoring Southern Miss by significant margins almost every year.
It’s weird. Southern Miss has the better "historical" brand, but Troy has the better "current" culture. Troy has won three West Division titles in the last four seasons. That is a level of consistency that Southern Miss is desperate to get back to.
The New Blood: 2026 Coaching Overhauls
As of January 2026, both schools are in the middle of massive staff changes. This is where things get interesting for the next Southern Mississippi vs Troy matchup. Southern Miss just hired Blake Anderson (who previously had a successful run at Arkansas State) to rebuild the program. He’s already making moves, bringing in Kyle Cefalo from Cal as the offensive coordinator.
They also just landed Ethan Hampton, a transfer QB from Northern Illinois, to replace the departing Braylon Braxton. Hampton isn't a flashy dual-threat, but he's a steady hand. He needs to be, because Southern Miss fans are losing patience with the "rebuilding" label.
Troy isn't sitting still either. They just brought in Ben Sowders from Arkansas as the Director of Strength and Performance. They want to be the "bullies" of the Sun Belt. It’s a philosophy that has worked. By focusing on the trenches and a violent defensive front, they've managed to neutralize the speed that Southern Miss usually recruits.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think this is a "new" rivalry because they both play in the Sun Belt now. Wrong. This is a regional grudge match that survived the death of the old Conferences. When Southern Miss moved from Conference USA to the Sun Belt, they didn't just join a league; they joined a fight.
The geography is too close for comfort. Hattiesburg and Troy are only about three hours apart. They recruit the same high schools in Mobile, Pensacola, and the Mississippi Delta. Every time a kid from Laurel chooses Troy over Southern Miss, it’s a needle in the side of the Golden Eagle faithful.
Actionable Takeaways for the Next Season
If you're betting on or just following this rivalry in 2026, keep an eye on these specific factors:
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- The Transfer Portal Impact: Southern Miss is being much more aggressive this January. The addition of Kaden Saunders from Penn State at wideout suggests they are trying to fix the explosive play deficiency that cost them the 2025 game.
- The "Rock" Factor: Southern Miss has actually struggled at home against Troy recently. Watch for whether Blake Anderson can re-establish M.M. Roberts Stadium as a place where opponents actually fear to play.
- The Quarterback Battle: With Braxton gone and Crowder leading Troy, the QB play will dictate the 2026 meeting. If Ethan Hampton can provide 65% completion stability, Southern Miss has the athletes to break the five-game losing streak.
The 2026 football schedule is already being circled. Southern Miss needs that win to prove they aren't just a "legacy" program. Troy needs it to maintain their dynasty. Either way, expect more chippiness, more trash talk, and probably another game that comes down to a fourth-quarter turnover.