Editor’s note: This is part 11 of a 12-part series previewing Western Kentucky’s 2019 opponents. Southern Miss will host WKU at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 23 on ESPN+ in Hattiesburg, Miss. Tuesday will feature Middle Tennessee.
FRISCO, Texas – Jay Hopson’s fourth straight winning season at Southern Miss wasn’t enough to earn a bowl bid in a tight race for postseason spots among Conference USA teams in 2018. The Golden Eagles went 6-5 with three losses coming by a field goal or less, a record finishing last among the seven eligible programs last year.
But even beyond earning bowl credentials, Southern Miss could make a bigger jump considering what returns on a nationally ranked defense and the fact Hopson’s overall numbers in the program are up.