USM becomes bowl eligible after homecoming win over ULM

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (USM Athletics) — Braylon Braxton threw four touchdown passes and Southern Miss (6-2, 4-0 Sun Belt) defeated ULM (3-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) 49-21 on Saturday to remain undefeated in the Sun Belt Conference.

The Golden Eagles led 21-14 at halftime before Matt Jones had his second short touchdown run of the game and Braxton threw two of his touchdown passes to make it 42-14 with about 13 minutes left in the game.

Braxton completed 18 of 23 passes for 248 yards. His touchdowns went to four teammates — Tychaun Chapman, Kyirin Heath, Bralon Brown and Carl Chester.

Zach Palmer Smith had 111 yards rushing for the Warhawks. His 21-yard touchdown run made it 21-14 in the second quarter before Southern Miss blew it open in the second half of their homecoming game.

Southern Miss heads into the bye week winners of its last four games. The Golden Eagles will travel to Arkansas State on Saturday, Nov. 8. 

With the win the Golden Eagles captured their sixth win to gain bowl eligibility for the first time since 2022 and the 18th time since 2000. The Golden Eagles reached bowl eligibility in eight games, which is the second quickest they have done it this century. Southern Miss did it in seven games in both 2000 and 2011.