Southern Miss takes down Georgia Southern in Paulson, 38-35

The Georgia Southern Eagles fall to 0-2 in the Sun Belt Conference after a loss at home to Southern Miss, 38-35, on Thursday night. The game goes over the point total of 59.5 and the Eagles cover the closing spread of 3.5-points. With that in mind, let’s recap this 2025 matchup between Georgia Southern vs. Southern Miss. 

Georgia Southern vs. Southern Miss 2025 Game Recap

A Rough First Half

Georgia Southern had a rough first half and were down 28-7 going into the locker room. The team struggled to convert a third down in the first half, going 0-of-7. The offense also had zero rushing yards in the entire first half, putting a little too much pressure on quarterback JC French to make something happen. French threw two interceptions in the first half that helped the Golden Eagles build their early lead. However, the second half was a different story.

The Georgia Southern defense only allowed Southern Miss to score 10 points after giving up 28 in the first half. French went to wide receiver Camden Brown as much as possible in an attempt to rally a comeback. Brown ended the game with 127 receiving yards and a late 26-yard touchdown grab that brought the game back within reach.

Head coach Clay Helton mentioned in his post-game press conference that he has still yet to see his team play a complete game, a common frustration shared by fans. However, coach believes that the fight the team showed in the second half can be translated to the rest of the season as Georgia Southern tries to climb back into the Sun Belt Championship picture.

The Battle Back

Although they went into the half down by three touchdowns, the Georgia Southern defense looked much better than previous games. Golden Eagles running back Jeffery Pittman had 31 carries for 140 yards, but his longest carry of the night went for 16 yards. Limiting explosive run plays has been difficult for the Eagles defense all year, but keeping the biggest rush of the game under 20-yards is a step in the right direction.

Another positive for Southern fans is that the offense never quit. Even after throwing two interceptions in the first half, JC French still rallied his team in a comeback effort. Wide receiver Camden Brown was French’s go-to target, as he has been all year. French had two rushing touchdowns in the second half but also had a third interception in the redzone. Although the Eagles comeback effort fell short, it still was a resilient answer to a very poor first half. If they are able to finally put together one full game of football, they may still have a chance to compete for the Sun Belt Championship.

Looking Ahead: Hosting Rival Georgia State

The 1-4 Georgia State Panthers will be coming to Paulson next Saturday for the in-state rivalry game. The Panthers were able to put up three touchdowns against Vanderbilt earlier in the year, and could have had a more if a field goal was not blocked. Georgia State just lost to James Madison 14-7, but it was a tied game all the way until late in the fourth quarter. On Saturday, Georgia State will host App State, allowing the Eagles an extra day of rest and preparation.

The Panther’s star is wide receiver Ted Hurst, who put up 70 receiving yards against an SEC defense at Vanderbilt. Hurst has a total of 406 yards on the year with a pair of touchdowns. The offense as a whole ranks 65th in FBS for passing yards per game, suggesting the Panthers try to get it to their best guy as much as possible. The Panther defense is ranked 90th in FBS for opponent passing yards allowed with 235.6. For reference, the Georgia Southern Eagles defense ranks 70th with 221.5 passing yards allowed per game.

Shrine Bowl Potentials

Golden Eagle quarterback Braylon Braxton was fantastic on Thursday for Southern Miss. The redshirt senior had 237 passing yards with a pair of 30+ yard passing touchdowns. Although Georgia Southern did a good job at limiting his ability on the ground, Braxton is a mobile quarterback that can do serious damage with his legs. The best aspect of Braxton’s game, however, is his deep ball. The Golden Eagles constantly tried to test the Georgia Southern secondary on deep passes and Braxton was able to complete two long touchdowns, the first for 50 yards and the second for 30.

Georgia Southern’s starting running-back OJ Arnold is a pivotal piece to the team. Although the Eagles run the spread offense, Arnold still has his moments to shine. The senior ranks 67th in FBS in rushing yards but 152nd in carries per game. This shows that Arnold makes the most of every opportunity he is given and could be a legit late-round draft talent in the spring.