HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WTVA/USM Athletics) - Five teams that reached bowl games and two squads that finished in the national rankings last season highlight the 2012 Southern Miss football schedule released Thursday. Game times and television assignments will be announced at a later date.
"As we celebrate 'A Century of Championships and Commencements,' we are pleased with our 2012 football schedule," said Southern Miss Interim Director of Athletics Jeff Hammond. "We have some great events planned for a highly attractive home schedule which features six solid top quality opponents."
The defending Conference USA champion will entertain Big East foe and former league opponent, Louisville, as well as Mountain West and Top 10 opponent Boise State during coach Ellis Johnson's inaugural season. The Cardinals and Broncos are two of the five opponents which reached bowl games last season, along with Nebraska, Marshall and SMU.
The season opens up with a trip to Nebraska, Sept. 1, to face a Big 10 squad which finished the most recent season in the national polls. It will be the team's first visit to Lincoln since defeating the Huskers, 21-17, on Sept. 11, 2004. Following an off week, the Golden Eagles begin the home schedule with its Conference USA opener against East Carolina, Sept. 15.
The Golden Eagles then travel to Bowling Green to face Western Kentucky, Sept. 22, in the first meeting between the two schools. USM then returns home for two straight games, against former C-USA member Louisville on Sept. 29 and then against Boise State for the second time in five seasons on Oct. 6. The game against the Broncos completes the non-conference portion of the schedule.
After a trip to UCF on Oct. 13, the Golden Eagles entertain Marshall for homecoming on Oct. 20, and finish the month at Rice on Oct. 27.
The Golden Eagles then open the final month of the regular season by entertaining UAB, Nov. 3, before traveling to Dallas to face SMU, Nov. 10. Southern Miss completes the home portion of its schedule with a Nov. 17 outing against UTEP. The regular season concludes Nov. 24 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium with a game against Memphis.
COMPLETE 2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 1 @ Nebraska
Sept. 15 vs East Carolina*
Sept. 22 @ Western Kentucky
Sept. 29 vs Louisville
Oct. 6 vs Boise State
Oct. 13 @ UCF*
Oct. 20 vs Marshall* (Homecoming)
Oct. 27 @ Rice*
Nov. 3 vs UAB*
Nov. 10 @ SMU*
Nov. 17 vs UTEP*
Nov. 24 @ Memphis*
*-denotes Conference USA game
