The Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team is projected to finish with 10 wins in a season simulation run in the newly released EA Sports College Football 26.
The SM2 sports division simulated the Golden Eagles’ 2025 campaign, producing a 10-4 record overall and a 6-2 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. That result placed Southern Miss second in the Sun Belt West Division.
The simulation opened with a 27-23 victory against Mississippi State on Aug. 30 at M.M. Roberts Stadium. Notable results included a 51-10 win over FCS Southeast (Jackson State), a 26-24 loss to Appalachian State, and a 41-24 loss to James Madison in the Sun Belt Championship. Southern Miss also fell 35-21 to Utah in the New Mexico Bowl.
Several Golden Eagles earned simulated postseason honors. Tychaun Chapman, J’mond Tapp and Jonathan McGowan were named to the All-Sun Belt first team. Braylon Braxton, Josh Moten, John Burks and Kaden Morgan earned second-team recognition.
Two players also set school records in the simulated season. Elijah Metcalf caught 97 passes to break the program’s single-season receptions record, while Tapp recorded 16 sacks to set a new school mark.
Key Stats from the Simulation:
Passing: Braxton – 3,705 yards, 27 TDs, 4 INTs, 55% completions
Rushing: Jalen Pittman – 768 yards, 17 TDs; Braxton – 737 yards, 6 TDs
Receiving: Metcalf – 97 catches, 1,058 yards, 5 TDs; Chapman – 49 catches, 1,023 yards, 12 TDs
Defense: Tapp – 16 sacks; Moten – 5 interceptions; Bivens Toles – 84 tackles
Southern Miss will open the actual 2025 season at home against Mississippi State on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 11 a.m.
