MOBILE, Ala. – Separated by just 90 miles, the University of South Alabama has competed against teams from Southern Mississippi in numerous sports since the school’s inception in 1963, highlighted by nearly 80 matchups in baseball.  Now football can be added to the regional rivalry.

USA Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann announced Friday that the two schools have entered into a home-and-home agreement to meet in football, beginning in 2020.

“We know this is going to be a good rivalry one day,” Jaguar head coach Joey Jones commented.  “Southern Mississippi had so many years with a completed schedule that it was just hard to find a season we could play them.  We’re excited that they are only an hour-and-a-half away, and hopefully by then we can be competitive with those guys.”

The Jags and Golden Eagles will play in Hattiesburg on Sept. 5, 2020, with USM returning the game in Mobile on Sept. 4 the following year.  It’s the first agreement that the Jaguars have reached to play a current member of Conference USA.

Southern Miss joins Mississippi State, North Carolina State, Navy and Kent State as NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division I-A) members who have multi-game contracts with South Alabama.  The Jaguars have also signed one-year agreements with Louisiana State and Tennessee.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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