Southern Miss cruised to a 38-20 victory over Jackson State in Week 2, with the Golden Eagles controlling the game from start to finish. The home team jumped out to a 14-3 first-quarter lead and never relinquished control, outscoring the Tigers 14-10 in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Quarterback Braylon Braxton led the Southern Miss offense, completing passes for 214 yards and connecting with Matt Jones on a team-leading eight receptions. Braxton found Micah Davis for a touchdown in the third quarter to extend the advantage. The Southern Miss defense proved particularly stifling, forcing several critical stops throughout the contest, especially in the second and fourth quarters.

Jackson State's Travis Terrell Jr. was the game's leading rusher with 80 yards, and the Tigers mounted a late offensive push in the fourth quarter with Ahmad Miller scoring a touchdown run. However, Southern Miss's early dominance and strong defensive performance proved insurmountable. The Golden Eagles' defense registered a crucial stop in the second quarter that had major momentum implications. Southern Miss covered the 13.5-point spread and the game went over the 53-point total.