Southern Miss meets Florida State in 2017 Independence Bowl

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Southern Miss Football Team will participate in the Independence Bowl for the first time since 1988. The Golden Eagles will battle it out in Shreveport against Florida State.

USM defeated Florida State 29 years ago in 1989 with a score of 30 to 26. College Athletic Director, Jon Gilbert, said Football Fans across the Pinebelt are looking forward to this history-making game.

"Great opportunity for our fan base. I’ve heard how important it is to play name opponents. You couldn’t ask for a better opponent in Florida State. I think it’s important for our fans to show up. The senior class that we have has been really important for this program. I think it’s a worth while game that all our fan base should participate in,” said Jon Gilbert.

The Golden Eagles will play Florida State at the Independence Bowl at 12:30pm on December 27. The game will air on ESPN.