| Year: | 2016 |
| Team: | Southern Miss Golden Eagles |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Conference USA |
| Division: | West Division |
| Short Conf: | C-USA |
| Record: | 7–6 |
| Conf Record: | 4–4 |
| Head Coach: | Jay Hopson |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Shannon Dawson |
| Off Scheme: | Spread |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Tony Pecoraro |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Stadium: | M. M. Roberts Stadium |
| Champion: | New Orleans Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | New Orleans Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 28–21 vs. Louisiana–Lafayette |
The 2016 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Eagles played their home games at the M. M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by first-year head coach Jay Hopson. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in C-USA play to finish in third place in the West Division. They were invited to the New Orleans Bowl where they defeated Louisiana–Lafayette.
Southern Miss announced its 2016 football schedule on February 4, 2016. The 2016 schedule consists of 6 home and away games in the regular season. The Golden Eagles will host C–USA foes Charlotte, Marshall, Louisiana Tech, and Rice, and will travel to North Texas, Old Dominion, UTEP, and UTSA.[1]
The team will play four non–conference games, two home games against Savannah State from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and Troy from the Sun Belt Conference, and two road games against Kentucky and LSU both from the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Schedule Source:[2]
See also: 2016 Kentucky Wildcats football team.
See also: 2016 Savannah State Tigers football team.
See also: 2016 Troy Trojans football team.
See also: 2016 UTEP Miners football team.
See also: 2016 Rice Owls football team.
See also: 2016 UTSA Roadrunners football team.
See also: 2016 LSU Tigers football team.
See also: 2016 Marshall Thundering Herd football team.
See also: 2016 Charlotte 49ers football team.
See also: 2016 Old Dominion Monarchs football team.
See also: 2016 North Texas Mean Green football team.
See also: 2016 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team and Rivalry in Dixie.
See also: 2016 Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns football team and 2016 New Orleans Bowl.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Thomas | Wide receiver | 6 | 31 | Los Angeles Rams |
| Kalan Reed | Defensive back | 7 | 32 | Tennessee Titans |