App State football will try to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2019 when it travels to Southern Miss on Saturday to open Sun Belt Conference play.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Hattiesburg, MS. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. This is the third matchup between the two teams since App State moved up to FBS, and the series stands even at one win a piece.
What happened last week?
The Mountaineers are coming off of a 20-13 victory over Lindenwood in their home opener.
The offense struggled with four turnovers, but the defense stepped up earning a program record eight sacks. The defense also recorded two interceptions, one of which sealed the victory.
CHECK IT OUT: App State ranked third in our latest Fabulous 15 statewide college football rankings
App State Key Players
Redshirt junior AJ Swann threw his first interception of the season against Lindenwood but was able to remain unfazed and finished with 294 passing yards and two touchdowns. App State will continue the aerial attack as it moves into the meat of its schedule.
Swann has found his favorite targets in redshirt senior Dalton Stroman and junior receiver Jaden Barnes.
Last week, Stroman had multiple big plays, making three catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. He has emerged as a deep threat in this offense.
Barnes had eight receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Like Stroman he is a deep threat, but is also able to find open spaces and make plays with his speed. This combination of speed and big receptions makes the Mountaineers’ receiving core dangerous.
Practice resumes today, and it's a big one with the league opener at Southern Miss scheduled for Saturday.
Full press conference: https://t.co/ERkt6BJHdP#GoApp #BeatUSM pic.twitter.com/vNdSQC60OB — App State Football (@AppState_FB) September 8, 2025
In the running game, Rashod Dubinion ranks second in FBS in total rushing yards (305) and rushing yards per game (152.5) after two weeks. Dubinion logged 194 yards on 25 carries against Lindenwood.
Redshirt junior Thomas Davis is a cornerstone for the defense, which really found its stride against Lindenwood. Davis finished with seven tackles and a sack. The defense is carrying last week’s momentum into the upcoming matchup.
Southern Miss Key Players
Redshirt senior quarterback Braylon Braxton controls the reins for the Golden Eagles (1-1). He was previously at Marshall with his head coach Charles Huff. Through the first two games of the season Braxton threw for 413 yards and five touchdowns. He has also added 78 yards on the ground.
Jeffery Pittman is a redshirt junior running back from Taylorsville, MS. He joined the Golden Eagles after previously being with Mississippi State. As a member of Southern Miss he has 87 rushing yards and 53 receiving yards.
Redshirt senior receiver Bralon Brown previously spent time at Ole Miss and most recently at Marshall. He did not record any stats in week one but recorded three receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown against Jackson State, a game Southern Miss won 38-20 last weekend. He is also a deep threat, hauling in a 40-yard reception.
Junior linebacker Michael Montgomery is in his first year as a Golden Eagle, previously playing for Portland State. This season he has recorded 13 tackles and an interception.
App State at Southern Miss will be the first Sun Belt Conference game of the season for the league. The Mountaineers were picked in the preseason to finish third in the Sun Belt East, while Southern Miss was tabbed fifth in the West.
Max Schwanz is the sports editor for The Appalachian, the student newspaper at Appalachian State University. A journalism major and digital marketing minor from Cornelius, N.C., you can find more of his work at The Appalachian.
