How to Watch Southern Miss vs. Western Kentucky: New Orleans Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 23, 2025

Updated Dec. 23, 2025 5:28 p.m. ET

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Braylon Braxton and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers meet for the New Orleans Bowl. The bowl matchup is December 23, 2025, starting at 5:30 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN. Go to ESPN to see the Golden Eagles take on the Hilltoppers.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports. Learn more about the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

How to Watch Southern Miss vs. Western Kentucky

When: Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. ET
Location: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
TV Channel: ESPN
Streaming: FOX One + ESPN Bundle

Southern Miss' 2025 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
8/30/2025	vs. Mississippi State	L 34-17
9/6/2025	vs. Jackson State	W 38-20
9/13/2025	vs. Appalachian State	W 38-22
9/20/2025	at Louisiana Tech	L 30-20
9/27/2025	vs. Jacksonville State	W 42-25
10/9/2025	at Georgia Southern	W 38-35
10/18/2025	at Louisiana	W 22-10
10/25/2025	vs. Louisiana-Monroe	W 49-21
11/8/2025	at Arkansas State	W 27-21
11/15/2025	vs. Texas State	L 41-14
11/22/2025	at South Alabama	L 42-35
11/29/2025	vs. Troy	L 28-18
12/23/2025	vs. Western Kentucky	-

Southern Miss 2025 Stats & Insights

Southern Miss ranks 52nd in total offense (403.7 yards per game) and 98th in total defense (402.3 yards allowed per game) this season.
Southern Miss ranks 26th in pass offense (266.7 passing yards per game) and 79th in pass defense (226 passing yards allowed per game) this year.
The Golden Eagles are putting up 29.8 points per game on offense, which ranks them 48th in the FBS. On the other side of the ball, they rank 84th, allowing 27.4 points per game.
The Golden Eagles rank 88th in run offense (137 rushing yards per game) and 105th in run defense (176.3 rushing yards allowed per game) this year.
Despite having a bottom-25 defense on third down that ranks 17th-worst in the FBS (44.5% third-down percentage), Southern Miss has had more success on offense, ranking 63rd in the FBS by posting a 40.2% third-down conversion rate.
With 26 forced turnovers (fourth in the FBS) against 14 turnovers committed (48th in the FBS), the Golden Eagles' +12 turnover margin is the sixth-best in college football.

Southern Miss 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Braylon Braxton	QB	2,795 YDS (65.2%) / 23 TD / 7 INT 194 RUSH YDS / 1 RUSH TD / 17.6 RUSH YPG
Jeffery Pittman	RB	640 YDS / 8 TD / 64 YPG / 4.4 YPC 23 REC / 93 REC YDS / 0 REC TD / 10.3 REC YPG
Carl Chester	WR	30 REC / 565 YDS / 7 TD / 47.1 YPG
Elijah Metcalf	WR	52 REC / 677 YDS / 2 TD / 61.5 YPG
Chris Jones	LB	84 TKL / 3 TFL / 3.5 SACK / 1 INT
J'Mond Tapp	DL	51 TKL / 11 TFL / 7.5 SACK
Ian Foster	DB	45 TKL / 3 TFL / 1 SACK / 3 INT
Michael Montgomery	LB	63 TKL / 1 TFL / 1.5 SACK / 2 INT

Western Kentucky's 2025 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
8/23/2025	vs. Sam Houston	W 41-24
8/30/2025	vs. North Alabama	W 55-6
9/6/2025	at Toledo	L 45-21
9/20/2025	vs. Nevada	W 31-16
9/27/2025	at Missouri State	W 27-22
10/3/2025	at Delaware	W 27-24
10/14/2025	vs. Florida International	L 25-6
10/21/2025	at Louisiana Tech	W 28-27
11/1/2025	vs. New Mexico State	W 35-16
11/15/2025	vs. Middle Tennessee	W 42-26
11/22/2025	at LSU	L 13-10
11/29/2025	at Jacksonville State	L 37-34
12/23/2025	vs. Southern Miss	-

Western Kentucky 2025 Stats & Insights

With 405.4 total yards per game on offense, Western Kentucky ranks 48th in the FBS in 2025. On defense, it ranks 99th, surrendering 402.6 total yards per game.
Western Kentucky's passing attack has been leading the charge for the team, as it ranks 22nd-best in the FBS with 272.6 passing yards per game. In terms of defense, it is ceding 221.3 passing yards per game, which ranks 69th.
The Hilltoppers are generating 29.8 points per contest on offense this season (48th-ranked). Meanwhile, they are allowing 23.4 points per game (55th-ranked) on defense.
The Hilltoppers rank 94th in the FBS with 132.8 rushing yards per game on offense, and they rank 110th with 181.3 rushing yards surrendered per game on defense.
From an offensive standpoint, Western Kentucky is posting a 44.9% third-down conversion rate (32nd-ranked). It ranks 45th in the FBS defensively (36% third-down rate allowed).
The Hilltoppers have a -5 turnover margin this season, which ranks 104th in the FBS.

Western Kentucky 2025 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Maverick McIvor	QB	1,863 YDS (67.3%) / 12 TD / 5 INT 28 RUSH YDS / 1 RUSH TD / 4 RUSH YPG
La'Vell Wright	RB	460 YDS / 10 TD / 38.3 YPG / 5.8 YPC 10 REC / 88 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 8.8 REC YPG
Matthew Henry	WR	48 REC / 762 YDS / 6 TD / 63.5 YPG
Rodney Tisdale Jr.	QB	1,367 YDS (67.7%) / 9 TD / 6 INT 105 RUSH YDS / 2 RUSH TD / 15 RUSH YPG
Jaylen Lewis	DB	45 TKL / 3 TFL / 2 INT / 2 PD
Jaylen Wester	LB	65 TKL / 1 TFL / 0.5 SACK
Harper Holloman	DL	26 TKL / 2 TFL / 2 SACK / 1 INT
Dave Herard	DB	36 TKL / 1 TFL