USM releases 2013 football opponents

Conference USA had several big announcements Wednesday. The first was the release of the new conference division structure. Southern Miss will stay in the East division of the conference and will be joined by returning conference members ECU, Marshall and UAB, and new members Florida Atlantic, Florida International and Middle Tennessee.

The West will be comprised of Louisiana Tech, North Texas, Rice, Tulane, Tulsa, UTEP and Texas-San Antonio. This is final, for the moment. Tulane and East Carolina are still pushing to leave the conference this summer and bolt for the Big East a year early. At the moment, they remain and this is the conference structure.

Southern Miss was also informed of their conference opponents this season for football. The Golden Eagles will host conference foes Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee and North Texas. Their only non-conference home opponent will be the Bobcats of Texas State.

Southern Miss will travel to conference foes East Carolina, Marshall, UAB and Louisiana Tech. Non-conference road opponents for this upcoming season are Boise State, Arkansas and Nebraska for the second-straight year.

The 2013 home schedule leaves little to be desired for fans, but it does give the Eagles an opportunity to have a winning record at home and potentially end the season undefeated at home. The five home foes went a combined 22-38 last season. Dates and times have yet to be released for the season.