1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team

The 1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team represented the University of Southern Mississippi in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Golden Eagles were led by eighth-year head coach Jeff Bower and played their home games at M. M. Roberts Stadium. In their second year in the Conference USA, they claimed their second-straight conference championship with a 6–0 C-USA record and a 9–3 record overall. They were invited to the 1997 Liberty Bowl, where they defeated Pittsburgh, 41–7. In the final AP and Coaches Polls of the season, the Golden Eagles were ranked 19th, which was the first ranked finish in school history.

1997 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football
Conference USA champion
Liberty Bowl champion
Liberty Bowl, W 41–7 vs. Pittsburgh
ConferenceConference USA
Ranking
CoachesNo. 19
APNo. 19
Record9–3 (6–0 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorLarry Kueck (1st season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorJohn Thompson (6th season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumM. M. Roberts Stadium
1997 Conference USA football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 19 Southern Miss $  6 0   9 3  
Tulane  5 1   7 4  
East Carolina  4 2   5 6  
Cincinnati  2 4   8 4  
Memphis  2 4   4 7  
Houston  2 4   3 8  
Louisville  0 6   1 10  
  • $ Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll
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