| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIU | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| USM | 21 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 37 |
Gore propels Southern Miss past FIU 37-17
Jason Brownlee makes the catch for a 34-yard TD
Jason Brownlee makes the catch for a 34-yard TD
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- — Frank Gore Jr. threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores and Southern Miss started fast in a 37-17 victory over Florida International on Saturday.
Dajon Richards scored on a 29-yard run to finish off the first drive for the Golden Eagles (3-9, 2-6 Conference USA). Max Bortenschlager threw a pick on first down for the Panthers (1-11, 0-8) and Gore needed one play to fire a 34-yard scoring strike to Jason Brownlee — one of his two TD catches — for a 14-0 lead. Southern Miss forced a three-and-out and Natrone Brooks returned the punt 77 yards to the Panthers' 2-yard line. Gore ran it in on the next play for a 21-0 lead and the Panthers never got closer than seven points from there.
Bortenschlager got FIU on the scoreboard with a 91-yard TD pass to Tyrese Chambers with 58 seconds left in the first quarter. It was the longest TD pass in FIU history — topping an 87-yarder from Josh Padrick to tight end Samuel Smith in a 14-10 loss to Maryland in 2004.
FIU lost 10 straight games to close out the season after beating FCS-member Long Island University 48-10 in the opener.
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Game Information
2024 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State | 6-0 | 7-3 |
| Western Kentucky | 5-1 | 7-3 |
| Sam Houston | 5-1 | 8-2 |
| Liberty | 4-2 | 7-2 |
| Louisiana Tech | 3-4 | 4-6 |
| Florida International | 2-4 | 3-7 |
| Middle Tennessee | 2-4 | 3-7 |
| UTEP | 2-5 | 2-8 |
| New Mexico State | 1-5 | 2-8 |
| Kennesaw State | 1-5 | 1-9 |
2024 Sun Belt Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall | 5-1 | 7-3 |
| Georgia Southern | 4-2 | 6-4 |
| James Madison | 4-2 | 8-2 |
| Old Dominion | 3-3 | 4-6 |
| Coastal Carolina | 2-4 | 5-5 |
| App State | 2-4 | 4-5 |
| Georgia State | 0-6 | 2-8 |
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 5-1 | 8-2 |
| Texas State | 4-2 | 6-4 |
| Arkansas State | 4-2 | 6-4 |
| South Alabama | 4-2 | 5-5 |
| UL Monroe | 3-3 | 5-5 |
| Troy | 2-4 | 3-7 |
| Southern Miss | 0-6 | 1-9 |
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