CFB Bowl Preview 2025: New Orleans Bowl
By Rory Daniels
Bowl season is in full swing, and we will be previewing every bowl game this year. This year’s New Orleans Bowl will be contested between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Let’s take a look at the key matchups.
Where and When
Location: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Date: Tuesday December 23
Time: 5.30pm EST / 10.30pm GMT
Story So Far...
A field goal with four seconds left on the clock was all that stopped Western Kentucky from making the Conference USA Championship. As it turned out, the loss to Jacksonville State left them with a season record of 8-4. The Hilltoppers lost their last two games in a close fashion, nearly shocking LSU the week before in a defensive back-and-forth. Head Coach Ty Helton has been known for his high-powered offense but their air-raid system was slightly less productive than usual, despite leading CUSA in points per game and total passing yards. There was also the emergence of an exciting freshman, which we will touch on later.
For Southern Miss, things looked bleak until they hit some mid-season form that allowed them to qualify for bowl eligibility. Like Western Kentucky, their offense was one of the best in their conference, the Sun Belt. On defense the Golden Eagles survive off turnovers; when they have more than two in a game, they were unbeaten, when they had less, they failed to register a win. Things will look different on the sidelines. Head Coach Charles Huff was one and done, accepting the head job at Memphis in December. There will be a sense of familiarity with offensive coordinator Blake Anderson landing the job full-time. He hopes to reverse the three-game losing streak they ended the year on.
The Quarterbacks
A shoulder injury midseason to starting QB, Maverick McIvor, meant freshman Rodney Tisdale Jr got his chance as starter for the Hiltoppers. He didn’t look back; his first five performances were enough to earn him Freshman of the Year honours in Conference USA. It included a hot three-game streak where he threw for 898 yards and eight touchdowns. While things cooled off in the last two games, everyone is looking forward to seeing Tisdale in this one.
For Southern Miss, the QB has a few more years under his belt. The well-travelled Braylon Braxton has played at Tulsa and Marshall, where he followed Head Coach Huff to the Golden Eagles. Braxton also had a big year, passing for over 2,800 yards and 23 touchdowns. That earned him a PFF passing grade of 78.9, and another impressive performance here could help pad his resume for the NFL. Now out of eligibility, Braxton will likely catch on as a day 3 prospect, and this is a chance to showcase some of his talents.
Who to Watch
Western Kentucky
Laurence Seymore, Offensive Guard
We don’t often shine the spotlight on the offensive linemen but Seymore had a stellar 2025, he didn’t give up a sack and only allowed only four pressures on nearly 500 passing downs. He recorded a PFF pass-blocking grade of 88.9 and Second Team All-American status as well as a spot on the All-CUSA First Team. He projects to be a mid-round NFL selection come April.
Southern Miss
Chris Jones, Linebacker
Looking to slow down Rodney Tisdale Jr will be the star of this Golden Eagles defense, linebacker Chris Jones. He leads the team in tackles with 129, has 7.5 tackles for loss and also 3.5 sacks. He can operate as a QB spy and look to put the the brakes on Tisdale escaping the pocket. He will be key in slowing this pass-heavy offense down.
Prediction
Western Kentucky go into this one as 2.5 favourites. They are in bowl action for the seventh consecutive season, and despite Tisdale being a freshman, that experience will play a part. Southern Miss are back to bowl action after a two-year break, and after coaching upheaval, the Hilltoppers should have the edge. This one is likely to come down to the Golden Eagles forcing mistakes from Tisdale. I think the freshman balls out in this one.
Western Kentucky 28-19 Southern Miss
Rory-Joe Daniels
COLLEGE FOOTBALL ANALYST
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.