Southern Miss football score vs. Alcorn State: Live updates

Frank Gore Jr. and Billy Wiles are set to lead the Southern Miss football team into the 2023 season, starting with Alcorn State in the opener Saturday.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg.

Gore — a preseason first-team All-Sun Belt pick at both running back and all-purpose back — led the Golden Eagles with 1,382 rushing yards (sixth-most in single-season history at Southern Miss). His last time out, he set an NCAA record for rushing yards in a bowl game (329 in a LendingTree Bowl victory over Rice).

Wiles, a Clemson transfer, will start at quarterback. He will be the team's fourth different starting quarterback in the past four season openers and the eighth since 2012.

Will Hall led Southern Miss to a 7-6 record last season, his second at the helm. The Golden Eagles were picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt's West Division in the league's preseason poll.

Alcorn State was 5-6 last season.

Southern Miss football vs. Alcorn State: Game time, TV info

The game will be at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

SOUTHERN MISS FOOTBALL: Clemson transfer Billy Wiles named starting quarterback

Southern Miss football vs. Alcorn State: Live score, updates

Final score: Southern Miss 40, Alcorn State 14

The Golden Eagles polished off Alcorn State, 40-14, Saturday.

Billy Wiles threw three touchdowns and had 267 yards passing. Frank Gore Jr. scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving). Andrew Stein connected on four field goals.

Third quarter

Tyquan Henderson's first career catch is a touchdown

Junior receiver Tyquan Henderson came up with a 3-yard touchdown catch from Billy Wiles to make it a 37-7 Southern Miss lead with 4:31 left in the third quarter. It is Henderson's first career catch.

Andrew Stein career-long 52-yard field goal

Kicker Andrew Stein drilled a 52-yard field goal to put Southern Miss up 30-7 with 9:35 to play in the third quarter Saturday. It is a new career-best field goal for Stein, who now has four games with at least three made field goals.

End of second quarter: Southern Miss 27, Alcorn State 7

Andrew Stein's second field goal of the first half

Southern Miss got a late second-quarter field goal from Andrew Stein to go up 27-7 on Alcorn State.

Billy Wiles finds Frank Gore Jr. to keep Southern Miss in front

The Golden Eagles' new quarterback hooked up with all-Sun Belt running back Frank Gore Jr. on a 2-yard touchdown pass to put the Golden Eagles up 24-7 with 10:56 left in the second quarter.

End of first quarter: Southern Miss 17, Alcorn State 7

Alcorn State's Tyler Macon puts Braves on the board with big run

Alcorn State quarterback Tyler Macon ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run to put the Braves on the board. With 3:50 left in the first quarter, Southern Miss leads 17-7.

Andrew Stein makes it a 17-0 Southern Miss lead

Southern Miss kicker Andrew Stein booted a 25-yard field goal to put the Golden Eagles up 17-0 on Alcorn State.

Jay Stanley grabs second INT of the quarter

Senior safety Jay Stanley picked off Alcorn State quarterback Tyler Macon for the second time with 6:26 left in the first quarter. He is the first Golden Eagle with two interceptions in one game since Ky'el Hemby (Nov. 24, 2018).

Frank Gore Jr. punches it in to extend Southern Miss' lead

Golden Eagle running back Frank Gore Jr. makes it a 14-0 advantage over Alcorn State with an 8-yard run up the middle. It is the 17th career touchdown run for the junior, whose father, Frank Gore, was a five-time Pro Bowler.

Southern Miss' Billy Wiles gets scoring started early

New Southern Miss quarterback Billy Wiles, on the third pass of his Golden Eagle career, hit Jakarius Caston in the flat. Caston made one defender miss and scored a 16-yard touchdown with 12:53 on the clock.

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Southern Miss football score vs. Alcorn State: Live updates