Located in Hattiesburg, the University of Southern Mississippi, also known as Southern Miss, is a public university that boasts a large research endowment, fine arts programs that are highly respected, and accreditation at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. Several of their programs consistently list high among the nation's universities, with the Center for Writers receiving accolades from the New York Times Book Review and the Polymer Science and Engineering department ranked in the top ten by US News and World Report's collegiate rankings.

More than anything else, though, Southern Miss is famous for their athletic programs. As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division 1-A level, Southern Miss has hosted some of the best athletes in the country, including Brett Favre and Clarence Weatherspoon. Southern Miss football is particular popular, drawing an average of well over 28,000 fans to each game. However, Southern Miss Eagles can be found competing in a wide variety of sports, including men and women's basketball, baseball, women's soccer, softball, and men and women's golf.