College football 2020: Ranking the 3 worst losses from Week 1

3. Southern Miss shocked at home by South Alabama

From early in the week, the Golden Eagles were a 14.5-point favor over South Alabama. The Jaguars were coming off a 2-10 record this past season, which was the worst single-season record in their 11 seasons as a program.

By the time the game started, the Golden Eagles were a 12.5-point favor over the Jaguars.

From the moment the game started, the Golden Eagles were unable to find any offensive rhythm as well as stop the Jaguars’ offensive production. The Jaguars out-gained the Eagles in total yards accounted for 529-409 as well as first downs accounted for 23-20. South Alabama was 7-for-12 on third downs throughout the game as well as 2-for-2 on fourth downs.

Despite forcing two turnovers on South Alabama, they were unable to make it into the end zone for touchdowns when they needed them. The Jaguars’ defense held the Eagles to 95 rushing yards. Only wide receiver Tim Jones was able to create some offensive efficiency going as he caught six receptions for 139 yards.

This was the second FBS game of the new 2020 season as well as the first upset. South Alabama knew they had overcome their major significant problems from last year during the offseason and they were ready.

The result of this loss continued to highlight the lack of transgression that Golden Eagles head coach Jay Hopson promised to the program. In the previous four seasons as head coach, Hopson accounted for a 28-22 overall record with the best season coming in 2017 with an 8-5 overall record.

Hopson stepped down as head coach on Sunday after a heavy series of backlash from the fans and program. Co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Scotty Walden will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.