 Hopson's team lost their next two, falling to rival UAB by a score of 30-12 and Tennessee by a margin of 24-10.Southern Miss won their last three games to close the regular season, defeating Rice by a score of 43-34, Charlotte by a margin of 66-21 and Marshall by a nail biting 28-27.Southern Miss accepted a berth in the 2017 Independence Bowl, a game they lost to Florida State by a score of 42-13.