Week 5: Southern Miss at Boise State

Two of the nation’s most consistent non-Bowl Championship Series-conference teams meet on the blue turf and national TV.

Southern Miss has won seven or more games in nine of the past 10 seasons. Boise State has done it in each of the past eight seasons.

The teams also will meet next year in Hattiesburg.

“They are the cream of the crop of the mid-majors,” Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower said. “They’ve got a reputation out here as if they are a BCS school.”

The Golden Eagles have a reputation for speed — an element that traditionally gives Boise State problems early in games. The Broncos fell behind Washington24-10 in the first half before adjusting to the speed, and they never caught up.

“You have that in mind that you’re going to feel a little slower in the beginning, so take a different angle than you would think you would need to,” Boise State senior safety Marty Tadman said. “… It’s like Washington — as soon as we start playing our assignments and start making tackles, I think we’ll be fine.”

The teams are similar, with emerging playmakers in the passing game, star tailbacks, tough defenses, solid special teams and a loss on the road to a big-time program (Tennessee for Southern Miss; Washington for Boise State).

The game likely will come down to which running back excels — Boise State’s Ian Johnson or Southern Miss’ Damion Fletcher — and which quarterback plays most efficiently — Boise State’s Taylor Tharp or Southern Miss’ Jeremy Young.

Tharp has committed four turnovers this season, all in the Washington game.

“Two of the three (games), we got what we wanted,” Boise State coach Chris Petersen said.

Boise State by 6