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Maverick McIvor rallies Western Kentucky to a New Orleans Bowl victory, beating Southern Miss 27-16

Maverick McIvor rallies Western Kentucky to a New Orleans Bowl victory, beating Southern Miss 27-16 | iNFOnews.ca
Western Kentucky Quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. (16) being rushed by a Southern Miss defender during the first of half of the New Orleans Bowl Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025 in New Orleans, La. (Aimee Cronan/The Gazebo Gazette via AP)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Quarterback Maverick McIvor came off the bench to lead three second-half touchdown drives and Western Kentucky rallied to beat Southern Mississippi 27-16 on Tuesday night to win the New Orleans Bowl at Caesars Superdome.

Head coach Tyson Helton has led the Hilltoppers (9-4) to a bowl game in seven straight seasons, winning five of them.

McIvor completed 12 of 19 passes for 199 yards with one interception and rushed for a season-high 48 yards and a score on eight carries. Matthew Henry had seven receptions for 126 yards. Jack Cannon kicked two field goals.

Braylon Braxton threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Tychaun Chapman in the first quarter and Creighton Wilbanks kicked two field goals in the second to help the Golden Eagles (7-6) take a 13-6 lead into halftime.

Southern Miss piled up 265 yards in the first half, while holding Western Kentucky to 84. The Hilltoppers outgained the Golden Eagles 338-112 after halftime.

Freshman quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. completed 9 of 20 passes for 65 yards with an interception for Western Kentucky before leaving right before halftime after taking a hard hit.

McIvor, who hadn’t played since starting the first seven games, led the second-half charge.

McIvor capped an eight-play drive with an 11-yard touchdown run to tie it 13-all midway through the third quarter before Wilbanks kicked a 41-yard field goal to put Southern Miss up 16-13 heading to the fourth.

McIvor had a 23-yard run to the Golden Eagles’ 1 and George Hart III plunged into the end zone two plays later for a 20-16 lead 7:48 remaining.

McIvor completed a 14-yard pass to Matthew Henry on third-and-11 and Marvis Parrish raced 54 yards for a score on the next play to set the final margin with 3:38 left. The Hilltoppers were successful on all eight third-down opportunities in the second half after going 1 for 9 in the first.

Braxton totaled 258 yards on 24-for-47 passing with an interception.

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Maverick McIvor rallies Western Kentucky to a New Orleans Bowl victory, beating Southern Miss 27-16 | iNFOnews.ca
Southern Miss Receiver Tychaun Chapman (2) catches a ball between Western Kentucky defenders during the first half of the New Orleans Bowl Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025 in New Orleans, La. (Aimee Cronan/The Gazebo Gazette via AP)
Maverick McIvor rallies Western Kentucky to a New Orleans Bowl victory, beating Southern Miss 27-16 | iNFOnews.ca
Western Kentucky Quarterback Maverick McIvor (7) looks down the field while being rushed by Southern Miss defenders J’Mond Tapp (14) and JJ Hawkins (5) during the first half of the NCAA college Football game the New Orleans Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025 in New Orleans, La. (Aimee Cronan/The Gazebo Gazette via AP)
Maverick McIvor rallies Western Kentucky to a New Orleans Bowl victory, beating Southern Miss 27-16 | iNFOnews.ca
Western Kentucky Running Back Marvis Parrish (21) is stopped defensively by Southern Miss defenders Chris Jones (35) and Michael Montgomery (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game at the New Orleans Bowl Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025 in New Orleans, La. (Aimee Cronan/The Gazebo Gazette via AP)

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