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Southern Mississippi head coach Larry Fedora, left, addresses the media as quarterback Austin Davis, center, and linebacker Ronnie Thornton look on during an NCAA college football news conference in Honolulu, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. Southern Miss is sche Eric Risberg, Associated Press
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Southern Mississippi quarterback Austin Davis answers a question during an NCAA college football news conference in Honolulu, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. Southern Miss is scheduled to play Nevada in the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday. Eric Risberg, Associated Press
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Nevada head coach Chris Ault answers questions about his friend Norm Chow being offered the Hawaii head coaching job during an NCAA college football news conference in Honolulu, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011. Nevada is scheduled to play Southern Mississippi in Eric Risberg, Associated Press
By Associated Press

HONOLULU — As if being 5,500 miles from Hattiesburg and having Waikiki beach as a backyard wasn't enough, Conference USA champion Southern Mississippi had to deal with even more distractions.

The 22nd-ranked Golden Eagles (11-2) face Western Athletic Conference runner-up Nevada (7-5) in the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday in what will be the final game under coach Larry Fedora.

Southern Miss won a school-record 11 games this season en route to capturing its first C-USA title since 2003 by upsetting Houston 49-28.

While Southern Miss will be making its first trip since 1977, Nevada is no stranger to the islands, or the Hawaii Bowl.

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Nevada is making its seventh straight postseason appearance and 12th overall. It will be playing in the Hawaii Bowl for the third time since 2005.

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