The Delta of Hate: Guide to a Rivalry
We first introduced the idea of The Delta of Hate, a 3-Way rivalry between Troy, South Alabama, and Southern Miss in 2022. It was borne out of Sun Belt expansion and the addition of a new regional foe in the Golden Eagles.
A little background: The Delta of Hate is modeled after the greatest 3-way rivalry trophy in sports: The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, which can only be won if all three teams play each other in a given year.
If a team achieves a 2-0 record against the other two, they are the outright winner. If there is a 1-1 tie, it will remain with the team who currently holds it.
To get an idea of what this rivalry could mean, we have to start in 2021, the first time all three teams played each other.
2021
Game 1 of The Delta of Hate saw the Golden Eagles and the Jaguars face off in Mobile on September 4th. USA demolished USM 31-7, continuing their winning ways from the previous year. This will become a pattern for South.
The second leg of the DoH moved to Hattiesburg, when Troy came to town on September 18th. Southern Miss scored more on Troy and held them to fewer points than South Alabama. Unfortunately, that didn’t help, falling to Troy 21-9.
The inaugural Delta of Hate came down to the Battle for the Belt on November 6th. The Alabama squads played a great game, with Troy coming out on top 31-24.
Thus, the Trojans would lay claim to the theoretical title.
Final Record:
- Troy 2-0
- USA 1-1
- USM 0-2
2022
In 2022, the defense of the Delta of Hate started on October 8 for the Trojans. The Golden Eagles came to Troy for their first visit since the 47-42 shootout in 2019. Jon Sumrall’s young squad handled them easily, winning 27-10.
The Battle for the Belt played host to Game 2 of the 2022 Delta of Hate series. On October 20, Troy emerged victorious in the 10-6 slugfest down in Mobile. The win secured both the Belt and the Delta of Hate for the second straight year.
The November 19th Game 3 in Hattiesburg was for second place. South Alabama once again showcased the weird mojo they have over Southern Miss, winning 27-20 to increase their undefeated record against the Eagles.
Final Record:
- Troy 2-0
- USA 1-1
- USM 0-2
2023
The 2023 Delta of Hate series started in Mobile on October 17th and saw the biggest win in the series’ short history. South Alabama wanted to establish their dominance over Southern Miss and flex their muscle in pursuit of both the Belt and the Delta of Hate Trophy. They walloped the Golden Eagles 55-3, firmly preserving the Eagles’ place in the rivalry pecking order.
Game 2 on November 2nd was the Battle for the Belt in Troy. Sumrall’s team game out and established their game early winning 28-10 over the Jags. This preserved both Troy’s winning streak over South, but also their undefeated streak in the Delta of Hate.
Game 3 was a late November matchup between Troy and USM on the 25th. Troy won soundly 35-17, securing the Delta of Hate for a third straight year.
Final Record:
- Troy 2-0
- USA 1-1
- USM 0-2
2024
Game 1 of the Delta of Hate was a rough one for Troy. The October 15th game in Mobile saw the end of both its streak over South Alabama and its undefeated run in the Delta of Hate. Both the Belt and a chance for the Delta of Hate went to South in a 25-9 loss for Troy.
South Alabama solidified its first win in the series with another win over Southern Miss on November 23rd. The Jags blasted the Eagles 35-14.
Game 3 was seven days later in Troy. The Trojan and the Eagles would battle for second place in the series, but it wouldn’t be much of a battle. Gerad Parker’s boys beat the breaks off of USM 52-20.
Final Record:
- USA 2-0
- Troy 1-1
- USM 0-2
2025
Troy corrected its mistakes from 2024 and beat South Alabama 31-24 on October 4th, regaining the Belt and putting itself into the driver’s seat for the Delta of Hate.
On November 22nd, Game 2 took place in Mobile. South Alabama continued whatever black (and gold) magic it has over Southern Miss, winning 31-24. The win meant the series was either in Troy’s hands or staying in Mobile.
The next Saturday, Troy went into Hattiesburg and convincingly won the battle between two banged-up squads. The 28-18 win was not only its fifth series win in six years, it sent the Trojans back to the Sun Belt Championship for the third time in four years.
It also maintained Troy’s winning streak over USM, which has not beaten either team since 2019.
Final Record:
- Troy 2-0
- USA 1-1
- USM 0-2
So much like the last few years of the Battle for the Belt, the series feels pretty lopsided, but with Southern Miss’s hiring of Charles Huff, the gap between all three teams is smaller than it’s ever been. Should the teams and matchups get more competitive moving forward, this three-way series could become very important to the conference championship race itself.
After all, the last four Championships have featured a program or head coach from these three teams.
Notes:
- Troy’s All-Time Delta of Hate Record: 9-1
- South’s All-Time Delta of Hate Record: 6-4
- USM’s All-Time Delta of Hate Record: 0-10
- Troy would hold the most Delta of Hate trophies with 3.
- South has won 1 Delta of Hate series.
- Troy’s record in Troy: 5-0
- Troy’s record in Hattiesburg: 3-0
- Troy’s record in Mobile: 2-1
- South’s record in Troy: 0-3
- South’s record in Hattiesburg: 2-0
- South’s record in Mobile: 4-1
- USM’s record in Troy: 0-2
- USM’s record in Hattiesburg: 0-5
- USM’s record in Mobile: 0-3
- Biggest win: 55-3, South over USM in 2023
- Closest win: 10-6, Troy over South in 2022