The 1972 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern Mississippi as an independent during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. In their fourth year under head coach P. W. Underwood, the team compiled a 3âÂÂ7âÂÂ1 record.
At their homecoming game on November 11 against Chattanooga, the University officially announced the athletic teams would be known as the Golden Eagles moving forward and retired the Southerners nickname.