Hattiesburg, Miss. ? Made up of rugged and precise tacklers, the Kansas University football team’s defense has proven it has the aptitude and attitude to stymie a running offense.

A different challenge awaits it tonight in The Rock. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 90s, humidity on the swampy side, alcohol on hooting- and-hollering breaths and a vertical offense that spreads out a defense and tests how well it performs back-pedalling. So far, KU’s aggressive defense has attacked well, but the athletic composition of it suggests moving in the other direction could be tougher.

Defending a spread offense such as Southern Mississippi’s on an energy-sapping night, battling so much speed and such wild crowd participation makes this an extremely difficult road game.

Southern Miss might not have the most intimidating name, and it doesn’t play in a powerhouse conference, but the Kansas players need no education on the quality of tonight’s opponent.

“This week, I’m expecting a lot more passing because we didn’t spend much time dropping back, getting into coverage (against Georgia Tech),” KU linebacker Steven Johnson said. “At the same time, we expect a physical game because their offensive line is so big.”

The average weight of the five offensive linemen is 302 pounds. A strong KU pass rush is a must tonight, particularly from the front four. Johnson and Justin Springer have the ability to get to the quarterback blitzing, but that will leave holes in the defense that junior Austin Davis (68.9 completion percentage) knows how to exploit.

Respect for the opponent, ESPN TV cameras and residual stink in the air from the opening-week loss to North Dakota State combine to make it very likely Kansas will sprint onto the field sky high. But will that be enough?

“It’s going to be wild down there in Mississippi, where all people know is football,” Johnson said. “Friday night, nationally televised, big stage. I feel like we have a great opportunity to show what we can do to the whole nation.”

So does Southern Miss, which showed little in getting pasted on national TV by South Carolina, 41-13, in Week 1.

Johnson played on special teams in last year’s 35-28 victory against Southern Miss.

“Man, they were some big dudes,” Johnson said. “I was like, ‘What conference are they in? Conference USA?’ We came out with the win, but we do respect them. We have to put forth amazing effort like we did against Georgia Tech. Everybody was playing their hearts out because we wanted to win that game so bad. I know I feel the same way for this game.”

Senior cornerback Chris Harris knows what to expect.

“They’re definitely pretty fast,” he said. “A lot of teams from the South are pretty fast.”

Harris played in KU’s last ESPN Friday night game, a fall-from-ahead loss at South Florida on a hot and muggy night.

“We’re definitely expecting something similar,” Harris said of the weather. “I’ll try to put something in the guys’ ears. We were up 21-0 and we got tired. They used that to their advantage and had a big third quarter.”

Kansas will need a big third game to win this one. Southern Miss is the favorite for a reason.