2026 Opponent Snapshot: Marshall Thundering Herd
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach:Tony Gibson
Marshall Record:5-7
Quick 2025 Recap
Marshall could not maintain the momentum from a 10-win season in 2024 that saw them take home the Sun Belt Conference Championship. The season started with a 45-7 pounding by Georgia. While this may have been expected, the following week saw them drop to 0-2 with a loss to Missouri State. The offense eventually found its rhythm though, as the Herd won four of their next five game, with the only loss being in double overtime to Louisiana.
However, things started to fall apart with a loss to Coastal Carolina, starting a skid with Marshall dropping four of its final five games of the season. The team would miss a bowl game, finishing 5-7 with just one victory following a promising 4-3 start.
Offensive Player to Watch
QB Carlos Del-Rio Wilson
Del-Rio Wilson has opted to remain at Marshall after a spectacular season that could have seen him jump back into the P4 ranks. The former Syracuse quarterback did not throw an interception until the sixth game of the season, finishing with 17 touchdown passes to just five picks while completing an impressive 67 percent of his pass attempts in his first year as a starter. He also led the team in rushing with 657 yards, rushing for 70+ yards in six games while adding another six touchdowns with his legs.
At 6-2, 215 lbs., Del-Rio Wilson could find a home in the NFL if he can build upon his success in his second year as a starter.
Defensive Player to Watch
LB Javae Gilmore
Marshall is fortunate to have Gilmore back, who is one of the few productive defensive players to return for 2026. Gilmore was fourth on the team with 62 tackles, including a career-high 13 to help propel the Herd to a double-overtime victory over Texas State. The Mississippi State transfer will need to step up as the leader of the defense as a fifth-year senior.
Marshall Wins If…
The Herd have a chance to bounce back and make some noise in the Sun Belt with Del-Rio Wilson leading the offense and several top skill players returning. The defense will need more of an overhaul after losing star defensive back Boogie Trotter and other key players from a unit that already struggled in 2026.
Despite Penn State overhauling its staff and roster, the talent differential should be enough to make it an uneventful week one non-conference game in State College. The best chance for a Marshall upset could be if Matt Campbell turns out to be the entirely wrong fit for Penn State, with an unmotivated team playing out of sorts and turning the ball over all throughout the afternoon. Considering the amount of success Campbell had in the past decade at Iowa State despite limited resources, it’s doubtful such a thing could happen.
Penn State Wins If…
The Nittany Lions establish the run game and finish drives with the trio of Quinton Martin Jr., James Peoples and Carson Hansen. Rocco Becht shows he’s recovered from shoulder surgery while reconnecting with the likes of Chase Sowell, Brett Eskildsen, and Benjamin Brahmer. The re-tooled offensive line shows promise, with several emerging talents gaining valuable experience.
The key for the defense will be to take control of the line of scrimmage, especially with the rebuilt defensive line adding some much needed beef to the interior. The days of athletic-yet-undersized defensive tackles is over. May the era of massive DTs who eat up blockers and let the back seven get to work begin.
