Marshall Football Preview 2026: The Herd Should Be Back in the Sun Belt Race

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Marshall Football Preview 2026: The Herd Should Be Back in the Sun Belt Race

Pete Fiutak

Sun, May 24, 2026 ·

8 min read

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Marshall is supposed to be a powerhouse.

The recent history of success is as strong as any Group of Six program - it's among the winningest schools to not make the College Football Playoff - going to 12 bowl games in 15 years before winning the Sun Belt title in 2024, but that team wasn't able to go to a bowl.

- Sun Belt Win Total Predictions

Marshall coach Tony Gibson questions a call on the sidelines during MTSU's Homecoming football game on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025.

© HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Marshall was a superpower in the MAC, a big deal in Conference USA, and it won 25 games in three seasons in the Sun Belt before having to undergo a complete and total rebuild in the first season under Tony Gibson.

There's enough still around to work around, and a whole slew of transfers will help take that next step to get back to where the program should be.

Marshall Quick Hits

Head Coach:Tony Gibson (2nd year at Marshall, 5-7)
Best Case / Worst Case:Be in the Sun Belt title mix/Second straight losing season
Key Player:QB Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, QB Sr.
2025 Record:5-7
Biggest Question:Can the defense hold serve a bit more so the offense can take control?

Marshall Key 2025 Stats

Average Yards Per Game: Opponents 410.6, Marshall 404.9
Penalties: Marshall 82 for 719 yards, Opponents 64 for 550 yards
Punt Return Average: Marshall 9.8, Opponents 4.9

Offense

The offense knew how to run, the passing attack was along for the ride, and overall, it worked.

There wasn't a slew of turnovers, and the ground game took control of the tempo whenever possible. With a slew of new players involved, they're going to keep it simple, at least early on.

What's Working

With so much turnover,it'll be a huge help to get back Carlos Del Rio-Wilson.

The former Syracuse quarterback has size, experience, and he proved he could be careful with the ball with just five picks. He also led the team in rushing,

There's enough experience back to make the passing game better.Leading target Demarcus Lacey is gone, but 37-catch Toby Payne is back at tight end, and the receiver combination of Adrian Norton and Owen Sweeney returns after combining for 59 catches and seven scores.

Just complete passes.Here's the odd part of the 2025 Marshall season - the team lost when the running game rocked.

The Herd were 0-5 when rushing for five yards or more per carry. However, when Del Rio-Wilson and the passers connected on at least 65% of their throws, the team was 4-2.

What Needs Work

The running backs need to emerge.Del Rio-Wilson's running is nice, but it would be a plus to get even more out of the backs.

Top running back Antwan Roberts is off to Arizona, and now it's up to transfers Jamarion Wilcox (Kentucky) and Josiah McLaurin (Maryland) to add even more.

The offensive line isn't totally starting over, but it's close.323-pound Jalen Slappy is back at one guard spot, and then it's all about the portal.

West Virginia transfers Robby Martin and Xavier Bausley will have the spotlight on, and Jaquez Joiner (UCF) was a nice get for the interior, but the center situation has to be figured out.

There weren't problems with turnovers overall,but when they happened, they flowed. There were just two games against FBS teams with multiple turnovers, but they were devastating.

The five against Coastal Carolina led to the loss, and the three against App State were enough to lose by two.

Player to Watch

Toby Payne, TE Sr.The 6-4, 235-pounder was a nice midrange target on a consistent basis, catching three passes or more ten times. He might not be too flashy, but he's ultra-reliable.

Defense

It was a rough year for the defense.

It gave up over 410 yards and 30 points per game, but it wasn't all that bad against the run and the pass rush was terrific.

Like the offensive side, there's a mass overhaul with the transfer portal playing a big role, but the Herd will continue to attack.

What's Working

The pass rush.The sacks came in bunches early, and then came the consistent pressure late in the year.

It'll help that this is one area of the defense that gets the main man back, with leading pass rusher Braydin Ward returning after a five-sack season. The sacks should be spread out with everyone focusing on No. 58.

The run defense was a bit better overall than the stats might suggest.The Herd were gouged big in losses to Georgia and Louisiana, but allowed fewer than four yards per carry on the year and held six teams to under 150 yards.

The secondary is loaded with options.It's a deep, deep group. Leading tackler Boogie Trotter is done, but in come Eddie Pleasant (Buffalo) and Terrente Hinton (NC State) to help beef up the corner spots, and Daytione Smith is back as one of the best safeties in the Sun Belt.

What Needs Work

The pass defense.This is why the Herd went so big in the transfer portal for defensive backs, but it needs to be just a little bit better. The team was usually able to hold its own in shootouts, but the pass D was 127th in the country, allowing 262 yards per game with 24 scores.

More takeaways.The attacking style and good pass rush help. Overall, the defense should struggle a bit - it won't be a brick wall - so the turnovers change the narrative.

The Herd went 3-0 when coming up with three or more takeaways, and 1-5 when failing to force multiple mistakes.

The line lost a ton.It's the area that took the biggest hit in the transfer portal, with Minnesota taking Naquan Crowder and Sid Kaba, nose tackle Jamaal Whyce going off to Baylor, and big tackle KaTron Evans being snapped up by NC State.

Player to Watch

Javae Gilmore, LB Sr.After not seeing a whole lot of time in three years at Mississippi State, Gilmore found his home in Huntington. He led the team with 11.5 tackles for loss to go along with 63 stops. He's the all-star talent the linebacking corps will work around.

Keys to the Season

Be a little bit better defensively.

The offense will be good enough. It might not always be brilliant, but it'll be effective. Keep teams to around 24ish per game instead of 30, and the extra wins will come.

That sounds easier said than done, but it's the little things. Marshall lost four games by five points or fewer.

Player Who Needs To Shine

Tariq Montgomery, OT Sr.
The offensive line should be okay, and it needs the 6-6, 320-pound Montgomery to go from good part of the rotation to a star at, preferably, left tackle.

He's got the tools and upside, and the rest of the line should be solid if he's fantastic.

Biggest Concern

The kicking game
A huge plus last year, it's asking the world to get the same production out of the specialists.

Kicker Lorcan Quinn hit 21-of-26 field goals, including 9-of-10 from beyond 40 yards. He's gone to Alabama.

Punter Nathan Totten averaged 45.6 yards per kick and put 20 inside the 20. He left for Virginia Tech.

Biggest Game

Coastal Carolina, October 10The Herd will be coming off a Sun Belt opener at James Madison. Realistically, if they have any hope of being in the conference title chase, this is a must-win going into the off week. Win, and there's a great shot at being 4-2 with a bowl game in sight.

Transfer Portal

It was a very, very busy time for Marshall in the transfer portal.

Not unexpectedly, the Herd lost a slew of top players from last season, but they managed to load up in bulk for several spots. Close to 20 new players come aboard as part of the ongoing rebuild.

Best Signing

Charles McCartherens, CB (Buffalo)He missed most of last year, but in his first two seasons with the Bulls, he made 69 tackles with four picks and seven broken up passes. He'll instantly take over a starting spot.

Biggest Loss

Naquan Crowder, DT (Minnesota)It stinks to lose a 320-pound defensive tackle who can get behind the line. Crowder made 26 tackles with a sack and three tackles for loss, and now he's gone to the Gophers.

Other Names to Know

Christian Hamilton, WR (West Virginia)
Jamarion Wilcox, RB (Kentucky)
Robby Martin, OG (West Virginia)

CFN Season Prediction

It should be more of the same from last season.

The 2025 Herd had to come up with a full and total rebuild after the Sun Belt title two years ago, and it was a decent run.

They were 5-5 with two games to play, but lost a heartbreaker to App State by two, dropped the home finale to Georgia Southern by four, and this year, they should have enough to make that one extra push to get bowling.

CFN Prediction: 6-6

After the likely loss to Penn State to kick things off, Marshall has a real shot to go 3-1 with Middle Tennessee, at Missouri State, and Gardner-Webb to follow.

Get past the road game at James Madison, and four of the next six games are at home before the regular season finale at ULM.

It's a program that's used to being in the thick of things. This season will be another step toward getting back there.

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