The 2026 Marshall Thundering Herd football team will represent Marshall University in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Thundering Herd will be led by Tony Gibson in his second year as the head coach. The Thundering Herd play their home games at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium, located in Huntington, West Virginia.
Preseason Media poll In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Thundering Herd were picked to finish third place in the East division.
Quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson was named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, tight end Toby Payne, wide receiver Adrian Norton, offensive linemen Jalen Slappy and Tariq Montgomery, and defensive back Daytione Smith were awarded to be in the preseason All-Sun Belt first team offensive and defensive teams, respectively. Defensive end Braydin Ward, linebacker Javae Gilmore, and return specialist Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw were awarded to be in the preseason All-Sun Belt second team defense and special teams, respectively.
Schedule
Personnel Roster
Game summaries at No. 18 Penn State
Statistics MRSHPSU First downs 11 25 Plays–yards 54–147 72–487 Rushes–yards 26–44 45–163 Passing yards 103 324 Passing: comp–att–int 19–28–1 20–27–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 23:47 36:13 Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 17/25, 102 yards Rushing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 13 carries, 30 yards Receiving Toby Payne 8 receptions, 55 yards Penn State Passing Rocco Becht 13/18, 271 yards, 4 TD Rushing Carson Hansen 11 carries, 48 yards Receiving Koby Howard 6 receptions, 161 yards, TD
Middle Tennessee
Statistics MTSUMRSH First downs 22 19 Plays–yards 69–352 61–310 Rushes–yards 22–109 38–129 Passing yards 243 181 Passing: comp–att–int 25–47–1 15–23–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 32:46 27:14 Team Category Player StatisticsMiddle Tennessee Passing Roman Gagliano 25/47, 243 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Roman Gagliano 8 carries, 58 yards Receiving Cam'ron Lacy 9 receptions, 72 yardsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 7/8, 93 yards, TD Rushing Carlos Del Río-Wilson 10 carries, 43 yards, TD Receiving Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw 2 receptions, 79 yards, TD
at Missouri State
Statistics MRSHMOST First downs 25 24 Plays–yards 71–464 65–506 Rushes–yards 45–267 36–186 Passing yards 197 320 Passing: comp–att–int 17–26–0 20–29–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:29 25:31 Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 16/25, 176 yards, TD Rushing Jo'Shon Barbie 12 carries, 81 yards, TD Receiving Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw 6 receptions, 73 yardsMissouri State Passing Skyler Locklear 19/28, 309 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ramone Green Jr. 15 carries, 76 yards Receiving Isaiah Myers 7 receptions, 141 yards
Gardner–Webb (FCS)
Statistics GWEBMRSH First downs 19 27 Plays–yards 60–458 70–569 Rushes–yards 27–160 35–156 Passing yards 298 413 Passing: comp–att–int 22–33–0 27–40–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 26:47 33:13 Team Category Player StatisticsGardner–Webb Passing Cole Pennington 22/33, 298 yards, 4 TD Rushing Christian Vann 14 carries, 99 yards Receiving Giovanni Adopte 7 receptions, 179 yards, 2 TDMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 26/38, 386 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 14 carries, 48 yards Receiving Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw 7 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD
at James Madison
Statistics MRSHJMU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Rushing Receiving James Madison Passing Rushing Receiving
Coastal Carolina
Statistics CCUMRSH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsCoastal Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving Marshall Passing Rushing Receiving
South Alabama
Statistics USAMRSH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving Marshall Passing Rushing Receiving
at Old Dominion
Statistics MRSHODU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Rushing Receiving Old Dominion Passing Rushing Receiving
at Georgia Southern
Statistics MRSHGASO First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Rushing Receiving Georgia Southern Passing Rushing Receiving
Appalachian State (The Old Mountain Feud)
Statistics APPMRSH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsAppalachian State Passing Rushing Receiving Marshall Passing Rushing Receiving
Georgia State
Statistics GASTMRSH First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia State Passing Rushing Receiving Marshall Passing Rushing Receiving
at Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics MRSHULM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Rushing Receiving Louisiana–Monroe Passing Rushing Receiving
References