Marshall Thundering Herd 2025 College Football Preview
Posted June 11, 2025
2024 Recap
Record – 10-3
ATS – 11-2
We are…..Marshall.
The Thundering Herd got on a major roll after non-conference losses to Virginia Tech and Ohio St and won nine of their final ten games en route to a Sun Belt Championship. They slipped up at Georgia Southern and lost by a single point but they were dominant down the stretch scoring 28+ in each of their final seven games. That was Marshall’s first 10-win season since 2015 (!) and HC Charles Huff (and lots of players) left town to head to Southern Miss almost immediately after their big win.
Marshall Thundering Herd 2025 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Herd scored 32 PPG LY (#4 Sun Belt) thanks to a balanced offense and stellar play from QB Braylon Braxton (19-2 TD to INT, 610 rush, 4 TD). The entire offense needs to be rebuilt and the duel for the starting QB role is between former Syracuse backup Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Zion Turner who last saw the field for more than a CUP of COFFEE back in 2022 with UConn (9-10 TD to INT, 262 rush, TD). Both guys have the running element in their bag but we believe that CDRW is the more polished specimen that’ll start in week one. The Herd added several transfers to compete for time at RB and whilst there are no apparent stars in the group they acquired some decent options such as Tony Mathis (Houston) and Michael Allen (UNLV). TE Toby Payne tied for the team lead in TD receptions LY (6) so it’s great to have him back in the fold but the entire WR corps needs to be replaced. Demarcus Lacey (Jax St) and Antonio Harmon (Miss St) have the potential to be decent starters but we’ll have to see who’s shining in the group over the summer months. The offensive line should be fine as the unit retains two starters and has decent size.
DEFENSE
Marshall allowed just 23 PPG LY (#2 Sun Belt) and whilst they were a bit soft vs the run (179 YPG, #102 FBS) they were stingy vs the pass (#2 Sun Belt pass efficiency D), and impressive PENETRATORS (36 sacks, #2 Sun Belt). Almost everyone on defense needs to be replaced as only one returning defender had 20+ tackles with the Herd in 2024. The carnage is particularly severe up front as the entire starting front four is gone including star DE Mike Green who’s off to the NFL (Ravens) after tallying an impossibly impossible 17 sacks. The DL has impressive size but we’re not sure where the pass rush is going to come from this year. Javae Gilmore could be just what they need in the middle of the defense at LB and safety Jadarius Green-McKnight stuck around to lead the secondary. On a lighter note, the Herd lost TYQUAZE LEGGS on defense but picked up BOOGIE TROTTER. That’s the kind of hard-hitting advice only our SUN BELT INSIDERS can provide.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Yuck.
Marshall rated a sparkling #23 in the Phil Steele special teams rankings LY but they need to replace everyone and that’s almost never a good thing. New PK Lorcan Quinn played Gaelic football for five years in Ireland so you probably don’t wanna mess with him.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Marshall will get destroyed in the season opener at Georgia but they could win their next three non-conference games (Missouri St, E Kentucky. at MTSU) before heading into Sun Belt play. The Herd got a tough draw from the West (at Louisiana, Texas St) but at least they get James Madison and Georgia Southern at home.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Appalachian St (Nov 22)
This will be Marshall’s 3rd road test in four weeks and the Mountaineers will be looking to avenge last season’s loss in which they allowed the Herd to go wild and put up FIDDY (L 52-37).
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 11
Over 5.5 -110
Under 5.5 -110
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
They’ll need to win at least three or four Sun Belt games to hit the ‘over’ and that won’t be easy. This is easily one of the toughest teams in the country to figure out so buyer beware on this market.
Note – Our official list of season win total investments will be posted in the blog section of the website.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The home team in the Sun Belt Championship Game had gone 5-0 (!) before Marshall SHOCKED the WORLD last year and humiliated Louisiana on their own field by a score of 31-3.
Marshall University was founded in 1837 and is named after John Marshall, the fourth chief justice of the United States. The historical evidence suggests that he wasn’t an activist scumbag like the majority of today’s judges, but we suppose we’ll never know for sure.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
It was a great ride for Marshall fans last year as the team just refused to lose en route to a Sun Belt Championship. However, it’s gotta be frustrating to be looking down the barrel of a loaded gun heading into 2025 as the team undergoes a major overhaul. New HC Tony Gibson has a fine defensive mind but this is his FIRST RODEO as head coach. And there aren’t many gimmes in the competitive Sun Belt. There’s a lot of variance with the potential outcomes for this team but we anticipate four or five wins and a better season in 2026. Good luck, Herd!