The 2025 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University in the Sun Belt Conference's East Division during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Thundering Herd were led by Tony Gibson in his first year as the head coach. The Thundering Herd played home games at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium, located in Huntington, West Virginia.
The Marshall Thundering Herd drew an average home attendance of 25,298, the 83rd-highest of all NCAA Division I FBS football teams.
Offseason Following the departure of head coach Charles Huff to conference rival Southern Miss the day after the 2024 SBC championship game, 50 Thundering Herd players entered the transfer portal, with 21 of them eventually following Huff to Southern Miss. According to ESPN writer Bill Connelly, Marshall "is starting over [in 2025] like almost no one ever has"; between graduation and transfers: The quarterbacks responsible for all of Marshall's passing yardage in 2024 left. No returning Herd player rushed for a single yard in 2024. Only two returning players caught any passes in 2024. The players responsible for 49 of the 65 offensive line starts departed. Of the eight defensive linemen who played for at least 50 snaps in 2024, only one returned. Of the 13 defensive backs who played for at least 30 snaps in 2024, only two returned. The returning linebackers played a combined three snaps in 2024.
Transfers Outgoing Stone EarleQBAbilene ChristianDJ StepneySAkronMarcel WilliamsWRAkronColin ParachekQBAlbanyIan RatliffPAppalachian StateCade DavisLSArizona StateAG McGheeDBArkansas StateTreaden HenryOLCampbellRobert ShockeyQBConcordAndrew HancockIOLElonSu AgunloyeDLFIULeon Hart Jr.LBFlorida AtlanticCole PenningtonQBGardner–WebbLandyn WatsonLBKentuckyA.J. TurnerRBMinnesotaKam KynardSMississippi Gulf CoastAntwaan MaysWRMississippi Gulf CoastRece VerhoffKNorth CarolinaThomas McCoyWRNorthern IllinoisChristian FitzpatrickWROklahoma StateJaden YatesLBOle MissJustin HolmesTEPittsburghAidan SteinfeldtTERichmondJacobie HendersonDBRutgersGuylijah TheoduleDBSouthern MissBraylon BraxtonQBSouthern MissAlec ClarkPSouthern MissIsaiah Gibson Sr.DLSouthern MissIan FosterSSouthern MissJ.J. HawkinsDESouthern MissJosh MotenDBSouthern MissElijah MetcalfWRSouthern MissChuck MontgomeryWRSouthern MissIshmael IbraheemDBSouthern MissBralon BrownWRSouthern MissAhmere FosterSSouthern MissJabari IshmaelDESouthern MissTychaun ChapmanWRSouthern MissCorey MyrickSSouthern MissMaLik CaswellSSouthern MissCarl ChesterWRSouthern MissMathis HaygoodLBSouthern MissMoses GrayRBSouthern MissAnthony RichardDBSouthern MissChris StokesDLSouthern MissChris Thomas Jr.DLSyracuseBrock MontgomeryWRTennessee StateAshton HeflinLBTexas StateCedrick NicelyOLWest GeorgiaCade ConleyTEWestern MichiganWill PetitPUnknownIsaiah JohnsonSUnknownJadarius Green-McKnightSWithdrawnTaShawn JeterDBWithdrawn
Incoming Adrian NortonWRAkronZavier ShortWRAppalachian StateJustin Williams-ThomasRBCaliforniaRashawn CarrLBCampbellPaul Hutson IIIEDGECampbellLouikenzy JulesDBCharlestonKaTron EvansDLCharlottePeyton EllisOLEast Texas A&MEvan FergusonIOLGardner–WebbTyler McDuffieOTHamptonTony MathisRBHoustonAtley CowanQBIndianapolisTyas MartinDLJackson StateCam SmithSJackson StateZion TurnerQBJacksonville StateJibreel Al-AminLBJacksonville StateDemarcus LaceyWRJacksonville StateTayvon NelsonDBMarylandJo'shon BarbieRBMcNeesePhilipp DavisCBMichigan StateMarvae MyersDBMiddle TennesseeMorgan ScottOTMiddle TennesseeJavae GilmoreLBMississippi StateAntonio HarmonWRMississippi StateZane PorterLBMorehead StateTrey DunnQBNavyJakolbe BaldwinWRNC StateJayland ParkerLBNC StateCannon LewisLBNC StateRobert ShockeyQBNC StateAl Ashford IIICBNorthern ArizonaPeter SchuhSOklahomaBrock WaltersLSOld DominionNaquan CrowderDLPennWest CaliforniaAli AbbasiDLRooseveltJamaal WhyceDLSouth CarolinaJack CloughertyQBSouth DakotaCarlos Del Rio-WilsonQBSyracuseDarrell SweetingDBTempleJoseph AuzenneDLTempleBoogie TrotterSTennessee StateIan RatliffPTexasDaniel HarrisSUABBrock MontgomeryWRUConnMichael AllenRBUNLVMa'jon WrightWRValdosta StateXayvion Turner-BradshawWRVirginia TechJoshua Pierre-LouisCBWest GeorgiaBen TurnerWRWest LibertyBryce BiggsOLWest VirginiaSammy EtienneSWest VirginiaZah JacksonCBWest VirginiaJalil Rivera-HarveyDLWestern KentuckySid KabaDLWestern MichiganTony MartinWRWestern MichiganJalen MarshallLBWoffordKerion MartinSYoungstown State
Coaching staff additions NameNew PositionPrevious TeamPrevious Position SourceTony GibsonHead coachNC StateDefensive coordinator/LinebackersRod SmithOffensive coordinator/QuarterbacksJacksonville StateInterim head coach Shannon MorrisonDefensive coordinator MarshallLinebackersJackson WhiteSpecial teamsNC StateSpecial teams quality controlRod McDowellRunning backs/Run game coordinatorJacksonville StateRunning backsBob McClainOffensive lineCalifornia (PA)Offensive line/Run game coordinatorGunter BrewerTight endsVirginia TechDirector of High School RelationsJake EllsworthLinebackersNC StateDefensive director of quality controlJarred HolleyDefensive backsAbilene ChristianSafeties
Preseason Media poll In the Sun Belt preseason coaches' poll, the Thundering Herd were picked to finish sixth place in the East division.
Tight end Toby Payne was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt first team offense. Offensive lineman Jalen Slappy was named to the second team offense.
Schedule
Game summaries at No. 5 Georgia
Statistics MRSH UGA First downs 7 27 Plays–yards 52–207 76–488 Rushes–yards 31–78 44–239 Passing yards 129 249 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–21–0 19–32–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 25:31 34:29 Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Zion Turner 6/7, 100 yards Rushing Justin Williams-Thomas 4 carries, 24 yards Receiving Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw 3 receptions, 58 yardsGeorgia Passing Gunner Stockton 14/24, 190 yards, 2 TD Rushing Gunner Stockton 10 carries, 73 yards, 2 TD Receiving Zachariah Branch 3 receptions, 95 yards, TD
vs Missouri State
Statistics MOST MRSH First downs 18 12 Plays–yards 70–474 57–274 Rushes–yards 38–86 33–191 Passing yards 388 83 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–32–1 13–24–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:34 25:26 Team Category Player StatisticsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 21/31, 359 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Shomari Lawrence 17 carries, 49 yards Receiving Ramone Green Jr. 4 receptions, 123 yards, TDMarshall Passing Zion Turner 13/24, 83 yards, INT Rushing Jo'Shon Barbe 12 carries, 67 yards Receiving Toby Payne 4 receptions, 43 yards
vs Eastern Kentucky
Statistics EKU MRSH First downs 10 21 Plays–yards 52–102 71–377 Rushes–yards 28–11 57–263 Passing yards 91 114 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–24–2 8–14–0 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 25:56 34:04 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Kentucky Passing Jordyn Potts 7/19, 78 yards, TD Rushing Brayden Latham 10 carries, 18 yards Receiving T. J. Mitchell 1 reception, 36 yardsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 7/9, 108 yards, 2 TD Rushing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 13 carries, 58 yards, TD Receiving Justin Williams-Thomas 3 receptions, 41 yards, TD
at Middle Tennessee
Statistics MRSH MTSU First downs 27 14 Plays–yards 71–449 48–373 Rushes–yards 49–188 15–74 Passing yards 261 299 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–22–0 19–33–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 36:47 22:13 Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 18/22, 261 yards, 4 TD Rushing Michael Allen 21 carries, 90 yards, TD Receiving Demarcus Lacey 5 receptions, 116 yards, TDMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 19/32, 299 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jekail Middlebrook 6 carries, 89 yards Receiving Nahzae Cox 6 receptions, 94 yards, TD
at Louisiana
Statistics MRSH LA First downs 27 29 Plays–yards 79–503 74–461 Rushes–yards 48–245 46–264 Passing yards 258 197 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–31–0 14–28–2 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:28 29:32 Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 24/31, 258 yards, 3 TD Rushing Michael Allen 19 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD Receiving Demarcus Lacey 10 receptions, 146 yards, 2 TDLouisiana Passing Lunch Winfield 7/13, 125 yards, 2 TD Rushing Lunch Winfield 13 carries, 129 yards, 3 TD Receiving Charles Robertson 2 reception, 61 yards, TD
vs Old Dominion
Statistics ODU MRSH First downs 15 22 Plays–yards 66–439 76–445 Rushes–yards 38–173 50–223 Passing yards 266 222 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–28–2 18–26–0 Turnovers 5 0 Time of possession 23:25 36:35 Team Category Player StatisticsOld Dominion Passing Colton Joseph 15/28, 266 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Maurki James 12 carries, 83 yards, TD Receiving Tre Brown 1 reception, 71 yards, TDMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 17/24, 219 yards, 2 TD Rushing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 17 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD Receiving Demarcus Lacey 8 receptions, 121 yards, TD
vs Texas State
Statistics TXST MRSH First downs 20 27 Plays–yards 83–558 81–466 Rushes–yards 44–114 48–186 Passing yards 444 280 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–39–1 23–33–1 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 27:17 32:43 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Brad Jackson 26/38, 444 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Brad Jackson 19 carries, 48 yards, TD Receiving Chris Dawn Jr. 5 reception, 180 yardsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 22/32, 277 yards, TD, INT Rushing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 17 carries, 88 yards Receiving Demarcus Lacey 7 receptions, 88 yards
at Coastal Carolina
Statistics MRSHCCU First downs 22 16 Plays–yards 81–432 66–410 Rushes–yards 45–279 45–214 Passing yards 153 196 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–36–2 8–21–1 Turnovers 5 2 Time of possession 31:33 28:27
Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 21/36, 153 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Antwan Roberts 15 carries, 134 yards Receiving De'Andre Tamarez 5 receptions, 45 yards, TDCoastal Carolina Passing Samari Collier 8/20, 196 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Dominic Knicely 5 carries, 76 yards, TD Receiving Malcom Gillie 1 reception, 69 yards, TD
vs James Madison
Statistics JMUMRSH First downs 20 25 Plays–yards 59–409 86–414 Rushes–yards 35–139 50–248 Passing yards 270 166 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–24–1 17–36–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:03 31:57 Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Alonza Barnett 14/24, 270 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Wayne Knight 14 carries, 87 yards, TD Receiving Jaylen Sanchez 3 receptions, 86 yards, TDMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 16/35, 154 yards, TD Rushing Antwan Roberts 20 carries, 121 yards, TD Receiving De'Andre Tamarez 3 receptions, 37 yards
at Georgia State
Statistics MRSH GAST First downs 24 21 Plays–yards 61–489 76–409 Rushes–yards 34–168 35–158 Passing yards 321 251 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–27–0 25–41–2 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 27:27 32:33 Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 22/27, 321 yards, 3 TD Rushing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 17 carries, 97 yards Receiving Toby Payne 5 receptions, 110 yards, TD Georgia State Passing T. J. Finley 25/39, 251 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jordon Simmons 19 carries, 164 yards, TD Receiving Ted Hurst 7 receptions, 74 yards
at Appalachian State (The Old Mountain Feud)
Statistics MRSH APP First downs 23 18 Plays–yards 70–438 70–276 Rushes–yards 40–238 43–142 Passing yards 200 134 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–30–1 19–27–0 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 30:09 29:51 Team Category Player StatisticsMarshall Passing Carlos Del Rio-Wilson 13/21, 146 yards, INT Rushing Jo'Shon Barbie 10 carries, 102 yards, TD Receiving Demarcus Lacey 12 receptions, 134 yards Appalachian State Passing JJ Kohl 19/27, 134 yards, TD Rushing Jaquari Lewis 33 carries, 175 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jaquari Lewis 5 receptions, 39 yards
vs Georgia Southern
Statistics GASOMRSH First downs 31 18 Plays–yards 87–528 51–372 Rushes–yards 48–173 16–64 Passing yards 355 308 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26-39-0 22-35-1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 41:38 18:22