Marshall Thundering Herd is 0-1 on the season, 0-1 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -6.7. Marshall Thundering Herd enters the season with a power rating of -6.7, placing them below average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Marshall Thundering Herd host Middle Tennessee next in Week 2. In 2025, Marshall Thundering Herd went 5-7 overall, 7-5 against the spread, and 6-6 on totals.
In Week 1 of 2026 the Marshall Thundering Herd Power Rating of -6.7 is 6.7 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Marshall Thundering Herd have logged 588 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 5,064 miles, ranking 105th heaviest in the FBS.
Carlos Del Rio-Wilson QB, Jo'Shon Barbie RB, TJ Lester RB, De'Andre Tamarez WR, Adrian Norton WR, Owen Sweeney WR, Christian Hamilton WR, Toby Payne TE, Robby Martin OL, Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw WR
Javae Gilmore LB, Kelvon McBride LB, Mickel Williams DL, Daytione Smith S, Josh Pierre-Louis CB, Charles McCartherens CB, Eddie Pleasant III CB, Brayden Hall CB
Jorge Diaz Nicolas K, Cooper Heimbach P
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| Week 2 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| Week 3 | 1-2 | 2-1 | 0-3 |
| Week 4 | 2-2 | 3-1 | 1-3 |
| Week 5 | 2-3 | 3-2 | 2-3 |
| Week 7 | 3-3 | 4-2 | 3-3 |
| Week 8 | 4-3 | 5-2 | 4-3 |
| Week 10 | 4-4 | 5-3 | 5-3 |
| Week 11 | 4-5 | 6-3 | 6-3 |
| Week 12 | 5-5 | 7-3 | 6-4 |
| Week 13 | 5-6 | 7-4 | 6-5 |
| Week 14 | 5-7 | 7-5 | 6-6 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened -8.6 in the preseason and finished -5.9 after the postseason, a move of +2.7 points. High -5.0 (week 15), low -9.6 (week 3).
PrePost
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured home field advantage of +0.4 is regressed to +1.9 before it is applied, a difference of 1.6 points. A single venue's raw result carries a lot of noise, so the applied figure is pulled toward the league pattern. See how much is home field advantage really worth.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tennessee | 7 | 4-3 | 4-3 |
| Missouri State | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Gardner-Webb | 1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
| James Madison | 4 | 2-2 | 3-1 |
| Coastal Carolina | 4 | 1-3 | 1-3 |
| South Alabama | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Old Dominion | 9 | 8-1 | 5-4 |
| Georgia Southern | 4 | 2-2 | 2-1-1 |
| App State | 6 | 3-3 | 4-2 |
| Georgia State | 4 | 3-1 | 2-2 |
| UL Monroe | 1 | 1-0 | 0-1 |
No meeting on record since 2016: Penn State.
Week 05,064 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Penn State | 294 mi | 588 mi |
| Week 2 | Middle Tennessee | Home | 588 mi |
| Week 3 | Missouri State | 600 mi | 1,787 mi |
| Week 4 | Gardner-Webb | Home | 1,787 mi |
| Week 5 | James Madison | 193 mi | 2,172 mi |
| Week 6 | Coastal Carolina | Home | 2,172 mi |
| Week 7 | - | Bye | |
| Week 8 | South Alabama | Home | 2,172 mi |
| Week 9 | Old Dominion | 352 mi | 2,876 mi |
| Week 10 | Georgia Southern | 416 mi | 3,708 mi |
| Week 11 | App State | Home | 3,708 mi |
| Week 12 | Georgia State | Home | 3,708 mi |
| Week 13 | UL Monroe | 678 mi | 5,064 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
Marshall's attack is built around Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who led the team in rushing last year while also passing efficiently in his breakout season. The Herd will lean on him again, with running back Jo'Shon Barbie expected to take on more carries and FCS West Georgia transfer TJ Lester adding depth. The receiving corps returns De'Andre Tamarez and Adrian Norton, while tight end Toby Payne starts for a third straight year. Owen Sweeney, a productive FCS VMI transfer, and Christian Hamilton, who came over from West Virginia, give Del Rio-Wilson more options on the outside.
Last season's defense ranked among the worst in the Sun Belt, and the offseason only made things harder. Three of the top four sack leaders transferred out, and the top three tacklers graduated. Javae Gilmore is the only returning starting linebacker. New defensive coordinator Brad Lambert, back for his third stint at Marshall, must rely on transfers like Kelvon McBride from NC State and Mickel Williams from UTSA to generate pressure. The secondary, which allowed too many explosive plays and ranked near the bottom nationally in passing yards allowed, returns safety Daytione Smith and cornerback Josh Pierre-Louis but lost ballhawk Boogie Trotter, who had five interceptions. Charles McCartherens and Eddie Pleasant III, both from Buffalo, are among the newcomers expected to help.
In his first season, head coach Tony Gibson went 5-7 and kept the team in bowl contention until the final game despite inheriting a roster that had been gutted. Now he has more pieces in place, including a proven quarterback and a mix of transfers who should raise the floor. The schedule starts with a road trip to Penn State, where the Herd are heavy underdogs. How they compete there will set the tone for a season that likely hinges on whether the rebuilt defense can hold up in Sun Belt play.
Marshall brought in a wave of transfers to address its biggest needs. On offense, TJ Lester and Owen Sweeney add proven production from the FCS level. On defense, Kelvon McBride and Mickel Williams are expected to replace lost pass rush, while Charles McCartherens and Eddie Pleasant III bolster a secondary that needed playmakers. The coaching staff also added guard Robby Martin and receiver Christian Hamilton from West Virginia. If these newcomers mesh quickly, the Herd could take a step forward; if they struggle, the defense could again be a liability.
Marshall Thundering Herd is 0-1 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 0% of games.
Marshall Thundering Herd holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -6.7, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Marshall Thundering Herd's home field advantage rating is 1.9 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Marshall Thundering Herd's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 7.5 wins, priced at +115 over and -150 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
Marshall Thundering Herd travels 5,064 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 105th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Marshall Thundering Herd: 0-1 overall, 0-1 ATS, power rating -6.7 (2026 records).
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