The Marshall Thundering Herd is a football team of Marshall University. They won two national championships in 1992 and 1996. The Marshall Thundering Herd have won 10 division championships and have a bowl record of 13-7. The Thundering Herd's head coach is Tony Gibson, who joined in 2024. They helped players like Cody Slate, Mark Snyder, Darius Watts, and many more in the NFL. Their four main rivals are Appalachian State, Ohio, East Carolina, and West Virginia. The fans chant their fighting song ‘Sons of Marshall’ during their match days. Their home stadium is the Joan C. Edwards Stadium located in Huntington, West Virginia. Their mascot is called the ‘Marco the Bison’ and they have a supporting band known as the ‘Marching Thunder.’
The Marshall Thundering Herd had a remarkable 1996 season, under head coach Bob Pruett. Marshall ended with a perfect record of 15–0 and claimed the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship. They defeated all teams with over two touchdowns. They won two national championships within the span of five years. This team led the transition of Marshall into Division I-A (now FBS) and the Mid-American Conference in 1997, which became a significant event in the history of this program. Among the standout players of this 1996 team were future NFL talents quarterback Chad Pennington, wide receiver Randy Moss, and running back Doug Chapman.
Marshall Thundering Herd Football Conference Wins
The Marshall Thundering Herd have won 14 conference championships, as of December 2024.
| Season | Conference | Coach | Conference Record | Overall Record |
| 1925 | West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Charles Tallman | 3–0–2 | 4–1–4 |
| 1928 | West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Charles Tallman | 5–0 | 8–1–1 |
| 1931 | West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Tom Dandelet | 4–1 | 6–3 |
| 1937 | Buckeye Conference | Cam Henderson | 4–0–1 | 9–0–1 |
| 1988 | Southern Conference | George Chaump | 6–1 | 11–2 |
| 1994 | Southern Conference | Jim Donnan | 7–1 | 12–2 |
| 1996 | Southern Conference | Bob Pruett | 8–0 | 15–0 |
| 1997 | Mid-American Conference | Bob Pruett | 8–1 | 10–3 |
| 1998 | Mid-American Conference | Bob Pruett | 8–1 | 12–1 |
| 1999 | Mid-American Conference | Bob Pruett | 9–0 | 13–0 |
| 2000 | Mid-American Conference | Bob Pruett | 6–3 | 8–5 |
| 2002 | Mid-American Conference | Bob Pruett | 8–1 | 11–2 |
| 2014 | Conference USA | Doc Holliday | 7–1 | 13–1 |
| 2024 | Sun Belt Conference | Charles Huff | 7–1 | 10–3 |
When was the Marshall Thundering Herd's first season?
The Marshall Thundering Herd's first season was in 1895.
What NCAA conference is the Marshall Thundering Herd in?
The Marshall Thundering Herd is a member of NCAA Division I FBS.
In what conference does the Marshall Thundering Herd play?
The Marshall Thundering Herd competes in the Sun Belt Conference.
Marshall Thundering Herd Consensus All-Americans
Michael Payton was the only Consensus All-American player for the Marshall Thundering Herd.
FAQs on Marshall Thundering Herd
A. Marshall Thundering Herd home stadium is Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
A. Marshall Thundering Herd’s coach is Tony Gibson.
A. Marshall Thundering Herd won their first national championship in 1992.
A. The Marshall Thundering Herd compete in the Sun Belt Conference.
