So, what conference is Marshall in football anyway? If you’ve been following the Thundering Herd for more than a few years, it’s honestly easy to get a little confused. College football realignment moves so fast these days that keeping track of where teams land feels like a full-time job.
Marshall currently competes in the Sun Belt Conference.
They aren't just a member; they are a cornerstone of the East Division. They officially joined the party on July 1, 2022. It was a messy exit from Conference USA (C-USA), involving some legal back-and-forth and a lot of Twitter drama, but the Herd eventually got where they wanted to be.
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The Current State of the Herd
Right now, as we move through 2026, the Sun Belt is widely considered one of the best—if not the best—Group of Five conferences. It’s gritty. It's regional. It actually makes sense for fans who want to drive to an away game without needing a three-day weekend and a cross-country flight.
In the East Division, Marshall is rubbing shoulders with some familiar faces and new rivals. We’re talking about schools like:
- Appalachian State (The "Old Mountain" rivalry)
- Coastal Carolina
- James Madison
- Georgia Southern
- Old Dominion
- Georgia State
It's a tough neighborhood. Honestly, the Sun Belt East is often more competitive than some of the bottom-tier divisions in the Power Four.
Why Did Marshall Leave Conference USA?
You might remember Marshall being the big fish in a different pond. For nearly two decades (2005–2021), they were a staple of Conference USA. But C-USA started to feel a bit... unstable. Schools were jumping ship to the American Athletic Conference (AAC), and the geography was getting weird.
Marshall’s leadership, specifically guys like President Brad D. Smith and former AD Jeff O’Malley, saw the writing on the wall. They wanted regionality. They wanted to play teams like App State—a rivalry that dates back to their Southern Conference (SoCon) days in the '80s and '90s.
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The move wasn't just about football, though football drives the bus. It was about TV eyes. The Sun Belt has a lucrative deal with ESPN, meaning more games on main channels and fewer games buried on a streaming service you’ve never heard of.
A History of Jumping Around
Marshall hasn't always been at the top of the mountain. If you go way back, their history is a roadmap of the shifting landscape of American sports.
They spent years in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) during two different stints. Most fans remember the late '90s fondly. Randy Moss. Chad Pennington. Those guys were absolute legends in the MAC. Marshall won that conference five times between 1997 and 2002. It was a dominant run that put Huntington, West Virginia, on the national map.
Before the MAC jump in '97, they were a Division I-AA (now FCS) powerhouse in the Southern Conference. They won two national championships there (1992 and 1996).
It’s been a journey:
- Independent (Early years)
- MAC (1953–1969)
- Southern Conference (1976–1996)
- MAC again (1997–2004)
- Conference USA (2005–2021)
- Sun Belt (2022–Present)
Does the Sun Belt Fit?
Actually, it fits better than anything else has in twenty years.
There’s a certain "vibe" in the Sun Belt. It’s a league of schools that were once small but grew into regional giants. They play a physical, chip-on-the-shoulder style of football that resonates with the fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
When Marshall played in the MAC, the travel to places like Northern Illinois or Central Michigan was a slog. In C-USA, they were flying to Texas and Florida constantly. In the Sun Belt, the bus rides are shorter, and the fan bases are more alike.
Recent Performance and Coaching Shifts
Transitions are never perfectly smooth. After Charles Huff led the team to a Sun Belt Championship in 2024, he took the head coaching job at Southern Miss. That was a bit of a gut punch for the fans in Huntington.
Enter Tony Gibson.
The former NC State defensive coordinator took the reins in 2025. His first season was a bit of a rebuilding year, finishing 5–7. It was the first time in a long time the Herd didn't make a bowl game, which didn't sit well with a fan base used to winning. But Gibson knows the region. He’s a West Virginia native, and the 2026 recruiting class looks like it's built to compete for the Sun Belt title again.
What to Watch For Next
If you're looking to catch a game, you need to know who the real enemies are now. The "Battle for the Bell" against Ohio University still happens occasionally as a non-conference game, but the real heat is in the Sun Belt.
Keep an eye on the Appalachian State game every year. That is quickly becoming one of the premier games in all of college football, not just the "G5" level. The atmosphere in Huntington when the Mountaineers come to town is electric.
Marshall is also continuing to schedule "up." They aren't afraid of the big boys. In 2026, they've got a massive road trip to Penn State. These games are huge for the "what conference is Marshall in football" conversation because they prove the Herd can play on any stage.
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Actionable Steps for Fans
If you want to keep up with Marshall's status and schedule, here is what you should do:
- Check the Sun Belt Standings Monthly: The East Division is a carousel. One week Marshall is in first, the next they are in fourth.
- Follow Regional Media: Outlets like WV MetroNews or the Huntington Herald-Dispatch give way more nuance than national sites.
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: In the modern era, Marshall’s roster (and their conference standing) can change in 48 hours.
The Thundering Herd has found a permanent home in the Sun Belt. It provides the stability, the rivalries, and the TV exposure necessary to remain a national brand. While the names on the jerseys change and coaches come and go, the Kelly Green and White are right where they belong.