Eight wins is usually a pretty decent season, but a lot more was expected of Marshall in 2019. The team was projected to finish first in the East Division but couldn’t catch Florida Atlantic, who ended up with an 11-3 campaign. The Herd were stymied by a pretty tepid 2-3 start as well, scoring a max of 14 points in all of their losses. The good news is that Marshall recovered to win five straight games starting in mid-October, beating FAU on the road in one of those. 

Head coach Doc Holliday returns to the Marshall sideline for his 11th season, while Tim Cramsey at OC (third season) and Brad Lambert/JC Price at DC (second seasons) fill out the top end of the coaching staff. That crew should have a pretty solid returning offense, headlined by QB Isaiah Green, RB Brenden Knox and five seniors on the line. The Marshall defense has been top 60 in SP+ for three straight years, and if that unit can return to form in 2020 the Herd will be putting out a very well-rounded team. 

There are a few potential pitfalls on Marshall’s schedule this season, but if the team can get off and running with a good rhythm early the wins are there as well. The Herd have a couple of tough early home games versus Pitt and Boise State, then during October there are three road matchups in a four-game stretch. Provided Marshall can power their way through all that, November doesn’t look all that bad on paper. 

Pick: I like the over here. I’m pretty high on Marshall this year; they should be returning a good team to the field under veteran leadership. If everything goes perfectly, this team could flirt with double-digit wins and maybe even a conference title. That scenario is probably a little optimistic,  but I don’t think Marshall will have too many issues hitting seven victories in 2020. 

2020 Marshall Thundering Herd Football Schedule 

Day, Date                                     Opponent

Saturday, August 29                      at East Carolina 

Saturday, September 5                 OPEN 

Saturday, September 12               Pitt

Saturday, September 19               at Ohio 

Friday, September 25                   Boise State 

Saturday, October 3                     Rice 

Saturday, October 10                   at Western Kentucky

Saturday, October 17                   at Louisiana Tech 

Saturday, October 24                   Florida Atlantic 

Saturday, October 31                   at FIU 

Saturday, November 7                  OPEN 

Saturday, November 14                Middle Tennessee  

Saturday, November 21                Charlotte 

Saturday, November 28                at Old Dominion  

Saturday, December 5                  C-USA Championship