Marshall University Athletics
Herd Thunders into National Rankings
10/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall football found itself among the elite Sunday when the Amway USA Today Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Top 25 were released. It is the first national ranking for the program since the final polls of 2002, some 4,299 days ago.
The Herd placed 24th in the Amway USA Today Coaches poll with 153 points and 25th in the Associated Press poll with 148 points.
Marshall is 6-0 and 2-0 in Conference USA and is one of just six undefeated schools remaining in the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Herd is led by quarterback Rakeem Cato, who, if he throws a touchdown pass at FIU Saturday (6 p.m., American Sports Network) will break Russell Wilson’s (NC State, Wisconsin, 2009-11) FBS record of 38. Cato tied the record Saturday in a 49-24 Homecoming win over Middle Tennessee.
The Herd also features a top-10 ground game that is headed by junior Devon Johnson, who is tied for third nationally with 11 rushing touchdowns and is ninth with 135.67 rushing yards per game.
Defensively, the Herd gives up just 17.2 points per contest, a mark that is tied for eighth nationally.
