Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Putting Herd football's Top 25 climb in context
11/3/2020 12:14:00 AM | Football, Word on the Herd
Marshall is ranked the highest the program has been since 2002
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Twice upon a time, the Marshall football team defeated Appalachian State and, that same season, reached No. 16 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
The Thundering Herd (5-0 overall, 3-0 Conference USA) welcomes UMass (0-1) this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (ESPN+) for a rare November non-conference matchup. Marshall is No. 16 in the AP poll and No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches' poll. This marks the highest ranking for a Herd football team since Sept. 8, 2002, a week after Marshall beat App State, 50-17, in that season's opening game.
That was 2002 team's ceiling, at least in terms of national rankings. Marshall's '02 squad lost to a formidable foe, No. 7 Virginia Tech, in the second game of the season, and tumbled out of the Top 25 until after bowl season. If Marshall continues to stay unbeaten in 2020, it could continue to climb in the Top 25 poll.
The Herd jumped four spots – from the first spot outside of the Top 25 to No. 22 on Oct. 18 – and has continued a steady climb since. On Oct. 25, Marshall was ranked No. 19, up three spots after a win against FAU. This week, even after a weekend with a postponed game, the Herd jumped another three spots.
The last time Marshall was ranked in the top 15 was the 1999 season, which saw the Herd finish 13-0 and climb to No. 10 in the final rankings. Marshall was ranked in the top 15 for the final 11 weeks of the season in 1999.
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This space is often filled with fun facts. Hold the "fun" on this one.
This is the 11th week of the 2020 college football season. UMass, an opponent scheduled on Oct. 19, is filling a void in Marshall's schedule that was originally an off week in the middle of the C-USA slate. Instead, UMass represents the eighth weekend of schedule changes for the Herd in 11 possible games.
It's true.
Marshall was originally supposed to open the season at East Carolina on Aug. 29, which is the so-called "Week 0" in college football. That game was postponed.
Then, the Herd was supposed to have an off week before hosting Pitt on Sept. 12. Instead, Marshall hosted EKU on Sept. 5 and had the next weekend off. The Ohio game, scheduled for Sept. 19, was also moved off the schedule and replaced with Appalachian State. The Sept. 26 home game against Boise State was also wiped out. The Oct. 3 C-USA opener versus Rice was postponed.
That's the first six Saturdays of the season – all changed in some way, shape or form.
It wasn't until C-USA road games against WKU (Oct. 10) and Louisiana Tech (Oct. 17) that games went on as planned. Marshall's C-USA home opener against FAU also came to fruition. Last weekend, a scheduled trip to FIU was postponed. This UMass game gives the Herd a much-needed opponent during a season short of games. This will be MU's fourth game in seven weekends since defeating nationally ranked App State on Sept. 19.
"I'm anxious to go play again after the week off," Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said on Monday. "The weather is going to be great and we're looking forward to having a game."
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Junior running back Brenden Knox has been rapidly climbing the school's career rushing list, and enters this Saturday's game at No. 8 in career rushing yards with 2,521. Next up: Glenn Pedro, who ranks seventh in school history with 2,724 career rushing yards. Knox would need 203 rushing yards against UMass to tie Pedro for that spot.
In terms of streaks, however, Knox is aiming for another triple-digit performance in yardage. Knox has rushed for 100-plus rushing yards in four consecutive games, the second-longest active streak among FBS players. Iowa State's Breece Hall, with six consecutive 100-yard rushing games, leads the list.
Knox, who did not carry the ball until the last five games of 2018, has 14 100-yard games in 23 appearances at running back – that's a rate of 61 percent. Knox's 14 100-yard rushing games ranks third in MU history, behind Chris Parker (31, 1991-95) and Doug Chapman (21, 1996-99).
Also, Knox has 22 career rushing touchdowns, two behind Mickey Jackson (24, 1964-66) and Erik Thomas (24, 1993-95) for No. 13 all-time.
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On the defensive side, few schools are performing like the Thundering Herd in 2020.
Entering this Saturday's game, Marshall ranks No. 3 in scoring defense (9.4 points per game), No. 3 in rushing defense (72.0 yards per game), No. 22 in passing defense (193.0 yards per game), No. 15 in yards per passing attempt (6.1), No. 5 in total defense (265.0) and No. 6 in yards per play allowed (4.3).
A hat tip to the Herd defense.
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and an eight-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
