Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Football’s Sept. 2 Opener Set As 6 p.m. Kickoff
5/31/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
Oct. 19 affair vs. JMU to be nationally broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2
2023 Football Tickets | 2023 Game Themes
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Game-times for two of Marshall's six home games in the 2023 football season were announced on Thursday afternoon by the Sun Belt Conference and ESPN.
The Sept. 2 opener against Albany will be a 6 p.m. kickoff at Joan C. Edwards Stadium and will also be shown on ESPN+.
Marshall's Oct. 19 matchup with James Madison – a Thursday night affair – will kick off at 7 p.m. and be a national broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2.
"ESPN and the Sun Belt continue to recognize the impact Marshall football can have nationally," Marshall Director of Athletics Christian Spears said. "Placing us in Prime-Time slots is a great opportunity for us."
Marshall's home date with James Madison is one of the season's most anticipated Sun Belt contests and was treated as such by ESPN. The designation of either ESPN or ESPN 2 means it will either be one of a maximum of three games picked up by ESPN or one of only a possible six that may be on ESPN2.
"I know Coach Huff and our team will enjoy playing in front of a national television audience," Spears said. "Now, it is up to our community and fans to show up, be loud and create that home-field advantage. This program is special and everyone should know it!"
Thursday's announcements were part of a collaboration between the Sun Belt Conference and ESPN to disclose game times and television considerations for Weeks 1-3 of the football season, along with mid-week contests.
"We are excited to build upon a banner 2022 season in which the Sun Belt defeated four autonomy five programs, hosted ESPN's College GameDay for the second time in conference history and produced a conference-record seven Bowl Season participants," Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill said. "This schedule acknowledges the rise of Sun Belt Conference football and the strength of our partnership with ESPN, as we look to build upon our success."
In addition to the Sun Belt Conference, ESPN also announced the American Athletic Conference on Thursday afternoon, which also factors into Marshall's early season.
Marshall's Sept. 9 contest at East Carolina was one of three games left "To Be Determined" with a side-note that times and television considerations for the contests would be made as soon as they are finalized.
Other Marshall games outside of the mid-week window and Weeks 1 through 3 will likely fall into the league's 12-day window, which is utilized throughout the season to maximize exposure of important contests.
Some other contests may be announced in the future. Please follow Marshall's social media outlets (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) to stay up to date on the latest announcements or visit Herdzone.
The 2023 Sun Belt Championship Game will air on either ABC or ESPN at 4 p.m. on Dec. 2. The game will match the East Division winner vs. the West Division winner and will be hosted at the site of the divisional winner with the best conference record.
In addition to the Sun Belt dates, ESPN released the dates and times for five Sun Belt-affiliated bowl games, which includes the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Cure Bowl, Myrtle Beach Bowl, Camellia Bowl and 68 Ventures Bowl.
2023 Marshall Football Schedule
Sept. 2 Albany, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sept. 9 at East Carolina, TBD
Sept. 23 Virginia Tech, TBD
Sept. 30 Old Dominion**, TBD
Oct. 7 at N.C. State, TBD
Oct. 14 at Georgia State, TBD
Oct. 19 James Madison, 7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)
Oct. 28 at Coastal Carolina, TBD
Nov. 4 at App State, TBD
Nov. 11 Georgia Southern, TBD
Nov. 18 at South Alabama, TBD
Nov. 25 Arkansas State, TBD
** = Homecoming
2023 Sun Belt Bowl Schedule
Dec. 16 R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, 2:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Dec. 16 Cure Bowl, Orlando, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Dec. 18 Myrtle Beach Bowl, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Dec. 23 Camellia Bowl, Montgomery, Ala., Noon (ESPN)
Dec. 23 68 Ventures Bowl, Mobile, Ala., 7 p.m. (ESPN)
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