Marshall University Athletics
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Marshall Football Hosts James Madison in Annual ‘Play For The 75’ Game
11/6/2025 3:03:00 PM | Football
Herd looking to knock off SBC East’s top-ranked team at Joan C. Edwards Stadium
Coach Gibson Weekly Press Conference – James Madison | Player Interviews – James Madison
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football hosts its annual 'Play For The 75' game at Noon on Saturday when James Madison comes to Joan C. Edwards Stadium for a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPN2
Listen: Live
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Game notes: Marshall | James Madison
Twitter: @HerdFB
Instagram: @Herd_FB
PRE-GAME NOTES
The 'Play For The 75' Game annually commemorates and honors those lost in the 1970 Marshall Plane Crash, which killed 75 persons, including 37 team members, on the way back from the Herd's 17-14 loss to East Carolina on Nov. 14, 1970, in Greenville, N.C. The 1970 Marshall Plane Crash is still known as the worst air tragedy in sports history.
Marshall and James Madison first met in 1987 when both teams were members of Division I-AA. Prior to both joining the Sun Belt in 2022, their only two meetings came in 1987 and 1994 during the I-AA playoffs.
Marshall cornerback Boogie Trotter is tied for the FBS lead in interceptions with five on the season and also for interception returns for a touchdown with two.
This matchup features the top scoring offense and top scoring defense in Sun Belt action. Marshall comes in averaging 41.5 points per game in SBC play while JMU is allowing just 15.6 points per game in SBC action.
The road team has won the last three games in this series, which Marshall leads 4-1. The Herd won in Harrisonburg in 2022 and 2024 while JMU won a nationally-televised prime-time battle in 2023.
Last year's 35-33 double-overtime win for Marshall over James Madison secured the SBC East Division title and the Herd went on to win the 2024 SBC Championship following that victory.
ABOUT MARSHALL
Marshall comes into the contest with a record of 4-4 overall and 2-2 in SBC play.
The Herd is coming off a loss at Coastal Carolina last week and is looking to move within one game of bowl eligibility with a win on Saturday.
Marshall quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson has led the Herd's balanced offense, which leads the SBC in scoring in league games. Del Rio-Wilson has thrown for 1,286 yards and 13 touchdowns while also leading the Herd in rushing with 417 yards and four scores.
Defensively, Marshall cornerback Boogie Trotter has five interceptions on the season which ties for the FBS lead. Trotter has two interception returns for touchdown during Sun Belt Conference play.
Marshall kicker Lorcan Quinn also is making quite the name for himself, having hit 14 of 18 field goals on the season. He has the two longest field goals in SBC play this season at 55 and 53 yards.
For a more in-depth look at Marshall football, visit HERE.
ABOUT JAMES MADISON
James Madison comes to Huntington with a record of 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the Sun Belt East Division.
The Dukes have been dominant in recent weeks, putting up 115 points in the two wins with an average margin of victory of 34 points. The Dukes have outscored the opposition 59-0 in the second half of those two wins.
Offensively, the Dukes are led by quarterback Alonza Barnett, who was named the Manning Award National Quarterback of the Week for last week's performance in which he threw for 264 yards and rushed for 98 yards with five total touchdowns.
The Dukes are led on the defensive side of the ball by sophomore safety Tyler Brown and senior safety Jacob Thomas. Linebacker Trent Hendrick leads the team with 58 tackles.
For more information about James Madison, visit HERE.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the sixth all-time meeting between Marshall and James Madison. The series started in 1987 when both were in Division I-AA. The two have met each year since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2022. Marshall owns a 4-1 series lead currently.
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