Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
#5 Georgia
Marshall Football Heads South To Take On No. 5 Georgia
8/28/2025 2:30:00 PM | Football
The Herd kicks off the Tony Gibson era between the hedges at Sanford Stadium
Tony Gibson's Weekly Press Conference - Georgia | Player Interviews – Marshall vs. Georgia
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football opens the Tony Gibson era in one of college football's most historic venues – Sanford Stadium – on Saturday as the Thundering Herd meets No. 5 Georgia at 3:30 p.m. in a game to be shown nationally on ESPN.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch: ESPN
Listen: Live
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Game notes: Marshall | Georgia
Twitter: @HerdFB
Instagram: @Herd_FB
PRE-GAME NOTES
Marshall's 2025 football season opens between the hedges as the Thundering Herd gets set to take on Georgia at historic Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.
It will be the first game in the head coaching career of Tony Gibson, who comes to Marshall from N.C. State where he was the Wolfpack's defensive coordinator since 2019.
The game will also be the first football game for new Marshall VP/Director of Athletics Gerald J. Harrison, who comes to Marshall from Austin Peay where he served in the same role. Ironically, Harrison's first-ever game as VP/AD at Austin Peay was on this same weekend in 2018 at Georgia.
In keeping with the theme of 'new', Marshall has 76 new players on its 2025 roster and only eight players who return with starting experience at Marshall. Those eight players have a total of 58 starts between them, led by defensive back Jadarius Green-McKnight (18).
Gibson's first staff with the Herd has plenty of local flavor with seven coaches who either are from the state of West Virginia or who have played or coached at Marshall previously. That includes Gibson and both coordinators – OC Rod Smith (Franklin, W.Va., native) and DC Shannon Morrison (Gassaway, W.Va., native & played at Marshall, 1991-94).
ABOUT MARSHALL
Marshall comes into the 2025 season tied with Ohio for the nation's longest winning streak at seven games.
The Thundering Herd is coming off a 2024 season in which the team won the Sun Belt Conference Championship and finished 10-3.
Marshall's 2025 roster features 76 new players and 29 returnees, giving the Herd the lowest returning production percentage in FBS.
Key returning starters for the Herd include offensive lineman Jalen Slappy, who started all 13 games at right guard last season, and tight end Toby Payne, a preseason All-SBC selection who caught 17 passes for 186 yards with six touchdowns in 2024.
Offensively, running back Jo'Shon Barbie joins the Herd after a successful 2024 rushing while at McNeese State. The Doak Walker Watch List nominee rushed for 1,262 yards and 11 touchdowns while with the Cowboys.
Defensively, Gibson's new scheme will feature a heavy emphasis on strong back-end play. The cornerback tandem of Marvae Myers and Boogie Trotter will help headline the Herd defense.
For a more in-depth look at Marshall football, visit HERE.
ABOUT GEORGIA
Georgia is led by head coach Kirby Smart who enters his 10th season with a 105-19 record while leading the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are one of the early favorites for a College Football Playoff title after winning the SEC title last season and advancing to the CFP in 2024.
Offensively, it is expected that quarterback Gunner Stockton will get the start after playing a crucial role late in the season in a reserve role. Running back Nate Frazier rushed for 671 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.
Georgia's defense is led by inside linebacker C.J. Allen (76 tackles) while the secondary features a pair of returning playmakers in defensive backs K.J. Bolden (59 tackles) and Daylen Everette (58 tackles, 3 INTs), who earned MVP honors in the SEC Championship.
Georgia is 50-4 at Sanford Stadium under Kirby Smart.
For more information surrounding the Georgia football program, visit HERE.
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the second all-time meeting between Marshall and Georgia with both coming as the Bulldogs were ranked in the AP Top 5. The lone other meeting came in 2004 when No. 3 Georgia battled past Marshall, 13-3, in a defensive struggle at Sanford Stadium.
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