Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Missouri State
Marshall Football Opens 2025 Home Slate Vs. Missouri State
9/4/2025 3:07:00 PM | Football
Saturday marks 1st home game for new HC Tony Gibson
Coach Gibson Weekly Press Conference - Missouri State | Player Interviews – Marshall vs. Missouri State | Know Before You Go
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The first Marshall Football home game of the Tony Gibson era takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday when Gibson leads his Thundering Herd against Missouri State at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in a game that will be broadcast by ESPN+.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch:Â ESPN+
Listen: Live
Live Stats: StatBroadcastÂ
Game notes: Marshall | Missouri State
Twitter:Â @HerdFB
Instagram: @Herd_FB
PRE-GAME NOTES
Saturday's contest between Marshall and Missouri State will be the first home game in the head coaching career of Marshall's Tony Gibson.
The contest is Marshall's annual "We Are … Marshall" game and the Herd will be debuting their new Kelly Green helmets, which have been featured nationally in recent weeks since being unveiled.
Saturday's game will also be the unveiling of the "Dutch Miller Deck" which brings Marshall fans a unique, new way to get into the action with Marshall Football. The "Dutch Miller Deck" passes allow for access to premium spacing inside the Shewey Building, plus premium food and beverage, along with field access.
Marshall's Steve Cotton – "The Voice of the Herd" – will be starting his 30th home season as the play-by-play voice for Marshall Football. Cotton's first season was in 1996 when Randy Moss helped lead the Herd to a perfect 14-0 record and a Division I-AA Championship.
Missouri State is in its first year of play at the FBS level. The Bears are a member of Conference USA, a league in which the Herd competed from 2005-22.
For a look at more items surrounding Gameday and the Gameday experience, click on our Know Before You Go segment.
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ABOUT MARSHALL
Marshall head coach Tony Gibson is in his first year with the Herd and has 9 new assistant coaches and 76 new players on the roster.
The Thundering Herd is looking to win its ninth straight home game and 15th straight home opener.
Offensive players to watch include offensive lineman Jalen Slappy and tight end Toby Payne, along with running back Jo'Shon Barbie, who scored the Herd's lone touchdown in last week's season-opening loss to No. 5 Georgia.
The Thundering Herd is looking to get back on track against a Missouri State team that allowed 73 points and nearly 600 yards of offense last week to USC.
Defensively, local product Cannon Lewis was a standout in his first game with the Thundering Herd, finishing with eight tackles and two quarterback hurries against No. 5 Georgia. Lewis is a graduate of nearby Cabell Midland High School.
For a more in-depth look at Marshall football, visit HERE.
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ABOUT MISSOURI STATE
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Missouri State is led by head coach Ryan Beard, who is in his third season leading the Bears.
The Bears feature a pass-heavy attack, led by quarterback Jacob Clark, who only needs 159 passing yards to hit 5,000 for his career. Clark has thrown for 200 yards or more in 13 of 17 career starts.
There will also be three familiar faces on offense for the Bears who are no stranger to Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Wide receivers Antonio Robinson (2022-23) and Sean Reese (2022-23) join tight end Hayden Hagler (2020-21) as those who played for the Herd previously.
Defensively, Missouri State will look to rebound from a performance in which the team allowed 73 points and nearly 600 yards to USC in a 73-13 loss.
For more information surrounding the Missouri State football program, visit HERE.
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SERIES HISTORYÂ
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
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