Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Football Announces Four-Game Series With Toledo
1/20/2026 1:00:00 PM | Football
Herd also finalizes 2026 non-conference slate with Sept. 26 contest vs. Gardner-Webb
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football has announced a four-game series with the Toledo Rockets, starting in 2030, and also announced the addition of Gardner-Webb to finalize the 2026 non-conference schedule with a contest set for Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Sept. 26.
"This series gives Marshall a highly-respected opponent while renewing one of our most storied rivalries in a regional matchup that fans can travel to enjoy," said Gerald Harrison, Marshall Vice President and Director of Athletics. "Some of the most memorable moments in Marshall football history have come against Toledo, and we're excited to welcome them back to the schedule. We're also pleased to finalize our 2026 non-conference slate with the home matchup against Gardner-Webb, allowing Herd Nation to begin planning their trips to The Joan!"
The four-game series with Toledo starts in 2030 with the Herd traveling to the Glass Bowl for the first time in 29 years on Sept. 7, 2030.
The teams are scheduled to meet twice at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington – Sept. 6, 2031 and Sept. 17, 2033 – and twice at the Glass Bowl in Toledo with the previously-mentioned 2030 matchup and a Sept. 25, 2032 contest.
The announcement of the series with Toledo re-ignites a rivalry from Marshall's time in the Mid-American Conference when the Herd and Rockets met in four MAC Championship Games in a six-year span, including the first two MAC Championship Games in history – a pair of games won by the Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
From Randy Moss catching three touchdown passes and earning 1997 MAC Championship MVP Honors in his final home game at Joan C. Edwards Stadium to the 2002 thriller in which Byron Leftwich hit Darius Watts on a 40-yard touchdown pass with 49 seconds remaining for the win, the series between Marshall and Toledo has featured its fair share of historic moments in Herd history.
The two teams have met 41 times in a series that started in 1938. Toledo leads the all-time series by a count of 22-18-1, but Marshall owned a 3-1 record against the Rockets in MAC Championship Game matchups.
In additional scheduling announcements, Marshall finalized its 2026 non-conference football schedule with a game against Gardner-Webb on Sept. 26 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
The matchup with the Bulldogs is the third all-time between the teams with Marshall winning the previous two – most recently, a 28-7 win in the 2022 season.
Gardner-Webb features former Marshall quarterback Cole Pennington, who played two seasons with the Herd before throwing for 1,601 yards and seven touchdowns for the Bulldogs last season. He is the son of Marshall Hall of Famer Chad Pennington.
The contest with Gardner-Webb replaces a previously-scheduled 2026 contest with Eastern Michigan that was postponed by EMU until a later date.
"Following a request from Eastern Michigan to adjust our originally scheduled game, we worked to identify a quality replacement to complete our 2026 non-conference slate," Harrison said. "We appreciate Gardner-Webb's interest and cooperation and look forward to hosting them in Huntington."
With the addition of Gardner-Webb, Marshall's 2026 non-conference opponents are known: Sept. 5 at Penn State; Sept. 12 vs. Middle Tennessee; Sept. 19 at Missouri State; Sept. 26 vs. Gardner-Webb.
For all the latest information about Marshall Athletics, follow @HerdFB on X and @Herd_FB on Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
---HerdZone.com---
