Marshall University Athletics
Several 2026 Marshall Football Game-Times Announced By Sun Belt, ESPN
5/27/2026 3:00:00 PM | Football
Sept. 5 season-opener at Penn State, Sept. 26 Homecoming game both set for 3:30 p.m.
2026 Marshall Football Season Tickets
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football fans can start making some of their 2026 travel plans to watch the Herd in action following the release of several game-times by the Sun Belt Conference on Thursday.
The highlight of the times released on Thursday includes the 2026 Homecoming Game time, which is a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 26 against Gardner-Webb.
Marshall Football will also open the home portion of its 2026 season under the lights on Sept. 12 with a 7 p.m. kickoff against Middle Tennessee.
"We are incredibly excited to announce several kickoff times for the 2026 season as Herd Nation begins making plans to pack The Joan and travel across the country in support of Marshall Football," said Gerald Harrison, Marshall's Vice President and Director of Athletics. "There is nothing like opening a new season under the lights at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, especially with our new stadium lights creating an incredible atmosphere for our fans and student-athletes. This season will feature a number of exciting enhancements and special announcements surrounding the gameday experience, and we cannot wait to share more with Herd Nation in the weeks ahead. We firmly believe Marshall has the best gameday atmosphere in the Sun Belt because of the passion, pride and energy of our fans. We look forward to welcoming Herd Nation back to The Joan for six exciting home games this fall and seeing Kelly Green represented everywhere we travel throughout the season."
In other Marshall home game news, the Herd's Tuesday night prime-time Sun Belt Conference matchup with South Alabama on Oct. 20 will be a 7:30 p.m. kickoff from Joan C. Edwards Stadium. That game will be seen on ESPN2.
In addition to the home game announcements, Marshall also received word on start times for its two September road contests with both being nationally-televised affairs.
Marshall opens the 2026 season at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 5 when the Herd travels to take on Big Ten foe Penn State in front of more than 100,000 fans at Beaver Stadium in a game that will be showcased on FS1.
After facing Middle Tennessee under the lights at home, the team hits the road to face Missouri State at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 19. The Herd's first trip to Plaster Stadium in Springfield, Mo., will be broadcast nationally by CBS Sports Network.
All other games on Marshall's 2026 Football schedule fall into the 12-day window, which is in accordance with the Sun Belt Conference's television rights contract with the ESPN family of networks.
A detailed outline of events surrounding the Sept. 26 Homecoming Game will be released in the near future and Game Themes for the home portion of the 2026 football schedule will also be revealed soon.
Stay tuned to the HerdZone website or follow Marshall's social media channels – X, Facebook and Instagram - to get the most up-to-date information on game announcements.
To purchase 2026 Marshall Football Season Tickets, click HERE.
2026 Marshall Football Schedule
Sept. 5 at Penn State, 3:30 p.m., FS1
Sept. 12 Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Sept. 19 at Missouri State, 6:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Sept. 26 Gardner-Webb, 3:30 p.m., ESPN+
Oct. 3 at JMU, TBD
Oct. 10 Coastal Carolina, TBD
Oct. 20 (Tues.) South Alabama, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
Oct. 31 at Old Dominion, TBD
Nov. 7 at Georgia Southern, TBD
Nov. 14 App State, TBD
Nov. 21 Georgia State, TBD
Nov. 28 at ULM, TBD
For all the latest information about Marshall Football, 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.
