The Sun Belt Conference announced Friday it fined Marshall $100,000 for opting out of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl last month even though the Thundering Herd's roster had been depleted to 41 players after as many as 36 players entered the transfer portal.
As reported by ESPN senior writer Chris Low, Marshall athletic director Christian Spears told reporters Friday that the university accepted the fine and will move forward, but he made it clear that the wellbeing of the players was paramount in the decision not to play in the Dec. 28 bowl game against American Athletic Conference champion Army.
The Sun Belt Conference announced Friday it fined Marshall $100,000 for opting out of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl last month even though the Thundering Herd's roster had been depleted to 41 players after as many as 36 players entered the transfer portal.
As reported by ESPN senior writer Chris Low, Marshall athletic director Christian Spears told reporters Friday that the university accepted the fine and will move forward, but he made it clear that the wellbeing of the players was paramount in the decision not to play in the Dec. 28 bowl game against American Athletic Conference champion Army.
Louisiana Tech was announced as a replacement Dec. 14, then lost to Army won 27-6 two weeks later.
The transfer portal opened a day after Marshall head coach Charles Huff left for Southern Miss, and in the next two-plus weeks, 17 Marshall players announced their transfers to Southern Miss, including quarterback Braylon Braxton, who was the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in 2024. In fact, all three of Marshall's quarterbacks who played during the 2024 season were in the portal, as were 17 of the 22 players on the two-deep chart from the Sun Belt championship game. Of the 41 players remaining, some were scout-team players and freshmen who had not played.
"We are excited about the dialogue that's happening nationally right now around some rules changes [specifically, a single portal window that would move to January] to make sure that no other institution, ever, has this happen, but in good conscience, we could not put 41 student-athletes out onto that field, and again, we are always going to prioritize the health and safety of our student-athletes," Spears said, as reported by ESPN. "But that doesn't take away the fact that a sincere and formal apology is due, and we are very appreciative of being a part of the Sun Belt Conference and the leadership of Commissioner [Keith] Gill and accept the fine that has been imposed."
The Sun Belt, in a statement, said that "while it acknowledges the medical model and best practice guidance adhered to by Marshall as well as their fundamental concern for the health and safety of the remaining eligible student-athletes to compete in a safe and viable manner, the nature and timing of this decision was detrimental to the Sun Belt Conference and its membership, to Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and [broadcast partner] ESPN."
In its statement, the conference added that it "considers this matter concluded and will have no further comment."
"Marshall finished 10-3 and defeated Louisiana 31-3 in the Sun Belt championship game Dec. 7. Huff was named the Southern Miss coach the next day, although there had been reports linking him to the Southern Miss job for at least a week," Low wrote. "Marshall and Huff were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension prior to the 2024 season, and Spears said the two had agreed not to have discussions about a new deal during the 2024 season as long as Huff didn't pursue other job openings."
