Sources – Marshall opts out of bowl after transfers, coaching change

Marshall officials have notified the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl that the Thundering Herd will not be able to participate, sources told ESPN, after a recent wave of players entered the transfer portal in the wake of a coaching change.

The Thundering Herd, who won the Sun Belt Conference title, were scheduled to face the AAC champion Army on Dec. 28 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Marshall coach Charles Huff left for the same post at Southern Miss a day after the Sun Belt title game after he was unable to reach an agreement with the school on a new contract. The Crew quickly hired NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson as Huff’s replacement. The army will meet the navy later on Saturday.

The Independence Bowl would have to replace Marshall with a 5-7 team, but many players on those teams have left their campuses for winter break. Independence Bowl officials did not immediately return requests for comment.

As of Saturday morning, Marshall has 36 players on the transfer portal, including 29 scholarship players and 17 players on the team’s two-deep for the Sun Belt title game. All three Thundering Herd quarterbacks who played this season are in the portal, including starter Braylon Braxton, the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year.

Defensive end Mike Green, the Sun Belt Player of the Year, declared for the NFL draft on Friday. A number of Marshall staffers have also left, some joining Huff at Southern Miss.

ESPN’s Max Olson and Chris Low contributed to this report.