Marshall football to play Missouri State beginning in 2025

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — Marshall football will welcome a first-time opponent to Huntington in 2025.

The Thundering Herd announced a two-game series with Missouri State beginning Sept. 6, 2025, according to a news release from the athletic department. Marshall will travel to Springfield, Missouri, for a Sept. 19, 2026, contest.

It will be the first-ever contest between the two programs and it serves as a unique series between a former Conference USA member and a new Conference USA member. Marshall played from 2005-22.

“Playing Missouri State, a brand-new member of Conference USA, should be an engaging series for us,” Christian Spears, Marshall’s director of athletics, said in a news release. “They wanted to play Marshall and early on, we recognized their sincere desire to bring their team to Huntington.”

The contest in 2025 will be the first time in 25 years that a team from Missouri has visited Joan C. Edwards Stadium – the last being Southeast Missouri, whom the Herd defeated 63-7 in the season opener.

When Marshall returns the game on Sept. 19, 2026, it will be only the second time in program history that the team played a game in the state of Missouri.