Marshall opens Tony Gibson era with a tough test at No. 5 Georgia
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall’s 2025 season begins with a high-profile road test as the Thundering Herd visit No. 5 Georgia at Sanford Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff that will be shown on ESPN. It marks the start of a new era under first-year Marshall coach Tony Gibson.
Gibson joked, “I’m glad we start with an easy opponent,” but added seriously that Marshall must focus on its own performance, not the surroundings. “We’re playing a Top 5 team and it’s not going to be easy, but I’m more worried about Marshall right now and how our guys react to the crowd and the athleticism and physicality that Georgia is going to bring. We’re going down there to win a football game, not just collect a check and I want our guys to be at their best.”
The teams have met only once before, a 2004 matchup in Athens that Georgia won 13-3. Marshall enters with more than 70 new players on its roster, and Gibson acknowledged that many will be tested by the atmosphere in the 93,000-seat stadium.
Yet there is opportunity in the challenge. “I think it’s exciting for our kids to go play at a venue like Sanford Stadium,” Gibson said. “A lot of our guys think that they can play at Georgia’s level, but you can’t hide from them now. We’ve had a great fall camp and now it’s time to go play somebody else and see where we’re at.”
The quarterback competition remains unsettled. Gibson and offensive coordinator Rod Smith have not named a starter, with Syracuse transfer Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Jacksonville State transfer Zion Turner, and redshirt freshman Jacqai Long all in the mix. “I like all three of our guys,” Gibson said. “Carlos has some experience. Zion has started games. Jacqai is the young guy with a big arm. They’re all different in what they do. You may see all three of them on Saturday depending on how the game goes. We’re not going to let one guy sit in there and struggle all day.”
Georgia’s talent is evident, Gibson noted, as the Bulldogs are “solid on both sides of the ball and they don’t give up a lot of big plays.” Marshall will need to grind and take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
Underdogs by a wide margin, the Herd view the game as a valuable learning experience that can pay dividends as the program builds for the future. Gibson stressed the importance of keeping emotions in check early in a stadium this size and against this level of competition.
Summary: Marshall travels to Athens for a premier early-season test against a top-five Georgia team, utilizing a quarterback competition that could feature multiple players and aiming to translate the experience into growth for a program in transition.
A hopeful note: The matchup presents a rare stage for Marshall to measure itself against elite competition, and the experience could accelerate depth development, leadership, and resilience that help the Herd mature quickly this season.
Additional context for readers:
– Saturday’s game is a national showcase on ESPN, highlighting Marshall’s step into a higher level of competition.
– With more than 70 newcomers, this game offers a live scouting report on progress across the roster.
– The quarterback competition remains open, so fans may see multiple players receive snaps, a situation that could shape the rotation early in the season.
– Although the odds are daunting, the game serves as a catalyst for growth and provides valuable tape for evaluating what needs to improve as the Herd moves through a demanding schedule.