More is expected of Marshall in Tony Gibsonβs second season as head coach.Β
The Thundering Herd are third among seven teams in the East Division in the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, as released Monday by the league.
Marshall did not receive a first-place vote among 14 total votes (one for each conference coach), but managed 67 points to slot behind projected first-place East Division finisher James Madison and Old Dominion.
The Herd are followed in the East Division Preseason Poll by fourth-place Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State and Georgia State.
Troy is atop the SBC West Division Preseason Poll, and the Trojans are followed by (in order): Louisiana, Arkansas State, Sun Belt newcomer Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, South Alabama and UL Monroe.
Additionally, Marshall boasts a major preseason honoree as returning quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson is the Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
πππ₯π ππ§ πππ₯π πππ₯π¦π§.@HerdFB redshirt senior quarterback @QBCarlosDelrio named the @SunBeltFB Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. βοΈπ
π° Β» https://t.co/Okm7lC8xVS pic.twitter.com/nr1KtZUmDs
β Sun Belt (@SunBelt) July 13, 2026
An Atlanta native and Syracuse transfer who came to Huntington in advance of the 2025 season, Del Rio-Wilson became Marshallβs full-time quarterback during the first month of last season and went on complete 171-of-256 passes for 2,043 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions.Β
The redshirt senior dual-threat signal-caller also rushed for 661 yards and six scores on 160 attempts, and is one of two returning FBS quarterbacks to have passed for 2,000 yards, complete at least 65 percent of his passes and rush for at least 600 yards. The other is Byrum Brown, who accomplished the feat at South Florida and now plays at Auburn.
As the SBC Preseason All-Sun Belt first-team quarterback, Del Rio-Wilson is one of six Herd players on the first team, five of which are on offense. The others are offensive linemen Tariq Montgomery and Jalen Slappy, tight end Toby Payne of Poca, wide receiver Adrian Norton and defensive back Daytione Smith.
“We are happy to see Carlos recognized as the league’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year and for our guys to be honored by the league’s coaches and media,” Gibson said. “When the league’s coaches recognize you, it means you made an impact on them when they saw you play. Now, our guys have to put the work in to show they’ve earned those accolades and to get us where we want to be, which is as 2026 Sun Belt Champions.”
Marshall leads all Sun Belt teams with nine representatives across the preseason all-conference first and second teams. Its second-team honorees are defensive lineman Braydin Ward, a former standout Riverside High School, linebacker Javae Gilmore and return specialist Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw.
Troy defensive lineman Donnie Smith is SBC Preseason Defensive Player of the year, while Trojansβ punter Evan Crenshaw was named the leagueβs Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year.
A year ago, Marshall was chosen sixth in the SBC East Division Preseason Poll, ahead of only Georgia State. The Herd went on to finish fifth, but dropped four of its five regular season contests to finish 5-7 overall and 3-5 in league play.
JMU topped Troy in the 2025 Sun Belt Championship to win its 12th game and qualify for the College Football Playoff.Β
Marshall opens the 2026 campaign September 5 at Penn State and plays its first conference game October 3 at James Madison.Β
The Herdβs conference slate features the other six teams in the East Division as well as the bottom two projected finishers in the West Division β South Alabama and UL Monroe.
2026 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-Place Votes)
East Division
1. James Madison β 94 Points (11)
2. Old Dominion β 73 Points (1)
3. Marshall β 67 Points
4. Georgia Southern β 53 Points (1)
5. Coastal Carolina β 45 Points (1)
6. App State β 43 Points
7. Georgia State β 17 Points
West Division
1. Troy β 96 Points (12)
2. Louisiana β 75 Points (1)
3. Arkansas State β 69 Points
4. Louisiana Tech β 55 Points
5. Southern Miss β 47 Points (1)
6. South Alabama β 31 Points
7. ULM β 19 Points