Marshall, which last fall announced that it would join Sun Belt by July 2023 said Friday that it plans to terminate its affiliation with Conference USA one year earlier.
Marshall’s athletic department announced that it will cease participation in Conference USA from June 30, 2022.
Marshall released a statement saying that the decision was made after considering Marshall’s student athletes and loyal fans. “We are grateful to Conference USA membership for 17 years, which will be a significant part of Thundering Herd’s history.” It is now time to turn the page and look to Marshall’s future.
Marshall stated that Conference USA has informed Marshall of its intentions but that the league is unable to resolve the matter with the school.
Marshall stated, “Our student-athletes and coaches, staff, fans, and other members of Conference USA deserve clarity in this matter. Therefore, the need for today’s message.”
Conference USA released a statement on Friday night stating that all college leagues have reached an agreement with their members regarding bylaws and contractual obligations in times of realignment.
C-USA stated that although they have not chosen to engage in public, they have communicated with their member institutions and expect them meet those obligations.
Marshall, who is based in Huntington (West Virginia), joined C-USA as a player in 2005. In 2014, Marshall won the league championship in football and rose to No. 15th in the AP Top 25 poll for the 2020 season.
Marshall will join the Sun Belt with C-USA schools Southern Mississippi, Old Dominion, and FCS powerhouse James Madison. UT-Arlington will be returning to the Western Athletic Conference this summer.
Six other C-USA schools also announced that they would be moving to the American Athletic Conference last year. The date will be decided. After C-USA announced four new members in 2023, Middle Tennessee State, and Western Kentucky decided to remain in the conference.
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