Army is set to face Louisiana Tech at the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, replacing Marshall as the opponent. Marshall officials notified bowl officials that they would not be able to participate due to a wave of players entering the transfer portal following their coaching change.
The Thundering Herd’s decision comes after coach Charles Huff left for Southern Miss and his replacement Tony Gibson struggled to agree on a new contract with the school. The team has 36 players in the transfer portal, including all three quarterbacks who played this season.
Louisiana Tech, meanwhile, is looking forward to its first bowl appearance since 2020. Athletic director Ryan Ivey said that playing Army would add momentum to his program’s positive structure and that he was excited about the opportunity.
The Bulldogs have won two of their past three games and last played on November 30 with a 33-0 victory over Kennesaw State. The Independence Bowl executive director Missy Setters expressed disappointment at Marshall’s decision but said that she was thrilled to host Louisiana Tech, citing the matchup as “the best possible” for fans.
Source: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/42969198/marshall-opts-bowl-transfers-coaching-change