Marshall Players Believe They Can Surprise No. 5 Georgia in Season Opener: 'Our Goal Is to Win'
The Thundering Herd are convinced they can challenge and possibly upset the highly-ranked Bulldogs in their season debut.
Marshall is not approaching the upcoming game against No. 5 Georgia as just another paycheck match. The Thundering Herd are optimistic, believing they can either push or possibly upset the Bulldogs, marking a theme for their 2025 season opener.
Senior cornerback Marvae Myers recalled the last encounter between the teams in 2004, where Georgia narrowly won 13-3. Myers stated, “We’ve got history with Georgia. I’ve seen the last game was a pretty close one, something I’m sure they weren’t expecting. But we’ve just been focusing on not making this just a game where we show up. We’re going to go out there, show heart and we’re coming to win. We’re not coming out there just to play. We want to win.”
Translation: Myers emphasizes the team’s focus on winning, not merely participating.
The Thundering Herd have proven their capability against top-tier programs in the past, achieving victories against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 like No. 8 Notre Dame in 2022 and No. 23 Appalachian State in 2020, as well as a win over Virginia Tech in 2023.
Yet, the challenge they face in Athens is formidable. With 76 new players and only eight returning from last year’s Sun Belt championship team, the Herd must swiftly blend a largely unfamiliar roster against one of the nation’s elite programs. Tony Gibson, in his first year as coach after serving as the defensive coordinator at North Carolina State, faces the task of rapidly integrating new talents while preparing against Georgia’s established SEC powerhouse.
Georgia is heavily favored, with a 38.5-point advantage per FanDuel Sportsbook, and boasts a 31-game winning streak at home in Sanford Stadium. Despite these daunting statistics, the Thundering Herd are eagerly accepting the challenge, as Katron Evans, a senior defensive lineman, mentions: “I feel like the first week is the best time to have them because we don’t know what they expect out of us with over 60 new players.”
Georgia holds a 13-0 record against Sun Belt teams overall, having won 11 straight season openers, and maintains the longest active home winning streak in FBS. However, Marshall, with 12 consecutive season-opening victories since 2013, refuses to let these numbers intimidate them.
