2014 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

The 2014 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Doc Holliday and played their home games at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. They were a member of the East Division of Conference USA. They finished the season 13–1, 7–1 in C-USA play to win the East Division title. As East Division champions, they played West Division champion Louisiana Tech in the C-USA Championship Game, defeating the Bulldogs 26–23 to become C-USA Champions. They were invited to the inaugural Boca Raton Bowl, where they defeated MAC champion Northern Illinois, 52–23.

2014 Marshall Thundering Herd football
C-USA champion
C-USA East Division champion
Boca Raton Bowl champion
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 22
APNo. 23
Record13–1 (7–1 C-USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBill Legg (5th season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorChuck Heater (2nd season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumJoan C. Edwards Stadium
Seasons
 2013
2015 
2014 Conference USA football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 23 Marshall x$ 71  131 
Middle Tennessee 53  66 
Western Kentucky 44  85 
UAB 44  66 
Old Dominion* 44  66 
FIU 35  48 
Florida Atlantic 26  39 
West Division
Louisiana Tech x 71  95 
Rice 53  85 
UTEP 53  76 
UTSA 35  48 
North Texas 26  48 
Southern Miss 17  39 
Championship: Marshall 26, Louisiana Tech 23
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • * Ineligible for postseason bowl due to transition from FCS
Rankings from AP Poll

Preseason

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Media poll

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In the C-USA preseason coaches' poll, the Thundering Herd were picked to finish in first place in the East division.[1]

Media poll (East division)
Predicted finish Team Votes
1Marshall91
2Middle Tennessee73
3Florida Atlantic60
4Western Kentucky57
5Old Dominion33
6UAB31
7FIU19

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 303:30 pmat Miami (OH)*ESPN3W 42–2719,005
September 67:00 pmRhode Island*ASNW 48–725,106
September 1312:00 pmOhio*
CBSSNW 44–1431,710
September 202:00 pmat Akron*ESPN3W 48–1713,357
October 412:00 pmat Old DominionFSNW 56–1420,118
October 1112:00 pmMiddle Tennesseedagger
  • Joan C. Edwards Stadium
  • Huntington, WV
FSNW 49–2430,210
October 186:00 pmat FIUNo. 25ASNW 45–1313,163
October 253:30 pmFlorida AtlanticNo. 23
  • Joan C. Edwards Stadium
  • Huntington, WV
FS1W 35–1627,236
November 87:00 pmat Southern MissASNW 63–1722,949
November 152:30 pmRice
  • Joan C. Edwards Stadium
  • Huntington, WV
FSNW 41–1430,680
November 2212:00 pmat UABWCHSW 23–1828,355
November 2812:00 pmWestern KentuckyNo. 24
  • Joan C. Edwards Stadium
  • Huntington, WV
FS1L 66–67 OT23,576
December 612:00 pmLouisiana Tech
ESPN2W 26–2323,711
December 236:00 pmvs. Northern Illinois*ESPNW 52–2329,419

[2]

Game summaries

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Miami (OH)

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1 2 3 4 Total
Thundering Herd 14 14 0 14 42
RedHawks 0 3 17 7 27

Rhode Island

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1 2 3 4 Total
Rams 0 0 0 7 7
Thundering Herd 7 10 21 10 48

Ohio

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1 2 3 4 Total
Bobcats 0 0 7 7 14
Thundering Herd 17 10 14 3 44

Akron

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1 2 3 4 Total
Thundering Herd 17 14 10 7 48
Zips 0 3 0 14 17

Old Dominion

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1 2 3 4 Total
Thundering Herd 28 14 14 0 56
Monarchs 7 0 0 7 14

Middle Tennessee

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1 2 3 4 Total
Blue Raiders 7 10 0 7 24
Thundering Herd 14 14 14 7 49

Florida International

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1 2 3 4 Total
#25 Thundering Herd 7 7 10 21 45
Panthers 7 0 0 6 13

Florida Atlantic

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1 2 3 4 Total
Owls 3 13 0 0 16
#23 Thundering Herd 7 7 7 14 35

Southern Miss

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1 2 3 4 Total
#23 Thundering Herd 7 21 14 21 63
Golden Eagles 14 3 0 0 17

Rice

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1 2 3 4 Total
Owls 0 7 0 7 14
#21 Thundering Herd 3 17 14 7 41
1 2 3 4 Total
#18 Thundering Herd 7 10 0 6 23
Blazers 3 3 6 6 18

Western Kentucky

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1 2 3 4OT Total
Hilltoppers 28 21 0 108 67
#19 Thundering Herd 21 21 7 107 66

Louisiana Tech

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1 2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs 10 7 6 0 23
Thundering Herd 0 13 3 10 26

Northern Illinois–Boca Raton Bowl

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1 2 3 4 Total
Thundering Herd 14 10 14 14 52
Huskies 7 6 7 3 23

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
APRVRVRVRVRVRVRV25232323211819RVRV23
CoachesRVRVRVRVRVRVRV24222322211820RVRV22
CFPNot released24Not released

References

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  1. "C-USA Football Preseason Poll Announced". Conference USA. July 16, 2014. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  2. "2014 Marshall Thundering Herd Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved February 5, 2014.