The Marshall Thundering Herd had to opt out of their bowl game this past December, facing a significant hurdle with 30 players entering the transfer portal, preventing them from fielding a full team. Despite this situation being beyond their control, Marshall felt the repercussions as they were fined for their absence.
The Sun Belt Conference imposed a substantial six-figure penalty on Marshall for not participating in the 2024 Independence Bowl, resulting in a $100,000 fine after the controversy surrounding their bowl game opt-out. The conference announced this fine in a release, stating: “The Sun Belt Conference is issuing a $100,000 institutional fine to Marshall University for opting out of its Saturday, Dec. 28, matchup with Army in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.”
Additionally, the conference acknowledged Marshall’s adherence to the medical model and best practices concerning the health and safety of its remaining eligible student-athletes. However, they noted that the timing and nature of the decision were detrimental not only to the Sun Belt Conference and its membership but also to Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference, and ESPN. As a result, Louisiana Tech stepped in to replace the Thundering Herd in the Independence Bowl.
