2026 Opponent Snapshot: Marshall Thundering Herd

Defensive Player to Watch

LB Javae Gilmore

Marshall is fortunate to have Gilmore back, who is one of the few productive defensive players to return for 2026. Gilmore was fourth on the team with 62 tackles, including a career-high 13 to help propel the Herd to a double-overtime victory over Texas State. The Mississippi State transfer will need to step up as the leader of the defense as a fifth-year senior.

Marshall Wins If…

The Herd have a chance to bounce back and make some noise in the Sun Belt with Del-Rio Wilson leading the offense and several top skill players returning. The defense will need more of an overhaul after losing star defensive back Boogie Trotter and other key players from a unit that already struggled in 2026.

Despite Penn State overhauling its staff and roster, the talent differential should be enough to make it an uneventful week one non-conference game in State College. The best chance for a Marshall upset could be if Matt Campbell turns out to be the entirely wrong fit for Penn State, with an unmotivated team playing out of sorts and turning the ball over all throughout the afternoon. Considering the amount of success Campbell had in the past decade at Iowa State despite limited resources, it’s doubtful such a thing could happen.

Penn State Wins If…

The Nittany Lions establish the run game and finish drives with the trio of Quinton Martin Jr., James Peoples and Carson Hansen. Rocco Becht shows he’s recovered from shoulder surgery while reconnecting with the likes of Chase Sowell, Brett Eskildsen, and Benjamin Brahmer. The re-tooled offensive line shows promise, with several emerging talents gaining valuable experience.

The key for the defense will be to take control of the line of scrimmage, especially with the rebuilt defensive line adding some much needed beef to the interior. The days of athletic-yet-undersized defensive tackles is over. May the era of massive DTs who eat up blockers and let the back seven get to work begin.