Marshall pulled out of its Independence Bowl matchup against Army because of a “roster depleted by players opting out and entering the transfer portal.” Louisiana Tech, which is located in Ruston, La., about an hour from Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La., will "replace Marshall in the game." The process for picking a replacement was “based on the Academic Progress Rate (APR) of the 18 FBS teams with a 5-7 record, and Louisiana Tech was the first school on the list to accept.” Many colleges are “already on break, so regathering a team for bowl travel would’ve been difficult.” Marshall coach Charles Huff leaving to take the same position at Southern Mississippi “sparked a roster exodus that saw more than 20 players hitting the transfer portal and opting out of the game” (THE ATHLETIC, 12/14). The Marshall-Army matchup has been rated by USA Today Sports as the "fourth-best non-playoff bowl game” (USA TODAY, 12/14).
Marshall skipping bowl due to player opt outs
