Marshall Suing Conference USA to Expedite Move to Sun Belt This Summer

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Marshall University has filed a lawsuit against Conference USA in an effort to make its move to the Sun Belt Conference this summer.

According to ESPN’s Heather Dinich, the suit was filed Tuesday through the Cabell County Circuit Court in Huntington, West Virginia, and Marshall’s goal is to sever ties with Conference USA so it can play in the Sun Belt during the 2022 football season.

A Marshall athletics spokesperson released the following statement to ESPN as well:

“For more than two months, Marshall University has attempted to reach a resolution with Conference USA regarding our decision not to participate in the league after this academic year; however, no progress has been made. The action we brought yesterday is the beginning of litigation intended to protect our rights, help us reach an agreement in a timely manner and clear the way for our shift in conference affiliation. We look forward to a successful resolution of this matter and a bright future with the Sun Belt Conference.”

Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss all announced in June that they were leaving C-USA for the Sun Belt, but Conference USA still included all three teams in the 2022 football schedule it released this month.

Per Dinich, Conference USA filed a demand for arbitration this month, noting that in the league bylaws, a school must give the conference 14 months’ notice before leaving.

Marshall claimed in its lawsuit that it informed C-USA it would be withdrawing from the conference on Nov. 1, Jan. 12 and Jan. 20. Marshall noted that it said specifically it would withdraw from Conference USA on July 1.

Additionally, Marshall said in the lawsuit that when it joined Conference USA, the league bylaws weren’t attached to the agreement, and they didn’t include mandatory arbitration in an instance of leaving the conference.

Marshall has played in Conference USA since 2005, following stints in the Mid-American Conference and Southern Conference. Marshall also played as an independent from 1970-76.

The Thundering Herd have been largely successful since joining C-USA, going 115-97 with 10 bowl appearances and one conference title.

Marshall won double-digit games in three consecutive seasons from 2013-15, and it has finished with a winning record in each of the past five seasons, including a 7-6 mark in 2021, which was the first season under head coach Charles Huff.

When the move to the Sun Belt becomes official for Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss, they will join conference stalwarts such as Arkansas State, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Louisiana and Troy.