The Sun Belt Conference has fined league member Marshall $100,000 for opting out of the Independence Bowl.
Marshall withdrew from the Dec. 28 game on Dec. 14 — six days after accepting the invitation — due to a roster depleted by the transfer portal and a head coaching change. Nearby Louisiana Tech, with a 5-7 record, replaced Marshall and lost 27-6.
“While the conference acknowledges the medical model and best practice guidance adhered to by Marshall, as well as their fundamental concern for the health and safety of the remaining eligible student-athletes to compete in a safe and viable manner, the nature and timing of this decision was detrimental to the Sun Belt Conference and its membership, to Army, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and ESPN,” the league said in a statement released Friday.
The Sun Belt added that it considered the matter closed and would have no further comment.
Marshall (10-3) won the Sun Belt on Dec. 7 and accepted the bowl invitation the next day. That same day, Marshall coach Charles Huff was named the head coach at Southern Miss. More than 20 Marhsall players entered the transfer portal and were unavailable to play in the game.
Following the withdrawal, American Athletic Commissioner Tim Pernetti said the NCAA should draft legislation to penalize programs for opting out. Stakeholders also said a later transfer portal window would help prevent the mass opt-outs in December.
On Tuesday, the American Football Coaches Association put forth a recommendation to move the portal to Jan. 2-12, in an attempt to let teams finish their season with their full roster. However, under the current guidelines, because of Marshall’s coaching change, players would have still been eligible to enter the portal immediately.
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