HATTIESBURG, Miss.
— Marshall University showcased a dominant performance against Southern Mississippi, securing a commanding 37-3 victory on Saturday. Quarterback Braylon Braxton contributed significantly to the win, passing for 220 yards and throwing one touchdown. Running back Ethan Payne was another standout, rushing for 104 yards and adding a touchdown for the Thundering Herd.

The game saw Braxton score a touchdown himself with a 2-yard run, and Payne made a notable impact in the second quarter with a 36-yard touchdown run, allowing Marshall to take a 17-3 lead at halftime. The momentum continued into the third quarter, highlighted by Tychaun Chapman’s 14-yard scoring run and a subsequent 18-yard touchdown pass from Braxton to Toby Payne, extending Marshall’s lead to 31-3 with 10:45 remaining in the quarter.

Nathan Totten also contributed to the scoreline, successfully converting field goals from distances of 23, 27, and 26 yards. Meanwhile, Connor Gibbs managed to prevent a shutout for the Eagles with a 51-yard field goal late in the second quarter. On the defensive side, Marshall was relentless, intercepting Southern Miss quarterback Ethan Crawford three times during the game, showcasing a strong defense throughout.

With this victory, Marshall improved to a record of 6-3 overall and 4-1 in the Sun Belt Conference, keeping in lockstep with Georgia Southern, who also shares the same record after their narrow victory over South Alabama. The Thundering Herd has been on a roll, having won three consecutive games and five of their last six, following a challenging loss to Ohio State back on September 21, where they were defeated 49-14.