It’s Week 10 of the college football season, and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are riding the emotional wave of their win against rival App State into another heated Sun Belt showdown versus Marshall. Coastal Carolina (4-3) hosts Marshall (4-3) on October 30, Halloween eve, Thursday 7:30 pm EST in Conway, South Carolina.
Conway, the “City of Halloween,” always brings an extra spark this time of year, with Brooks Stadium decorated and fans expected to fill the stands in costume. The fun and unique atmosphere will be entertaining, but for The Chants, their focus remains the same: winning.
The Marshall Thundering Herd may not carry the same regional animosity as Appalachian State. However, this matchup has significant implications for conference standings and bowl eligibility. The two teams have the same record and are tied for second place in the Sun Belt East division. With both desperate to stay alive in the SBC East race, this game will certainly be a defining moment in their seasons. Let’s take a look at who will come out on top in this spooky match-up.
Marshall vs. Coastal Carolina: History and Game Excerpts
Coastal Carolina and Marshall have a young and budding history. It started in 2022, when Marshal joined the Sun Belt and played Coastal, losing 24-13. Marshall would play Coastal again the following year, this time losing 34-6.
Then in 2024, Marshall went on a historic run, going 10-3 and winning the Sun Belt East. They would go on to beat the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns to win the Sun Belt Conference Championship. In this dominant run, they faced off against Coastal and won handily, 31-19.
However, The Herd do not have the same group that won them their first SBC championship. The defending champs lost their coach, Charles Huff, to become the head coach at Southern Miss. Starting quarterback Braylon Braxton, who led them to the championship, also transferred to join his coach. Southern Miss sits atop the Sun Belt West with a 6-2 record (4-0 in conference play). While Marshall, with new head coach from NC State Tony Gibson, is 4-3.
As of Wednesday, Marshall enters the week as a 5.5-point favorite on the road, with the over/under set at 54.5 points. Even though this isn’t the same Marshall team from last year, they are still the defending champs, rendering them favorites for Thursday’s contest.
The two head coaches, Tony Gibson (Marshall) and Tim Beck (Coastal), coached together at NC State (Gibson on defense, Beck on offense). That familiarity may lead to an interesting chess match.
Marshall vs. Coastal Carolina 2025 Preview: Keys, Players, and Predictions
Key Players for Coastal
Samier Collier is the man at the helm for Coastal. After weeks of bad offensive play, it seems like Coach Beck has finally found his guy. Coastal has already gone through two quarterback’s in MJ Morris and Tad Hudson. Both have gone down with injuries, but have stayed out due to bad play. Now, third-stringer Collier has shown that he can be the starter. While his numbers may not be eye popping, what stands out is he’s not turning the ball over, a problem that has been plaguing Coastal all season.
Through two games, he’s gone 17-34, throwing for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 162 yards and three touchdowns, all while only turning the ball over once, creating a 101.8 quarterback rating. This 5-1 ratio has completely changed Coastal’s offense. They’ve won two games in a row, one of those wins against rival App State, where they put up a season-high 45 points.
Collier manages the offense, but it’s the ground game that truly runs it. Coastal’s rushing unit brings muscle and rhythm, keeping defenses honest to set up explosive play-action passes. With 246 total rushing yards and four touchdowns last week, the line of scrimmage was dictated by Coastal’s physical play style. The main contributors were the running back trio of Ja’Vin Simpkins, Dominic Knicely, and Jevon Edwards, along with Collier chipping in as well.
Key Players for Marshall
Leading Marshal is quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who is scary good. The heart and soul of Marshall’s team, Wilson has done it all; completing 90 of 121 passes, for 1133 yards and 12 touchdowns with just one interception. He has a 74.4-percent completion rate, the highest efficiency marks in the Sun Belt. He also leads The Herd in rushing with 347 yards and four touchdowns.
Wideout Demarcus Lacey has been Wilson’s favorite target this year. Lacey leads the team in receptions (35), receiving yards (484), and receiving touchdowns (4). The 6-foot senior has emerged as the offense’s No. 1 receiver, reaching career-highs with his stats this season already. Lacey looks to keep his pace contributing throughout his breakout season.
Cornerback Boogie Trotter has been a turnover machine in Marshall’s secondary. With four interceptions, one that he returned for a touchdown, he has a knack for forcing turnovers and making plays. He also has a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His speed, awareness, and ability to read the quarterback make him the cornerstone of Marshall’s defense. Trotter will force Coastal to adjust their passing game as he looks to take advantage of their high turnover rate and Samiiler Colliers’ only third start. Like a slasher horror villain, his presence alone will fill Collier with anxiety to throw his way.
2025 Game Prediction: How Coastal Carolina Beats Marshall in Week 7
Coastal Carolina’s football team can be best described as hot and cold. It seems like they’re going as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for Halloween, as some weeks they look like a solid, tough squad, while others they are downright embarrassing. However, this impression can all change if they can manage to string together three wins in a row here against Marshall.
It’s easier said than done, but Coastal has shown they can do it. They just need to be a consistent unit. Collier will need to continue his stride as a turnover-free quarterback. The ground game will control the clock and wear down the defense. Defensively, Coastal will put all its focus on Del Rio-Wilson. By managing the tempo and limiting Marshall’s offensive opportunities, Coastal could come out with a win, maybe with the help of some Halloween magic.
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