HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Six home dates, including Big 12 power Kansas State and new Conference USA rivals Southern Methodist (SMU), Alabama-Birmingham (UAB), Southern Miss and East Carolina highlight the 2005 Thundering Herd football schedule.

"This is the best schedule in the history of our football program," Marshall University Director of Athletics Bob Marcum said. "There are many exciting games to be played this season and in the future. I am confident our season ticket holders and our future season ticket holders will be pleased."

Marshall will open the season by hosting William & Mary on Thursday, Sept. 1, before playing host to traditional Big 12 Conference power Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 10. Following the clash with the Wildcats, Marshall will travel to Orlando, Fla., to face off with fellow Conference USA newcomer Central Florida on Sept. 24.

The Thundering Herd will return home to host SMU in the Herd's first home Conference USA game on Saturday, Oct. 1, before traveling to defending Atlantic Coast Conference Champion Virginia Tech on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Marshall will return to C-USA action at home on Saturday, Oct. 15 when it hosts the University of Alabama Birmingham. The Herd will then travel to UTEP and Tulane on Oct. 22 and 29, respectively, before returning home to host perennial C-USA title contender Southern Miss on either Tuesday or Wednesday, Nov. 8 or 9. The Thundering Herd will close out the home portion of the 2005 regular season by hosting East Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 19.

Marshall's final regular season contest will be a Saturday, Nov. 26 contest at Memphis.

The Thundering Herd's 2005 schedule includes five teams that went to bowls in 2004. Ninth-ranked Virginia Tech (10-3) won the ACC and earned a berth in the Sugar Bowl, Memphis (8-3) appeared in the GMAC Bowl, Southern Mississippi (7-5) won the New Orleans Bowl, UAB (7-5) appeared in the Hawaii Bowl, and UTEP (8-4) appeared in the Houston Bowl.

All conference times and television information will be announced at a later date.