The Sun Belt Conference has fined Marshall $100,000 and issued a public reprimand to the school after it opted out of the Independence Bowl in December.

Head coach Charles Huff left for Southern Miss the day after the Thundering Herd beat Louisiana in the Dec. 7 Sun Belt championship game, taking several members of the coaching staff with him. In addition, more than two dozen players entered the transfer portal — with several of them also landing with the Golden Eagles.

Louisiana Tech — which finished the regular season at 5-7 — replaced Marshall in the Dec. 28 Independence Bowl vs. Army. The Black Knights won the game handily, 27-6.

The Sun Belt issued the following statement on the decision:

“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 Sun Belt Conference considers this matter concluded and will have no further comment.”

Marshall opting out of the Independence Bowl was believed to be the first time a team withdrew from a bowl game for reasons other than medical emergency. Several bowl games were canceled following the 2020 season after players on one or both participating teams tested positive for COVID, or because there were not enough teams available to participate.