The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is perhaps best known for a tragic plane crash that killed 75 people associated with the programme, including 37 players. While the accident occurred in 1970, the event has left its imprint on both the university and the aviation industry and has inspired two films, including one that starred Matthew McConaughey. Since the 90s, however, they have been a successful team, winning two Division I-FCS championships and seven bowl games.

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, on the other hand, are in their first year in Conference USA after transferring from the Sun Belt Conference. They are part of a conference realignment that saw multiple teams moving to the new American Athletic Conference, and the C-USA accepting new members from the Sun Belt and the Colonial Athletic Association.

The Thundering Herd sports a 4-2 overall record, 2-0 in Conference USA play. Their schedule is marked by blow-out victories against their old rival Miami of Ohio (52-14), Gardner-Webb (55-0) and Texas-San Antonio (34-10). Their losses, on the other hand, are close ones; they lost to Ohio (31-34) and Virginia Tech of the Atlantic Coast Conference in triple overtime, falling 21-29.

The Blue Raiders are playing like the newcomers that they are, toting a 3-4 overall record and a 1-2 C-USA card. Their only C-USA win, a 42-35 overtime victory over Florida Atlantic, came to a fellow transferee from the Sun Belt. They did have a credible performance, though, against East Carolina at home, letting their opponents score seven points in the fourth quarter. They are also coming off a 7-24 loss against former Sun Belt rival North Texas and enjoyed a weekend off prior to Week 9.

The Marshall-Middle Tennessee game will be played at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, MTSU's home field. The 30,788-seater stadium recorded its highest attendance in 2011 when the Blue Raiders saw action against the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets. So far, the Raiders have had a 2-1 home record in 2013, tilting the scales slightly in their favor. In contrast, the Thundering Herd have not been successful on the road, losing two of three away games.

Watch the game LIVE here (10/25/2013 9:30 am AEDT): LINK 1 LINK 2 LINK 3