Tychaun Chapman scored on a 10-yard run and Braylon Braxton hit Charles Montgomery for the 2-point conversion to help Marshall beat James Madison 35-33 in double overtime to clinch a spot in the Sun Belt Championship for the first time in program history.

Marshall football thundered back from a 17-point deficit to top James Madison in an overtime thriller Saturday night and secured a spot in the Sun Belt Conferen

The Mountaineers entered the 2024 season an overwhelming favorite to win the Sun Belt, but suffered blowout losses to Clemson and South Alabama in September. The season was further disrupted after Hurricane Helene caused massive flooding in the Boone, N.C. area.

Christian Fitzpatrick caught an important third down pass for a first down at the 10-yard line. On the next play, Braylon Braxton handed off to Ethan Payne, who then gave the ball to Tychaun Chapman on an inside reverse, and Chapman turned the corner and sprinted into the end zone to tie the game at 33.

The Dukes can’t hold a 17-0 halftime lead. In Division II, Virginia Union gained a spot among the bracket’s final eight. Meanwhile, Lehigh ended FCS playoff foe Richmond’s