Michael Payton

Chaump left in 1989 but Payton remained. As a sophomore in 1990, he completed 199 of 347 passes for 2,409 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. In 1991, he completed 222 passes on 346 attempts for 3,392 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. That season, he led Marshall to the NCAA Division I championship game, where the Herd finished as runners-up. Payton also set the Division I-AA record for season passing efficiency and was named Southern Conference Player of the Year. Payton was also West Virginia Athlete of the Year and Man of the Year for 1991.

In 1992, he completed 268 passes on 415 attempts for 3,610 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He was awarded the Walter Payton Award for that year and was a consensus first-team All-American. Payton again led Marshall to the I-AA title contest, where they defeated Youngstown State in the 1992 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game, giving Marshall their first I-AA title. He was again named Southern Conference Player of the Year, West Virginia Athlete of the Year and Man of the Year. Payton finished his college tenure as the Southern Conference's all-time career passing leader, and received the Walter Payton Award, which is given annually to the best player in Division I-AA football. Payton is Marshall's fourth highest ever passer with 9.411 career yards-gained (exceeding the previous record by more than 2,300 yards) and their fifth highest all-time scorer with 69 career touchdowns. At Marshall, he played frequently with future New England Patriots receiver Troy Brown.

Payton played for one season in the Arena Football League. He played as a back-up quarterback for the Florida Bobcats in 1996. That year, he completed three passes on 17 attempts and threw one interception.

Payton was inducted in the Marshall University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. In January 2015, Payton was one of 17 players elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Payton died on September 27, 2018, from cancer. He had received twelve separate treatments for the disease.