Blue Hen News:
- Flames Run Past Delaware to Open CUSA Play with 30-14 Win
10/3/2026 - https://libertyflames.com/
NEWARK, Del. – Liberty scored 30-unanswered points and rushed for a season-high 282 yards en route to a 30-14 Conference USA opening victory, Friday night, at Delaware Stadium.
With the victory, Liberty's fourth in a row, the Flames move to 4-1 on the season and open Conference USA play with a 1-0 record. Delaware falls to 2-3 on the year and 0-1 in conference action.
The Flames entered the game as the only FBS team in the country to not have allowed a point in the fourth quarter. Liberty entered the final quarter tonight with a 30-0 lead, but allowed two touchdowns during the final 10 minutes of the contest.
Liberty dominated the stat sheet, finishing the game with 446 total offensive yards to Delaware's 359 yards.
The Flames have upped their rushing total in each game of the 2026 season. Liberty finished the night rushing for a season high 6.0 yards per carry and matched their season high with three touchdowns.
Kam Davis surpassed the 100-yard mark for the second-straight game, finishing the night with a 147 yards and a career high two touchdowns.
Deshawn Purdie completed 13-of-20 passing attempts for 157 yards with Makai Jackson leading six receivers with five receptions for 90 yards.
Aidan Vaughan led the Flames' defensive efforts with a career high nine tackles, while Izaiah Guy followed with five stops.
The Flames' win today:
Gives the Flames their first four-game winning streak since Liberty opened the 2024 season with five consecutive victories (Aug. 31-Oct. 8, 2024).
Makes the Flames 3-1 all-time in CUSA openers and 13-7 all-time in conference openers.
Boosts the Flames' all-time record against CUSA foes (at time of meeting) to 27-9, including an 18-8 mark since Liberty joined the conference in 2023.
Improves the Flames' record in October contests to 8-2 under Jamey Chadwell.
Pushes the Flames' all-time record when playing on Friday to 3-6, including a 3-2 mark at the FBS level.
Gives the Flames a 7-2 record when playing in the state of Delaware.
Snaps Delaware's five-game home winning streak and dealt the Fightin' Blue Hens only their second home defeat since the start of the 2024 season. Delaware entered Friday with a 15-1 record in its last 16 home games.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 30-14 (Liberty)
Liberty (4-1, 1-0 CUSA)
Delaware (2-3, 0-1 CUSA)
Location: Delaware Stadium (Newark, Del.)
Attendance: 19,182
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
The Flames scored on their first drive of the game for the fourth consecutive game, taking a 3-0 lead on a 47-yard field goal by Chase Reeves at 9:00. Liberty got into the red zone on its opening drive, but the Flames were stopped for a 10-yard loss on a third-and-five play from the Delaware 19-yard line the play prior to the field goal.
Liberty doubled its lead on its next drive, this time getting a 30-yard field goal from Reeves with 1:47 left in the quarter. The drive started with a 50-yard pass play from Deshawn Purdie to Makai Jackson, but the effort stalled once again inside the red zone.
Second Quarter
The Flames found the end zone on the longest play of the first half. Kam Davis found a hole on the right side of his offensive line and scampered 56 yards downfield for a touchdown to give Liberty a 13-0 edge at 7:35 mark.
Just before halftime, Purdie found Jamari Person open on the sidelines for an 18-yard reception, setting up Liberty's dominant run game inside the red zone. Peyton Jones scored from three yards out on the next play, giving Liberty a 20-0 lead with 38 seconds to play and 199 first half rushing yards.
Third Quarter
While the first half featured a combined 526 total offensive yards (Liberty – 338; Delaware – 188 yards), the third quarter saw a different story. The third 15-minute period saw a combined 48 total offensive yards, with Liberty accounting for 33 of those yards.
The only points put on the board during the third quarter came on a 22-yard field goal by Reeves at the 3:22 mark. The scoring opportunity was set up by the Flames' second forced turnover of the game, Deuce Spurlock's first career interception.
Fourth Quarter
Davis capped his career night and pushed Liberty's lead to 30-0 when he scored from five yards out at the 11:19 mark.
The Flames stranglehold on the fourth quarter came to an end with two late touchdowns by Delaware. Braden Streeter completed a 58-yard pass play to Donovan Lewis at 9:38, while Tyler Bell threw a 27-yard scoring strike to Matthew McKinley-Daniels at 1:35.
What's Next:
Weekday CUSA games come to Lynchburg next week as the Flames host Sam Houston for a Midweek on the Mountain game, Thursday night, at Williams Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. the game will be broadcast on ESPNU and LFSN Radio.
The home team has won each of the games in the brief two-game series history, including a 21-16 win for the Flames over the Bearkats on October 5, 2023,7 in Lynchburg. The victory kept the Flames undefeated season live in 2023 and helped the Flames win the Conference USA regular season title and host the CUSA Football Championship game.
Date: Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
TV: ESPNU
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. (EST)
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Kam Davis propels Liberty to 30-14 victory over Delaware in Conference USA opener
By AP News - 10-2/26
NEWARK, Del. -- — Kam Davis rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns to lead Liberty to a 30-14 victory over Delaware on Friday night in a Conference USA opener for both teams.
Davis raced 56 yards for a touchdown on third-and-2 for a 13-0 lead midway through the second quarter. He added a 5-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter to put the Flames (4-1) up 30-0. The junior totaled 123 yards on nine carries in the first half.
Deshawn Purdie completed 13 of 20 passes for 157 yards for Liberty.
Chase Reeves kicked two of his three field goals in the first quarter and the Flames never looked back.
Peyton Jones scored on a 3-yard run with 39 seconds left before halftime, capping a 12-play 98-yard drive as Liberty took a 20-0 advantage into halftime.
Sophomore EJ Archield Jr. had 137 yards on 10-for-19 passing for the Blue Hens (2-3) in his first collegiate start after Nick Minnicucci was injured last week in a 42-3 road loss to Virginia.
Blue Hens backups Braden Streeter and Tyler Bell had touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Streeter connected with Donovan Lewis for a 58-yard score and Bell hit Matthew McKinley-Daniels for a 27-yard touchdown with 1:35 remaining.
Up next:
Liberty: Hosts Sam Houston on Thursday.
Delaware: At Middle Tennessee on Oct. 13.
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- It's Almost Gameday! What You Need to Know
Delaware Football vs Liberty - bluehens.com 10/1/26
Your Fightin' Blue Hens football team continues their 2026 season TOMORROW, Friday, October 2nd at 7:00 p.m. as they take on the Liberty Flames for their Parents and Family Weekend Blue Out presented by Rittenhouse Station.
Wear Blue and help us Blue Out the Tub! Don't have any blue gear? Stop by the i.g. Burton Fan Zone located in the BCC Plaza beginning at 4:00 pm to purchase a diverse selection of official Fightin' Blue Hens gear from our Barnes & Noble bookstore!
New this year! Arrive early to experience the return of the beloved West Stands March gameday tradition by the University of Delaware Marching Band. After the sidewalk show, the Delaware Marching Band will march through the Spartin Family Gate and west concourse, where they will stop briefly to perform the fight song, then continue to the NW corner of the stadium for their pregame performance. Once you get settled in your seats, look out for the in-game fireworks that are being included within Delaware Football gamedays this season! Fireworks will be launched from the top of the Bob Carpenter Center during the national anthem, when the team enters the field pregame, and after a set number of Fightin' Blue Hens touchdowns per game. One final celebration will occur after each Fightin' Blue Hens victory in the Tub this season!
Flight Path: Back for its second season! Join the Delaware Marching Band and Spirit Squads outside the Bob Carpenter Center three hours before kickoff to welcome the Fightin' Blue Hens football team as it arrives at Delaware Stadium. Immediately following the Flight Path, head to the Spartin Family Gate plaza for the Flock Party, featuring gameday favorites performed by the UDMB and Spirit Squads.
Blue Out Rally Towels: Grab a Blue Hens rally towel upon entering through the gates to Blue Out the Tub while supplies last!
UnvaulteD Vintage Merch: Stop by the Barnes & Noble merchandise booths located under the East and West grandstands of Delaware Stadium for another opportunity to purchase our brand-new lineup of vintage merchandise, including Adidas polos and quarter-zips to own a piece of UD history.
Arriving at the game early but don't have dinner plans? We've got you covered! Stop by the i.g. Burton Fan Zone located in the BCC Plaza, opening at 4:00 p.m., and check out our Rolling Rooster food truck serving your gameday favorites!
Clear Bag Policy: Delaware Athletics will be implementing a "clear bag" policy. Only clutch purses and/or fanny packs (no larger than 5" x 7"), clear bags (no larger than 12" x 6" x 12"), medical bags, and diaper bags will be allowed into Delaware Stadium. All non-clear bags (hard-sided coolers, bags with metal frames, backpacks, draw-string bags, camera cases, tinted plastic bags, oversized tote bags, mesh bags, purses, and plastic bags) are strictly prohibited in Delaware Stadium. All clear bags are subject to inspection by gate security once entering through the Evolv Weapons Detection units. Clear bags are available for purchase in the Delaware Bookstore, at the merchandise store inside Delaware Stadium, and online at shopbluehens.com.
Tickets are SOLD OUT. However, a limited number of tickets are still available on the secondary market at SeatGeek.com.
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UD Football Hosts Liberty in Sold-Out Friday Night Home Game
Written by Admin
DelmarvaTV.com News, Sports - 9/28/26
The University of Delaware football team is gearing up for a sold-out home contest against the Liberty Flames in Newark this Friday, October 2, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network and coincides with the university’s Parents & Family Weekend, making it one of the more anticipated home dates of the season.
The two programs have only faced each other once before — a series opener in 2025 that went in Liberty’s favor. Friday’s matchup gives Delaware a chance to even the all-time record between the schools.
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Liberty and Delaware meet in CUSA play
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated 3:42 PM EDT, September 27, 2026
Liberty (3-1) at Delaware (2-2), Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. EDT.
Opening Line: Liberty by 6.5. Against the spread: Liberty 2-2, Delaware 3-1.
Key stats
Liberty Offense
Overall: 411.3 yards per game (67th in FBS)
Passing: 221.5 yards per game (80th)
Rushing: 189.8 yards per game (39th)
Scoring: 30.5 points per game (73rd)
Liberty Defense
Overall: 287.0 yards per game (33rd in FBS)
Passing: 152.5 yards per game (13th)
Rushing: 134.5 yards per game (75th)
Scoring: 18.8 points per game (38th)
Delaware Offense
Overall: 360.0 yards per game (99th in FBS)
Passing: 262.0 yards per game (43rd)
Rushing: 98.0 yards per game (132nd)
Scoring: 23.3 points per game (102nd)
Delaware Defense
Overall: 377.3 yards per game (99th in FBS)
Passing: 276.8 yards per game (130th)
Rushing: 100.5 yards per game (32nd)
Scoring: 24.5 points per game (82nd)
Delaware ranks 115th in third down percentage, converting 33.3% of the time. Liberty ranks 36th on defense, allowing its opponents at convert at 31.9%.
Liberty is 118th in the FBS averaging 73.3 penalty yards per game, compared to Delaware’s 23rd-ranked 44.0 per-game average.
Liberty is 96th in FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 81.3% of trips. Delaware’s red zone defense ranks 12th at 69.2%.
Delaware is 103rd in the FBS with an average time of possession of 28:51, compared to Liberty’s 26th-ranked average of 32:48.
Team leaders
Liberty
Passing: Deshawn Purdie, 779 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INTs, 58.8 completion percentage
Rushing: Kam Davis, 310 yards on 47 carries, 1 TD
Receiving: Makai Jackson, 379 yards on 14 catches, 5 TDs
Delaware
Passing: Nick Minicucci, 838 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs, 57.3 completion percentage
Rushing: Jo’Nathan Silver, 205 yards on 45 carries, 1 TD
Receiving: Sean Wilson, 292 yards on 20 catches, 3 TDs
Last game
Liberty beat Coastal Carolina 34-17 on Sept. 24. Purdie passed for 216 yards on 11-of-16 attempts (68.8%) with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Davis had 166 rushing yards on 18 carries, adding two receptions for seven yards and one touchdown. Jackson had five receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
Delaware was beaten by Virginia 42-3 on Sept. 26. Riley Trujillo led Delaware with 38 yards on 1-of-3 passing (33.3%) for no touchdowns and no interceptions. Silver carried the ball 12 times for 49 yards. Tae’Sean Robinson had one reception for 38 yards.
Next game
Liberty hosts Sam Houston on Oct. 8. Delaware plays at Middle Tennessee on Oct. 13.
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University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens Lose to Virginia, Finish Non-Conference Schedule with 2-2 Record
Ryan Colasanti September 27, 2026 Delaware
LIVE News
The Virginia Cavaliers (3-1) defeated the University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens (2-2), 42-3, on September 26, in the Blue Hens’ final non-conference game of the regular season.
Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula received the snap standing at the Delaware 15-yard line during the Cavaliers’ first offensive possession of the game. Pribula faked a hand-off to the running back on his left and quickly shuffled his feet to reset for a throw to wide receiver Da’Shawn Martin breaking right toward the middle of the endzone.
Pribula hit Martin in stride and completed Virginia’s 13-play opening possession with an 11-yard score. The drive ate up over seven minutes of the opening quarter and was a sign of more to come in Virginia’s 42-3 victory over the Blue Hens, Saturday evening.
The Cavaliers scored touchdowns on four of their six offensive possessions throughout a first half fueled by their passing game. Pribula finished the half with 264 yards passing, completed 21 of his 24 pass attempts and threw for all four of Virginia’s touchdowns.
Martin was on the receiving end of Pribula’s first score on a drive in which the former Penn State and Mizzou quarterback threw a perfect eight for eight to start the game. Fourth year receiver Rico Flores Jr. caught Pribula’s second touchdown throw on the first play of the second quarter and the final two were hauled in by third year receiver Kameron Courtney in the final five minutes of the frame.
The Blue Hens lone scoring drive came in the early stages of the second quarter and featured a good balance of production from the running game and passing game. Running back Jo Silver ran the ball five times for 27 yards and Minicucci completed all four of his passes to get the Blue Hens into Cavalier territory for the first time.
The drive stalled at the Virginia 22-yard line due in part to a holding penalty that negated a first down scramble from Minicucci and the Blue Hens turned to kicker Tucker Smack for a 39-yard attempt. Smack kicked it in giving Delaware its first — and only — points of the night.
The scoring drive provided a spark for Delaware which trailed, 14-3, after the score and the defense capitalized by forcing Virginia’s offense into its only three and out on the night. Any hope those two positive drives provided Delaware fans was extinguished on UD’s next offensive possession.
Facing a collapsing pocket on second down, Minicucci scrambled out to his right and turned upfield for an eight yard gain, sliding to the ground to avoid being met by a pair of Cavalier defenders. Minicucci immediately grabbed the back of his right leg in clear discomfort after the slide and struggled to get to the sideline before the training staff stopped him right before the out of bounds line to check on him.
Minicucci left the game and didn’t return. Junior Braden Streeter took over under center for the Blue Hens with a little under six minutes remaining in the second quarter and played up until UD’s final drive of the game. The ACC Network cameras showed Minicucci on crutches with a brace on his right leg along the sidelines in the second half.
Pribula led the Cavaliers on their first drive of the third quarter and scored his fifth total touchdown on a 14-yard quarterback run. Cavalier backup Eli Holstein took over for Pribula following that drive. Pribula finished the game with an 86 percent completion percentage, 279 yards passing, five total touchdowns and the Cavaliers ahead, 35-3.
Virginia finished the game with 556 total yards of offense and held the Blue Hens’ offense under 200 yards of total offense for the first time since 2023. Virginia entered the game ranked amongst the top 40 defenses in the country allowing under 17 points per game to its opponents.
The biggest concern for the Blue Hens will be the status of their starting quarterback as the team prepares for their first conference game of the season against the Liberty Flames. The Flames beat the Blue Hens, 59-30, at home last season and enter this upcoming game on a three game win streak.
Delaware’s game against the Flames will be played at Delaware Stadium on Friday, October 2. The game will start at 7:00 p.m.
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Cavaliers Fly Past Blue Hens in Annual UVA Strong Game
By Jeff White (jwhite@virginia.edu)
VirginiaSports.com - 9/26/26
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — In the annual UVA Strong game at Scott Stadium, Virginia dominated from start to finish Saturday night in a 42-3 victory over the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens.
Among those in attendance were the families of the three Cavalier players killed on Nov. 13, 2022, in a shooting on Grounds: Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry, who wore jersey Nos. 1, 15 and 41, respectively. The families were introduced late in the second quarter after the crowd watched a tribute to Davis, Chandler and Perry, narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, on the videoboard.
Also recognized were Marlee Morgan, Mike Hollins and their families. Morgan and Hollins, a running back on the 2022 team, were wounded in the shooting.
“I can't imagine how difficult it is for them,” UVA head coach Tony Elliott said of the families affected by the shooting, “but I’m really, really grateful that they were here and had an opportunity to be a part of this day. Thankful to the fans and the students that showed up to support, to create an atmosphere that hopefully brings some peace, some comfort, hope to the families.”
Elliott wanted his team to honor the legacies of Davis, Chandler and Perry with an inspired performance, and the Wahoos (3-1) delivered against the Blue Hens (2-2) in the first-ever game between these programs.
Delaware, which lost starting quarterback Nick Minicucci to an injury late in the first half, is in its second season as an FBS member.
On defense, the Hoos allowed only 160 yards, the fewest they’ve given up in a game since 2013. They pressured Delaware’s quarterbacks throughout, recorded three sacks and came up with two takeaways: both interceptions by reserve safety Keke Adams.
Until last weekend in Charlotte, N.C., where they lost 38-27 to West Virginia, the Cavaliers had experienced little adversity this season. Elliott challenged them to learn from that defeat, and their performance against Delaware “was a reflection of how they responded,” he said.
His team practiced well all week, Elliott said, and “it showed in the game."
Defensive end Matthew Fobbs-White, who had one of Virginia’s sacks, said he believes “adversity is a great learning lesson, especially last week. I don't feel like we came out and played as disciplined as we could. So being able to just bounce back is a good feeling.”
On offense, UVA scored six touchdowns and totaled 556 yards. The Cavaliers punted only twice Saturday night. They didn’t overwhelm Delaware on the ground, but they didn’t have to.
“I know we didn't have great rushing stats tonight, but I'm not concerned about that,” Elliott said. “I think the game unfolded the way it did.”
At the half, Virginia led 28-3, courtesy of four touchdown passes by quarterback Beau Pribula—one each to Da’Shawn Martin and Rico Flores Jr. and two to another wide receiver, Kameron Courtney—and four Will Bettridge extra points.
In the third quarter, after UVA’s defense forced a Delaware punt, Pribula led another scoring drive. This one ended with his 14-yard touchdown run, and his night was done. Pribula, a transfer from Missouri, finished 24-for-28 passing for 279 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions, and he ran nine times for 24 yards and another TD.
Offensive coordinator Des Kitchings’ playcalling helped him "find easy completions early on,” Pribula said. “Once we can kind of get rolling and get in the rhythm, it's hard to take us out of it, so it was great.”
Eli Holstein took over at quarterback on UVA’s second possession of the second half, and he shined as well. Holstein, a transfer from Pittsburgh, completed 8 of 12 passes for 153 yards and one TD, a 74-yarder to wideout Josiah Abdullah.
Flores, a transfer from UCLA, finished with nine receptions for 113 yards, and Courtney had four catches for 89 yards.
“I think it was a glimpse of what Rico can do, what Kam Courtney can do,” Pribula said. “There's a lot of guys that we have that can make plays like that. And I'm glad that two of them, and more guys, got to showcase that today.”
In Charlotte, West Virginia loaded the box and challenged Virginia to pass, a strategy that paid dividends for the Mountaineers.
“I feel like we learned a lesson about our program and about the things that we need to improve on our part,” Flores said, “and I feel like we did that tonight.”
Courtney said: “I think it was really important to flush out what happened last week and to get back on track this week.”
Flores, who wears jersey No. 1, missed part of training camp and Virginia’s first two camps with a hamstring injury. To be so productive Saturday night “just meant a lot, because I know [Davis’] family was here, so the game was bigger than me,” Flores said.
“It was for three numbers that's up top watching down for us. And I wasn't here for that, but I feel that because I'm a Virginia Cavalier, so I'm proud that I was able to put on a show for them and we were able to put on a show for them.”
Courtney’s first TD came on a bubble screen to the left side. He broke tackles along the sideline and received tremendous blocks from Martin and Flores on his way to the end zone.
“In reality you throw that ball out there on the bubble to get four yards,” Elliott said. “And so it's an extension of the run game to keep you ahead of the chains. But when guys will give that extra effort, then you can turn that into a big play, and we're going to need those kind of plays down the stretch.”
Courtney’s second touchdown capped an 85-yard drive that started with 78 seconds left in the first half. On third-and-10 from the Delaware 19, Pribula took a shotgun snap and fired a pass that Courtney, on the right seam, leaped to catch in the end zone with one second to play.
“I feel like one of our strong points is playing with tempo,” Courtney said. “We do that a lot in practice, and I feel like a lot of [defenses] struggle with getting lined up and things like that. So we kind of use that to our advantage, playing quick and getting down the field.”
UP NEXT: The Cavaliers’ final eight regular-season games are against ACC foes. The first is next Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla. At 3:30 p.m., in a game to air on ESPN2, Virginia (3-1, 1-0 ACC) meets Florida State (2-2, 0-1) at Doak Campbell Stadium.
FSU defeated Central Arkansas 34-7 on Saturday in Tallahassee.
The Hoos, 5-15 all-time against the Seminoles, have won three of the past four games in the series. UVA defeated FSU 46-38 in double overtime at Scott Stadium last year.
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Three keys to victory for Virginia vs Delaware
The Cavaliers must return to their core
Xander Tilock - ESPN - 9/22/26
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The Cavaliers' season rolls on — the next task is a Saturday evening match up
with Delaware at Scott Stadium. Virginia is looking for a massive "get right" game after suffering its first loss of the season against West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C.
Once again, the Cavaliers are in primetime with a 6 p.m. kickoff on ACC Network. They have a chance to get back on the right track with a blowout victory — here are three keys to doing so.
Return to dominating the trenches
In theory, Virginia's offensive line should outmatch just about any defensive line it faces. Saturday, the Mountaineers recorded a few sacks and the Cavaliers averaged a season-low 4.2 yards per carry. However, when factoring out a 47-yard touchdown, Virginia barely averaged three yards a carry.
The Cavaliers are looking for a big rebound against Delaware, and it starts by getting back to the root of this football team — playing physical, tough football in the run game.
On the other side of the ball, Virginia also needs more production from the defensive line. PFF graded Darrion Henry-Young and Matthew Fobbs-White as the 37th and 40th-best Cavaliers in the loss to West Virginia.
The defensive line recorded just one sack and one tackle for loss. Virginia will need its defensive line to step up, establish dominance and take over the game.
Do not underestimate the opponent
As simple as it sounds, Virginia cannot underestimate the Blue Hens. Delaware has a 42-7 win over Merrimack and a 22-14 win over Coastal Carolina. Delaware also gave the SEC's Vanderbilt a scare on the road, leading at halftime.
The Cavaliers must treat the Blue Hens like a competitive ACC opponent, and come out of the tunnel ready to deliver big hits, pummel Delaware's defense and jump out to a multi-touchdown lead early.
Secondary must be tight
Three of the worst PFF grades on the team were awarded to Ethan Minter, Brandyn Hillman, Jacobie Henderson and Omillio Agard. That is almost always going to be a recipe for disaster. Some members of the starting defensive backfield were burned a few times against Norfolk State as well.
If Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci gets comfortable and starts throwing all over Virginia's defense, then this game could quickly become rather scary for the Cavaliers. The defensive backs need to hold their own in coverage, and also make plays like Hillman did in the first two games.
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- Emotional Occasion Next for Cavaliers
- https://virginiasports.com/ - 9/22/26
In its annual UVA Strong game, Virginia (2-1) meets Delaware (2-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday at Scott Stadium.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The Virginia Cavaliers are happy to be back home at Scott Stadium this weekend, but football will be secondary in some ways Saturday night. The occasion is the annual UVA Strong game, which honors the lives and memories of Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry.
“It’s a big, big day for our program,” head coach Tony Elliott said during his weekly media availability at the Hardie Center.
The 2022 season was Elliott’s first at Virginia, and it ended prematurely after a tragic shooting on Nov. 13, 2022, took the lives of three of his players: Davis, Chandler and Perry. They were killed after returning to Grounds from a class field trip, and two other UVA students were injured in the shooting, including running back Mike Hollins.
“Everybody knows what happened back in November of ’22,” Elliott said Tuesday, “and it's something that, as a program, we carry forward every single day. As I said back then, we were going to turn tragedy into triumph, and we were not moving on, we were moving forward. And here we are, almost four years forward, and still it's a very, very big component of our program.”
Seven players from the 2022 team are still on the roster, including kicker Will Bettridge, who wears jersey No. 41 in remembrance of Perry. They were close friends who came to UVA from Gulliver Prep in Miami.
Bettridge, who was a first-year in 2022, said current Cavaliers who weren’t on Grounds that season ask him and other players from that team about Davis, Chandler and Perry, who wore jersey Nos. 1, 15 and 41, respectively.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations with a bunch of guys on the team about what D’Sean meant to me and how all three of them were on and off the field, which has been great,” Bettridge said. “And I think the coaching staff does a great job obviously in just describing them as individuals, not just as football players. And it just really helps all the guys just kind of understand that you're playing for something bigger than yourself and that this program is going to carry this weight for a long time.”
At 6 p.m. Saturday September 21st, Virginia (2-1) hosts Delaware (2-1) at Scott Stadium. The mothers of Davis, Chandler and Perry are expected to attend the game, and Elliott is hoping fans will show their support by turning out in force.
Last November, an Albemarle County judge sentenced the shooter, Christopher Jones Jr., to five life terms plus 23 years for the murders of Davis, Chandler and Perry and the wounding of Hollins and Marlee Morgan.
As the fourth anniversary of the shooting approaches, Elliott noted Tuesday that “for the families, this is probably more like year one, because they just recently got some clarity on the sentencing. And so now they're finally at a place where they can move forward and try to truly grieve the loss of their loved one. And so we’ve got different folks that are in different phases of the journey to healing and recovery.”
The tragedy rocked the University community as a whole and the football program in particular, and “to be honest with you, I sit here a better man, a better father, a better husband, a better coach, because of what happened four years ago,” Elliott said. “I'm proud to be able to carry forward my weight of the burden. This is not a check list item for us. This is not about painting the field. This is who we are, and it's a part of our journey moving forward. There's tough days that we have to deal with as a result of it, but it's also a privilege to be able to carry forward the legacies of Lavel, Devin and D’Sean.”
Their jersey numbers are displayed prominently in the Hardie Center, where players, coaches and staffers see them daily.
“There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about those young men,” Elliott said. “There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about their families and pray for their families. I know how hard it's been for me. I can only imagine how difficult it is for their families, and I’m excited to have all three of the moms here this weekend.”
GROWING PAINS: Coming off one-sided wins over NC State and Norfolk State, Virginia headed to the Duke’s Mayo Classic in Charlotte, N.C., ranked No. 25 nationally. The Wahoos fell out of the rankings this week after losing 38-27 to West Virginia at Bank of America Stadium.
The Hoos had 13 won of their previous 16 games before Saturday night, and along the way they “created an expectation of winning,” Elliott said Tuesday.
“People are disappointed when you don't win. It's not ‘OK, on to the next one.’ I know for me, I didn't eat after the game, I didn't sleep much. I probably lost about six pounds. And I can see that agony in the folks around the building. And so there's an expectation. We've created that. Now, the problem is, we've got to feed that monster. We've got to keep it going. And the way that we do that is to take ownership. Don't make excuses. Tip your hat to your opponent for making the plays and then going back to work. And I saw that on Monday.”
UVA started well against West Virginia, but as the game went on breakdowns occurred in all three phases. Those mistakes can be corrected, Elliott said.
“I'm excited to go get better,” he said, “and I think the staff and the players are excited to go get better. And, man, it feels good to have an expectation to win and for everybody to be upset when we don't win. That tells us that we're definitely headed in the right direction, and Saturday can't get here fast enough. We're not going to skip any days. We're going to commit to the process, but it can't get here fast enough because nobody likes the feeling. But also, everybody has taken accountability for what we can do better.”
Tony Elliott Media Availability
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NO PANIC: In its second game last season, Virginia fell 35-31 at NC State after turning the ball over late in the game. It was a “brutal loss,” center Drake Metcalf recalled Tuesday, but the Cavaliers bounced back to win their next seven games.
Metcalf is confident this UVA team is similarly resilient.
“We've been here. We know that we've been here,” he said. “And if we're going to talk about adversity, no other team in America has faced adversity like this football team. Obviously, I got here after transferring in, in 2024, but the things that this team has gone through before that, with the tragedy in 2022, with the other events that have happened here since getting here, this team knows how to grow from adversity and how to become stronger and better from it ... We’ve been at rock bottom, we've had the worst of the worst happen here and we've grown from it and we've seen what we can do.”
The key for him, Elliott said, is to “make sure that we don't try and do too much and overcorrect. That’s the big challenge. When we watch the tape [of the WVU game] and you look at it, it's the little things. So staying focused on the little things, things that you preach all the time and the things that [UVA players] did that created the success that they had early.
“And now I think they have an understanding that it's always about the little things, and it doesn't matter who you're playing, you got to stay committed to those. And if you don't do them all the time, then there's going to be about five plays that could beat you. So I think their attention is captured right now.”
Going into the game, Elliott said, the Cavaliers recognized the explosiveness of WVU’s quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. To eat up the clock and keep the ball away from Hawkins, “we wanted to lean on the on the run,” Elliott said. “And when we were able to do that, I think, we were able to control the momentum and then when we had to play from behind, things were a little bit different.”
Hawkins rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two others Saturday. On defense, the Mountaineers sacked quarterback Beau Pribula three times and harassed him on numerous other plays. As frustrating as the experience might have been Saturday, the Hoos’ offense will be better for it, Elliott said.
“I think we're still growing and learning what this group can be,” he said. “I know one thing, I'm not panicking about the situation. It's one game, and it was a one-possession game in the fourth quarter, where we wanted to be. We gotta finish.”
When a quarterback gets hit repeatedly, Metcalf said, “he's gonna obviously be a little bit more hesitant and a little bit more tense in the backfield. So it's really on us as the offensive line to just make sure he never feels that way, make sure that he feels comfortable back there.”
For the season, Pribula has completed 42 of 58 passes (72.4%) for 514 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s been intercepted once.
When Pribula has had time in the pocket, Metcalf said, he’s made big plays. The challenge for the offensive line is “to make sure we get back to our fundamentals and make sure that he can do those things again,” Metcalf said, “because when we give him time, Beau is an excellent thrower and a passer in the backfield, and he's a special quarterback. So we need to get back to what we do best.”
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The Delaware Blue Hens
Deserve a Blog Post
Kevin Kinkead: Sep 21st, 2026
Weird Monday? We’ve hit on the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers, Union, and Waterdogs.
And if we’re giving credit where it’s due, Delaware football deserves a shout after the weekends they had.
Cockfight in the Tub
They’re still talking about that Sean Wilson catch
— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB) September 20, 2026
The Hens are a solid football team, now 2-1 with wins over Coastal Carolina and Merrimack. They had a halftime lead against Vandy last week, on the road, and ended up losing 35-26. It was one of the better efforts this season from a Group of 6 team playing in SEC territory.
One of the fun things about this Delaware team is that they aren’t afraid to sling it. They’ve got a veteran QB in Nick Minicucci and he’s on pace to throw for another 3,000 yards this year, after putting up 3,683 last year. Receiver Sean Wilson is a stud, a real threat to top 1,000 yards this year. He’s already got 288 yards on 18 receptions with three scores. Defensively, they’ve only allowed three touchdowns at home and held Vandy scoreless in the 2nd and 4th quarter of that game. They just struggled in the 1st and 3rd and the special teams unit gave up a blocked punt for a TD, which was a backbreaker.
Delaware at Virginia is a sneaky-good game this weekend. UVA was ranked 25th last weekend and got
beat by WVU, 38-27. The Blue Hens are a +20.5 road dog (this Saturday vs Virginia)
but played well in Nashville (after being a roadog too). Win or lose, they’re gonna be well-tested and ready to roll when Conference USA play begins.
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Delaware Blue Hens vs Virginia Cavaliers Prediction, 9/26/2026 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds
by Tony Sink https://www.docsports.com/
- 9/21/2026
Game: Delaware Blue Hens vs Virginia Cavaliers
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Location: Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA
TV: ACC Network
Odds/Point Spread: Cavaliers (-20.5)
Total/Over-Under: 51.5
The Delaware Blue Hens (2-1) are en route to Scott Stadium on Saturday, September 26, 2026 where they will compete against the Virginia Cavaliers (2-1). Delaware opens this matchup as 20.5-point underdogs. The betting total comes in at 51.5.
The Delaware Blue Hens head into this matchup 2-1 for this year. The last time they took the field, the Blue Hens went up against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and notched a win by a score of 22-14. The Delaware Blue Hens ended up rushing 31 times and accounted for 93 yds, which earned them an average of 3.0 yards per carry. When all was said and done, they had 63 plays which totaled 395 yards. Delaware allowed 16 completions on 26 tries for a total of 250 yds, and a completion percentage of 61.5%. When it came to stopping the run, the Blue Hens conceded 135 yards on 35 tries, which averages out to 3.9 yards per run surrendered.
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When it comes to putting the ball in the endzone, the Delaware Blue Hens have an average of 30.0 points per game. As a team they're averaging 101.0 yards rushing which is 130th in the nation. The Blue Hens have earned 1,280 total yards this season. In terms of getting the ball in the endzone, Delaware has totaled 6 passing touchdowns and 5 touchdowns on the ground. Delaware has accumulated 67 1st downs as a team, and they have been hurt by 10 penalties for 98 yds. They have turned the ball over 3 times.
The Blue Hens are sitting in 51st in Division 1 regarding their opponents scoring, allowing 18.7 points per game. They are allowing teams to run for an average of 2.9 yards per rush and 94.3 rushing yards per game for the year. During the season, they have given up 283 running yards through 3 outings. Regarding passing yards, the Blue Hens have allowed 670 yards which puts them in 87th in college football. They have relinquished 223.3 yards per game via the pass in addition to conceding a completion percentage of 52.9%. During this campaign, they are granting 317.7 yards per contest putting them 61st in Division 1. They have relinquished 3 touchdowns via the pass and 4 touchdowns pounding the rock.
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The Cavaliers head into this game 2-1 for this season. In their last game, the Cavaliers went home defeated by a final of 38-27 when they played the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Cavaliers finished with a total of 354 yds while running 70 plays (5.1 yards per play). Virginia ran the ball for 4.2 yds per attempt, finishing with a total of 157 yards on 37 carries. Virginia gave up 51 attempts on the ground for 247 yds (4.8 yds per carry). The Cavaliers passing defense gave up a completion rate of 58.8%, relinquishing 190 yds on 10 for 17 passing.
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When discussing their scoring prowess, the Cavaliers rank 31st in the country holding an average of 40.0 points per contest. The Virginia Cavaliers average 411.0 yards per outing, which has them sitting 66th in D-1. The Virginia offense has totaled 134 yards of penalties on 14 infractions, which is good for 112th in the country in terms of making mistakes. They have tossed 1 interception while conceding no fumbles and they have been able to obtain 62 1st downs. Over the course of the season so far, the Cavaliers currently have a total of 581 passing yards as well as holding an average of 193.7 passing yards per contest, ranking them 101st in the nation. They maintain an average of 217.3 yards per game on the ground and have run for 652 yards for the year.
Virginia has given up a total of 378 yards rushing (126.0 yards per contest) in addition to 4 touchdowns on the ground this season. They have yielded 2 touchdowns through the air as well as 150.0 yards/outing, which has them sitting 19th in D-1. Overall, they have allowed 49 pts. They have compiled 1 fumble and 4 interceptions this year. The Cavaliers defense has taken part in 184 plays, which is 47th in D-1. The Cavaliers are surrendering 16.3 PPG, which has them 34th in Division 1.
Who will win tonight's Blue Hens/Cavaliers college football game against the spread?
Tony's Pick: Take the Blue Hens +20.5
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Football's Wilson Named CUSA Offensive Player of the Week
9/21/2026 - bluehens.com
DALLAS – University of Delaware football WR Sean Wilson has been named Conference USA's Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Coastal Carolina, the league announced Monday.
Wilson exploded in Delaware's 22-14 win over Coastal Carolina. The receiver tied his career high of nine catches and two touchdowns, while setting a new career best of 185 receiving yards. Wilson's first touchdown catch, which came on a trick-play flea flicker, was featured on NFL Sunday Countdown's 'You Got Mossed Segment' after the Alpharetta, Ga. native jumped over a pair of defenders while getting interfered with to corral the score. The performance marked his fourth-career 100+ yard performance, second 150+ yard outing, and third multi-touchdown game.
Wilson and the Fightin' Blue Hens return to action on Saturday for a 6 p.m. kickoff on the ACC Network against Virginia.
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Nick Minicucci connects with Sean Wilson for 185 yards, 2 TDs as Delaware beats CCU 22-14
September 19, 2026 - AP
NEWARK, Del. (AP) — Nick Minicucci threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns, with 185 yards and two scores going to Sean Wilson, and Delaware beat Coastal Carolina 22-14 on Saturday in the first meeting between the programs.
Delaware’s special teams unit came up with a key play with 8:27 left in the fourth quarter when a punt ricocheted off a CCU returner, and Colin Gallagher recovered it. One play later, Wilson made a leaping catch in the endzone on a 36-yard toss from Minicucci to extend their lead to 22-14.
CCU then used nine plays to get into the red zone, but AJ Graham broke up a pass at the goal line on fourth down as Delaware took over possession and ran out the clock.
Minicucci was 24 of 32, and Wilson made nine catches for Delaware (2-1), which was coming off a 35-26 loss to Vanderbilt. Wilson’s first touchdown came on a flea-flicker from Minicucci for a 40-yard score.
Deuce Bailey threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns for Coastal Carolina (1-2), which beat Fordham 45-7 last week.
CCU was called for a roughing-the-kicker penalty with 35 seconds left in the first half, and Jo Silver converted the two-point conversion to give Delaware a 15-14 lead at the break.
Up next
Coastal Carolina: Returns home to play Liberty on Thursday.
Delaware: Plays at No. 25 Virginia next Saturday.
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Turnovers and untimely penalties cost Coastal Carolina at Delaware
By Alan Blondin blondinfreelance@gmail.com
- 9/19/26
Coastal Carolina did not, and that played a significant role in the Chanticleers’ 22-14 loss Saturday afternoon at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Del.
A pair of turnovers, including an untimely fumbled punt midway through the fourth quarter, led to CCU’s demise in an otherwise evenly-contested game as the Chants fell to 1-2 on the season.
CCU fumbled four times and lost two of them, while Delaware did not fumble or throw an interception.
Though CCU had just five penalties, two of them were costly as one negated a CCU touchdown and another on a Delaware extra-point attempt led to a two-point conversion that gave the Blue Hens a 15-14 lead going into halftime. Delaware was flagged for three penalties.
“You have to play winning football on the road, and that was not winning football,” CCU first-year head coach Ryan Beard told WRXZ Rock 107.1 FM. “Penalties, turnovers, [mistakes] on special teams, that falls on the head coach. I have to do a better job of getting more detail-oriented, doing a better job of doing things the right way. It’s not a lack of effort. The guys play hard, they battle. We just have to progress and get better.”
Delaware, which improved to 2-1 in its second year as a member of both Conference USA and the FBS level, outgained the Chants by just 10 yards, 395-385.
But the Chants were shut out in the second half, when they gained 132 yards after having 253 at halftime. The lack of explosive plays was the primary difference in the halves.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Deuce Bailey completed 16 of 26 for 250 yards, and was 10 of 13 for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
CCU gained 91 of its 135 rushing yards in the second half, as Bailey and sophomore running backs Jevon Edwards and Dominic Lee-Knicely each had more than 40 yards rushing in the game.
Coastal Carolina running back Dominic Lee-Knicely looks for running room against Delaware on Sept. 19, 2026 in Newark, Del. (Coastal Carolina Athletics photo)
Delaware senior quarterback Nick Manicucci completed 24 of 32 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns, while junior receiver Sean Wilson had nine catches for 185 yards and two TDs on 11 targets.
CCU redshirt senior defensive end Ibrahim Diawara recorded or matched team-highs with nine total tackles, 1.5 sacks – giving him three sacks on the season – and a quarterback hurry.
CCU had four tackles for loss, two sacks, three QB hurries and four pass breakups compared to Delaware’s six tackles for loss, four sacks, five hurries and six breakups.
The Chants have a short week, as they welcome Liberty and former CCU head coach Jamey Chadwell to Brooks Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Thursday. The game that will be broadcast on ESPN.
Early lead, late struggles
A sack by Diawara followed by a tackle for loss by junior linebacker Jordan Thompson, a Western Carolina transfer, on a screen pass derailed Delaware’s opening possession.
Coastal struck quickly on its opening possession, driving 95 yards in just five plays for a touchdown on a 62-yard bomb to junior Florida A&M transfer Goldie Lawrence against single coverage on a play-action pass. The defender fell as the ball arrived at the Delaware 25 and Lawrence took the ball to the end zone on just his second catch of the season.
CCU Lawrence catch
Coastal Carolina receiver Goldie Lawrence catches a touchdown pass against Delaware on Sept. 19, 2026 in Newark, Del. (Coastal Carolina Athletics photo)
CCU reached the Delaware 30 on its second possession following a 39-yard reception by Clayton Coppock Jr., who got most of the yards after the catch down the right sideline.
But Bailey fumbled on the next play, as Blake Matthews beat CCU junior tackle Daniel Jones on the left side and forced the fumble that was recovered by linebacker Gavin Moul.
“Turnovers will kill you,” Beard told WRXZ. “You have to play good, clean football and keep possession of the ball. When you’re driving like that, a critical point is ball security and making sure that you do not turn the football over there and we did, and we have to do a better job of not doing that.”
HELOC English Digital_300x600_2026 United Bank.jpg
The Chants forced a punt on the ensuing Delaware possession with the help of a holding call on a screen pass.
Delaware tied the game early in the second quarter on a reverse flea-flicker, as Minicucci threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Wilson, who elevated to make the catch at the goal line despite double coverage.
The Chants regained the lead on their next possession on a 27-yard touchdown reception by senior receiver Colton Hinton, who has TD catches in each of CCU’s three games.
Bailey stepped up in the pocket to avoid an unblocked defender coming around the right side of the line on a blitz and released the ball just before being hit by Moul coming from the left side to find Hinton behind the safety over the middle.
CCU Coppock Hinton
Coastal Carolina receiver Clayton Coppock Jr. (8) celebrates a Colton Hinton (14) touchdown with Hinton and Karmello English (0) against Delaware on Sept. 19, 2026 in Newark, Del. (Coastal Carolina Athletics photo)
The Chants converted a pair of third downs on the drive, as Bailey scrambled to his right to find sophomore tight end Ben Verges for a 13-yard gain on third-and-4, and sophomore receiver Tristian Gardner, a Missouri State transfer, made a contested catch over the middle for a 14-yard gain at the Delaware 28 on third-and-11. The Chants were 6 of 12 on third down in the game.
Verges’ catch was his first of the season, making him the 13th Chant to catch a pass this season.
Coastal forced a turnover on downs at its 20 on an incomplete pass with 2:50 left in the first half, but a loss of 13 yards on a sack of Bailey led to a CCU punt and Delaware drove 60 yards in six plays to take the lead into halftime.
Jo Silver scored on a 2-yard run with 35 seconds left in the half, and Thompson blocked the extra point. But Travis Roman ran into kicker Tucker Smack for a personal foul penalty, and Minicucci ran in the two-point conversion – spinning in the air at the goal line as he was hit by a pair of Chants – to give Delaware a 15-14 lead.
CCU received the second-half kickoff, drove to the Delaware 36 in eight plays that included a 12-yard Bailey scramble, and appeared to score on a 36-yard run by Lee-Knicely. But the touchdown was negated by a holding penalty on an interior lineman, and a subsequent loss of 7 yards on a sack of Bailey led to a CCU punt.
The Chants forced a punt to start the fourth quarter when junior Missouri State transfer defensive tackle DJ Wesolak, with the help of others, tackled Silver for a loss of 4 yards on third-and-2 near midfield.
The punt pinned CCU at its 1, and though Bailey converted a pair of third downs with completions and Gardner recovered a fumble by receiver Robby Washington at the CCU 31, the drive ended with a 49-yard Roland Podesta punt that rolled out of bounds at the Delaware 4.
CCU forced a punt from the Delaware 22, but English bobbled the punt and fumbled as he was hit, and the ball was recovered by Delaware’s Colin Gallagher at the CCU 36 with 8:27 remaining.
Manicucci took a shot at the end zone on the next play and connected with Wilson against single coverage for a 36-yard touchdown pass, giving the Blue Hens a 22-14 lead.
The Chants drove to the Delaware 13 in eight plays, which were all runs including a pair of Bailey option runs for a total of 25 yards.
Facing a fourth-and-1, CCU ran a play-action pass intended for tight end Bryson Wood in the end zone that was broken up with 4:07 to play.
“If we get the touchdown and get that two-point conversion, we’re in the ballgame and ready to win it,” Beard told WRXZ.
Delaware picked up three first downs to run out the clock.
“You have to be able to execute at a high level and do the things that it takes to be a championship quality football team,” Beard told WRXZ.
CCU may have suffered another loss in the game. It might be without sophomore right guard Gavin McLaughlin for a significant period. He was carted off the field early in the fourth quarter after the back of his left leg was rolled up on during a run.
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Coastal Carolina football falls short at Delaware, 22-14
By CCU Athletics
Published: Sep. 19, 2026
NEWARK, DEL. (WMBF) - Coastal Carolina held a seven-point lead during the second quarter, but Delaware scored the final 15 points to hand the Chanticleers a 22-14 setback Saturday afternoon at Delaware Stadium.
Coastal struck first with 7:51 remaining in the opening quarter. Starting at its own 5-yard line, the offense needed just five plays to travel 95 yards. Deuce Bailey capped the drive with a 62-yard touchdown pass to Goldie Lawrence, giving the Chanticleers a 7-0 lead.
After Delaware evened the score early in the second quarter, Coastal answered with a nine-play, 72-yard scoring drive. Bailey connected with Colton Hinton for a 27-yard touchdown to put the Chanticleers back in front, 14-7, with 8:19 remaining in the half.
The Blue Hens responded in the closing seconds of the second quarter, scoring on a 2-yard run before converting a two-point attempt to take a 15-14 advantage into halftime.
Neither team scored during the third quarter as Coastal’s defense kept the Chanticleers within one point. The Chants forced punts on Delaware’s first two possessions of the second half and held the Blue Hens to 93 rushing yards for the game.
Delaware extended its lead following a turnover on a punt return midway through the fourth quarter. On the next play, Nick Minicucci connected with Sean Wilson for a 36-yard touchdown, pushing the margin to 22-14 with 8:19 remaining.
Coastal responded by driving 62 yards to the Delaware 13-yard line, but the Blue Hens stopped the Chanticleers on fourth down with 4:07 remaining and ran out the clock.
The Chanticleers (1-2) finished with 385 yards of total offense, including 250 through the air and 135 on the ground. Bailey completed 16-of-26 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns without an interception while adding 42 rushing yards.
Jevon Edwards led Coastal’s rushing attack with 49 yards, while Dominic Knicely added 44. Lawrence’s 62-yard touchdown reception led the receiving corps, while Clayton Coppock Jr. recorded 52 yards on two catches. Hinton finished with three receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Ibrahim Diawara led the Chanticleers with nine tackles and 1.5 sacks. Jesse Powell II added eight stops, while Marcellius Pulliam and Brandon Rose finished with seven tackles apiece. Coastal recorded two sacks and limited Delaware to 3.0 yards per rushing attempt.
Roland Podesta averaged 47.6 yards on five punts, including a 53-yarder.
The Chanticleers return to Brooks Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 24, to host Liberty. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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Behind the Feathers: A Monthly Communication from Delaware Athletics
9/17/26 - Jordan Skolnick Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation
Blue Hens,
It’s been an exciting start to the fall season for our Fightin’ Blue Hens, and nothing compares to the energy on campus right now. Our teams are competing, our student-athletes are working hard every day, and campus is filled with students donning blue and gold as they walk to class. One of my favorite things to do is to grab lunch in the Whitney Kitchen, our student-athlete dining hall, and have the opportunity to say hello to our Blue Hens, congratulate them on a great play or big win, and ask them how their classes are going.
Being able to connect with our student-athletes is one of my favorite parts of the job. Last week I had the opportunity to go to our first Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) meeting of the year, and also sit in on a captains’ dinner, a gathering of fall sport captains. Both of these groups are filled with leaders who are committed to fostering incredible experiences for all of their peers, developing their leadership skills, learning about team culture building, and becoming the best versions of themselves to help their teams win. In the SAAC meeting, I was able to hear from our student-athletes on why they came to Delaware, what they love about this place, what changes they want to see, and what their priorities are for the year as a group. In the captains' dinner, we discussed bouncing back after a loss, using emotional intelligence to lead each of your teammates in the way they individually need and transitioning from a teammate to a captain. I always leave those meetings so impressed with our Blue Hens, how they are committed to our growth and success, and how well they represent us.
SAAC and our captains leadership group are two of many ways we prioritize developing our student-athletes outside of the field of play. Developing champions is one of our key priorities, and that goes well beyond competitions; we are developing Blue Hens who are prepared for life after UD. The B.L.U.E. (Building Leaders Utilizing Education) program enables that growth. Launched nearly 10 years ago when we recognized our student-athletes didn’t have the same time as other students to participate in campus-led leadership and career development opportunities, the B.L.U.E. program focuses on providing these opportunities in a flexible way that allows our student-athletes to engage and participate. Sessions focus on financial literacy (budgeting, investments, banking, etc.), mental health and well-being (non-sport identity and mental health support resources), and communication and networking (self-marketing on social media, building a professional network, and career networking events). I’m very proud of this program and how it helps prepare our student-athletes for life after UD.
Another area of immense importance for our student-athletes is our career readiness programming. I’m proud to share that for each of the last three years, over 95-percent of our student-athlete graduates have been either employed full time or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduating. You can hear more from our Associate Director of Career Readiness Steven Caulfield on our most recent episode of Fightin’ Words, as he shares more about the work he does and why he is so passionate about helping our student-athletes prepare for life after college.
Case in point, we had some Blue Hens with impressive summer plans. Lange Gaspar, a junior leadership major on the men’s lacrosse team and the President of SAAC, got to travel to Dallas, Texas, and participate in the Conference USA SAAC meetings with other student-athletes, and spent the remainder of his summer interning with FCA Lacrosse, where he was responsible for fundraising, organizing camps, and mentoring young lacrosse players. Olivia Bley, a junior operations management major on the women’s soccer team, had the opportunity to intern at the World Cup this summer in Philadelphia. She worked for sports marketing firm Octagon on a soccer-themed activation for Home Depot. Daphne Metz, a sophomore chemical engineering major on the rowing team, interned as a river steward at the Housatonic Valley Association, participating in experiences related to conservation and environmental sciences such as fieldwork and community outreach, which helped her build on her current degree and direct her future career plans. These are just a few of the many incredible things our Blue Hens did this summer, and highlight the passionate, focused, and driven student-athletes we have in Newark.
It was great catching up with so many Blue Hens fans and alumni in Nashville last weekend as we had a great turnout at our events around our football game at Vanderbilt. Football returns for a big game on Saturday as we take on Coastal Carolina at home – I hope to see many of you there! Our women’s soccer program is off to a great start with a 4-1-3 record, and men’s soccer has a 3-2-3 mark with its only two losses coming against #6 Georgetown and #2 Maryland. Field hockey took down #18 Monmouth earlier this season, volleyball went undefeated in the Blue Hen Invitational, and cross country finished second in its season-opening Delaware Invitational. As many of our fall programs are heading into their conference schedules, and ice hockey and swimming & diving open their seasons later this month – we have a lot of great competitions ahead of us!
We appreciate your continued support of our Blue Hens!
Go Hens!
Jordan Skolnick
Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation
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Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs Delaware Blue Hens Prediction, 9/19/2026 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds
by Parlays Pundit - 9/14/2026 - https://www.docsports.com/
Game: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs Delaware Blue Hens
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Location: Delaware Stadium in Newark, DE
TV: CBSSN
Odds/Point Spread: Blue Hens (-5.5)
Total/Over-Under: 57
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (1-1) are hitting the road to Delaware Stadium on Saturday, September 19, 2026 where they will go up against the Delaware Blue Hens (1-1). Coastal Carolina is 5.5-point underdogs. The total comes in at 57.
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers come into this matchup with a record of 1-1 for this season. In their last matchup, the Chanticleers played the Fordham Rams and went home with a win by a final score of 45-7. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers ended up rushing 41 different times and compiled 251 yds, which had them averaging 6.1 yds per attempt. Overall, they ran 69 plays for 460 yds. Coastal Carolina allowed 9 pass completions on 21 attempts for 101 yards, and a completion percentage of 42.9%. In the running game, the Chanticleers gave up 114 yards on 33 attempts, which is an average of 3.5 yards per run allowed.
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The Chanticleers have tallied 885 total yards for the year. In terms of distribution of touchdowns, Coastal Carolina has compiled 6 touchdowns through the air and 3 rushing touchdowns. They have turned the football over 2 times. Coastal Carolina has accounted for 45 1st downs, and they have been hurt by 16 penalties for 110 yds. As a team they're averaging 151.5 yards via the ground game ranking them 84th in the country. Concerning putting the ball in the endzone, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are sitting at 34.5 points per contest.
The Chanticleers sit in 64th in D-1 when it comes to their opponents scoring, conceding 19.0 points per contest. The opposition is running for 4.2 yards per rush and 197.5 yards on the ground per game on the season. During this campaign, they have conceded 395 yards via the ground game in 2 games. Regarding passing yardage, the Chanticleers have conceded 233 yards which has them ranked 9th in the nation. They have yielded 116.5 yards per game via the pass as well as conceding a completion percentage of 57.1%. For the year, they are allowing 314.0 yards per contest which ranks them 63rd in Division 1. They have yielded 2 touchdowns by air in addition to 3 touchdowns via the ground game.
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The Blue Hens come into this matchup with a record of 1-1 for this season. The last time they took the gridiron, the Blue Hens took a loss by a score of 35-26 when they played the Vanderbilt Commodores. Delaware conceded 38 run attempts for 100 yds (2.6 yards per rush). The Blue Hens secondary gave up a completion percentage of 54.8%, surrendering 239 yds on 17 out of 31 passing. The Blue Hens finished the game with 338 yds while running 68 plays (5.0 yards per play). Delaware ended up running for 2.7 yards per attempt, finishing with a total of 98 yds on 36 attempts.
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When it comes to putting points on the board, the Blue Hens are ranked 57th in Division 1 averaging 34.0 points per contest. The Delaware Blue Hens are averaging 442.5 yards per game, which is good for 45th in D-1. The Delaware offense has compiled 63 penalty yds on 7 infractions, which is 126th in the nation in terms of hurting your team. They have thrown 3 picks while surrendering no fumbles and they have recorded 45 1st downs. During the season thus far, the Blue Hens have compiled 675 yards through the air together with holding an average of 337.5 passing yards per contest, ranking them 13th in college football. They average 105.0 yards per game on the ground and have rushed for 210 yards overall.
Delaware has allowed the opposition a total of 148 yards rushing (74.0 yards/game) as well as 4 touchdowns via the rush for the year. They have allowed 1 touchdown via the pass in addition to 210.0 yards/game, which has them sitting 73rd in college football. They have compiled 2 fumbles recovered and 1 pick over the course of the season. The Blue Hens defense has been on the field for 139 plays, which ranks them 98th in college football. The Blue Hens are conceding 21.0 PPG, which has them sitting 70th in Division 1.
Who will win tonight's Chanticleers/Blue Hens college football game against the spread?
Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take the Blue Hens -5.5
========================================================
Delaware hosts Coastal Carolina in Week 3
By Data Skrive https://www.espn.com/c
Sep 14, 2026
Coastal Carolina (1-1) at Delaware (1-1), Sept. 19 at 11:30 a.m. EDT.
Opening Line: Delaware by 4.5. Against the spread: Delaware 2-0, Coastal Carolina 2-0.
How to watch: CBS Sports Network
Key stats
Delaware Offense
Overall: 442.5 yards per game (44th in FBS)
Passing: 337.5 yards per game (12th)
Rushing: 105.0 yards per game (119th)
Scoring: 34.0 points per game (57th)
Delaware Defense
Overall: 284.0 yards per game (47th in FBS)
Passing: 210.0 yards per game (73rd)
Rushing: 74.0 yards per game (20th)
Scoring: 21.0 points per game (70th)
Coastal Carolina Offense
Overall: 442.5 yards per game (44th in FBS)
Passing: 291.0 yards per game (30th)
Rushing: 151.5 yards per game (83rd)
Scoring: 34.5 points per game (55th)
Coastal Carolina Defense
Overall: 314.0 yards per game (63rd in FBS)
Passing: 116.5 yards per game (9th)
Rushing: 197.5 yards per game (121st)
Scoring: 19.0 points per game (63rd)
Coastal Carolina is 96th in third down percentage, converting 34.8% of the time. Delaware ranks 39th on defense, allowing its opponents at convert at 29.0%.
Delaware ranks 68th in the FBS with an even turnover margin, compared to Coastal Carolina's 15th-ranked +3 margin.
Coastal Carolina is 67th in the FBS averaging 55.0 penalty yards per game, compared to Delaware's 14th-ranked 31.5 per-game average.
Team leaders
Delaware
Passing: Nick Minicucci, 512 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs, 49.2 completion percentage
Rushing: Jo'Nathan Silver, 128 yards on 22 carries, 0 TDs
Receiving: Da'Wain Lofton, 206 yards on 7 catches, 1 TD
Coastal Carolina
Passing: Deuce Bailey, 576 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INTs, 53.2 completion percentage
Rushing: Jevon Edwards, 71 yards on 19 carries, 0 TDs
Receiving: Colton Hinton, 154 yards on 6 catches, 2 TDs
Last game:
Delaware was defeated by Vanderbilt 35-26 on Sept. 12. Minicucci threw for 182 yards on 11-of-27 attempts (40.7%) with one touchdown and two interceptions. Silver had 109 rushing yards on 16 carries. Lofton had four receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown.
Coastal Carolina defeated Fordham 45-7 on Sept. 12. Bailey led Coastal Carolina with 203 yards on 12-of-25 passing (48.0%) for three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball four times for 21 yards. Jaden Allen-Hendrix had 58 rushing yards on seven carries and one touchdown. Hinton recorded 101 yards on three catches with one touchdown.
Next game:
Delaware plays at No. 25 Virginia on Sept. 26.
Coastal Carolina hosts Liberty on Sept. 24.
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Jared Curtis scores 3 touchdowns as freshman QB helps Vanderbilt beat Delaware 35-26
Associated Press - JORDAN SMITHERMAN Published Sep 13, 2026
Pictured is the University of Delaware UD logo with a Blue Hen
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jared Curtis ran for two touchdowns and threw his first career touchdown pass as Vanderbilt needed a 21-point third quarter to beat Delaware 35-26 on Saturday.
Curtis came off the bench as the freshman took a big step toward claiming the starting quarterback job for Vanderbilt (2-0) after Blaze Berlowitz struggled. Coach Clark Lea went back and forth with both Curtis and Berlowitz in the first half with Delaware (1-1) taking a 17-14 halftime lead.
“I felt like the way we organized around Jared in the second half was effective, and it wasn't perfect, but I could sense there was a confidence growing on the sideline. I could see confidence growing within him, and it was fun to watch,” Lea said.
Vanderbilt had a second straight game blocking a kick and returning it for a touchdown. This time, Austin Howard blocked the punt and recovered it for the score in the third quarter.
Vanderbilt's mistake-filled first half contributed to the Commodores trailing 17-14 at half. Berlowitz returned with 1:29 left to go in the second quarter and attempted a hurdle over a Delaware defender and ended up fumbling the ball, resulting in a turnover. With 17 seconds left to go in the half, Tyler Ebel's punt was blocked and returned by Bryson Graves for a Delaware touchdown that put the Fighting Hens up at halftime on the road.
“I think we're still settling into our identity. I think we're still syncing up. And when we synced up today, we looked really good,” said Lea.
Vanderbilt's defense also made its presence known with six sacks by five different players, including CJ Heard, Nick Rinaldi, Miles Capers, Carson Lawrence and Edwin Kolenge; 11 tackles for loss, and an interception each by Martel Hight and Cayden Daniels.
“I mean, there's certainly some times that we look like we could hang there, maybe even finish the game the right way in our favor, and it didn't happen that way,” said Delaware coach Ryan Carty.
Vanderbilt is 2-0 for the fifth consecutive season, marking the first such run since 1934-38.
The takeaway
Delaware: The Fighting Blue Hens had an edge on time of possession, but they have to protect better on the offensive line. They gave up six sacks.
Vanderbilt: Berlowitz started his second straight game. But he was 3 of 9 for 29 yards passing, and he lost a fumble late in the second quarter near midfield trying to hurdle a Delaware defender.
Up next
Delaware hosts Coastal Carolina on Saturday.
Vanderbilt hosts N.C. State on Saturday.
==============================================================
Three takeaways from Vanderbilt’s win over Delaware
https://vanderbilthustler.com - 9/13/26
The Commodores stay in the win column with a 35-26 victory against the Blue Hens.
Sedrick Alexander runs the ball in for a touchdown, as photographed Sept. 12, 2026. (Hustler Multimedia/Courtney Wu)
Courtney Wu
Sedrick Alexander runs the ball in for a touchdown, as photographed Sept. 12, 2026. (Hustler Multimedia/Courtney Wu)
Byline photo of Colin Adams
By Colin Adams, Deputy Sports Editor
15 hours ago
Vanderbilt earned its second victory of the season against Delaware at home Saturday, behind 210 passing yards and three total touchdowns from freshman quarterback Jared Curtis. Despite early struggles, and Delaware leading at half, the Commodores scored three unanswered touchdowns to re-gain the lead in the third quarter. While Vanderbilt made some adjustments since its victory last weekend over Austin Peay, the team is still searching for its full potential as conference play approaches.
Let’s take a look at the three key takeaways from Vanderbilts victory.
Defensive front power
Coming into this matchup, Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci was feared for his ability to hurt teams deep. Against Vanderbilt, however, he was held to just 182 yards passing along with a touchdown and two interceptions. The Commodores recorded six total sacks, along with 11 tackles for loss, preventing Minicucci from getting many looks down field. The veteran front-seven, led by Miles Capers, forced out of pocket passes and continued to show why they are one of the Commodores’ strongest units.
Senior Nick Rinaldi also recorded a standout game, with key sacks which forced the Blue Hens to punt. With efforts from the entire front unit, Delaware recorded under 100 yards on the ground too.
Secondary Struggles
With an impressive performance from the front seven, Vanderbilt’s secondary still experienced some struggles. A lot of the mistakes from this unit came during tackling instances, where Delaware was able to push drives forward off of missed opportunities to create stops on third down. Specifically, the Blue Hens were able to score 17-unanswered points in the second half off 96 yards passing from Minicucci.
The secondary, however, did show some promise as CJ Heard, who had a strip sack at the end of the second half, prevented Delaware from running up the score more. With the talent this team possesses in these roles, a lack of solid tackling ability could become a problem with tougher competition down the road.
Offense figuring it out…?
The biggest question coming into today’s game revolved around the quarterback situation. While Blaze Berlowitz saw the most playtime in week one versus Austin Peay, Curtis came on the field for the Commodores’ third drive and didn’t look back. Curtis, in his second collegiate game, did it all for the ‘Dores offense. The freshman quarterback looked composed, completing difficult passes downfield, with a specifically memorable touchdown pass to tight end and former Vanderbilt quarterback, Walter Taylor.
The receiving room showed life, with Junior Sherrill recording 94 yards, despite four critical drops throughout the game. Tight end Jayvontay Conner also had 87 yards receiving, with a 31-yard reception coming in the first quarter.
Despite fans’ desire for Head Coach Clark Lea to pick a definitive starting quarterback, both QB’s have now played significant minutes. On the field, both Berlowitz and Curtis play two different styles, preventing the offense from being able to jump into a rhythm. Going forward, the question still remains: will Vanderbilt pick a starting quarterback, and whom?
Vanderbilt will return to FirstBank Stadium on Sept. 19 at 11:45 a.m. CDT to face NC State in their final non-conference game of the season.
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Vanderbilt football defeats Delaware, Jared Curtis stars
Nashville Tennessean - https://www.tennessean.com
Updated Sept. 12, 2026
Vanderbilt football defeated Delaware 35-26 on Sept. 12 at FirstBank Stadium.
Blaze Berlowitz led the first two drives, which ended scoreless, before Jared Curtis entered for the third drive. Berlowitz briefly re-entered the game at the end of the second quarter, but he was booed after fumbling on a run play and a three-and-out. Delaware took a 17-14 lead into halftime after scoring the go-ahead touchdown on a blocked punt.
Led by Curtis, the Commodores (2-0) roared back in the second half to retake the lead, including scoring a blocked punt touchdown of their own. The Blue Hens (1-1) scored a touchdown and a field goal in the fourth quarter to keep the game close, but Vanderbilt's defense ultimately held the lead as Cayden Daniels sealed the game with an interception.
Curtis was 14-for-22 for 210 yards passing and one touchdown and gained 24 yards on five carries, not including his three sacks for 23 yards.
Berlowitz was 3-for-9 for 29 yards passing and ran twice for 6 yards.
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Vanderbilt vs Delaware score updates
Clark Lea isn't ready to commit to 1 QB
Tom Kreager
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea speaks with officials during the third quarter against Delaware at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.
Jared Curtis had his best day as a Vanderbilt Commodore on Sept. 12 in a 35-26 win over Delaware. Curtis was 14-for-22 for 210 yards passing and one touchdown and gained 24 yards on five carries, not including his three sacks for 23 yards.
Blaze Berlowitz, who started against Delaware, was 3-for-9 for 29 yards passing and ran twice for 6 yards.
But Lea did not name a long-term starter and would not commit to playing only one quarterback for the NC State game, which will be held Sept. 19 at FirstBank Stadium.
Read Clark Lea's explanation here.
How we graded Vanderbilt QBs Jared Curtis, Blaze Berlowitz
Tom Kreager
Vanderbilt football played two quarterbacks against Delaware on Sept. 12, but one quarterback was superior in the Commodores' 35-26 win at FirstBank Stadium.
Jared Curtis saw the majority of the action at FirstBank Stadium, and unlike in the opener against Austin Peay, where Blaze Berlowitz led all of the offense's scoring drives, this time it was Curtis who led all the scoring.
Berlowitz struggled enough that he was booed shortly before the half after going three-and-out. The Commodores subsequently had a punt blocked, leading to a Blue Hens touchdown.
Read full grades here.
Vanderbilt quarterback Blaze Berlowitz (1) fumbles the ball as Delaware linebacker Gavin Moul (35) grabs his ankle during the second quarter at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.
Crosswords Promo January 2025
Vanderbilt 35, Delaware 26: Nick Minicucci 43-yard touchdown pass to Da'Wain Loftin
Aria Gerson
Vanderbilt struggled with missed tackles as Loftin gained 35 yards after the catch on a touchdown pass. Delaware's 2-point conversion attempt failed.
Vanderbilt 35, Delaware 20: Tucker Smack 40-yard field goal
Aria Gerson
Delaware added on three points on a field goal with 11:55 to go in the game.
Vanderbilt 35, Delaware 17: Jared Curtis 19-yard touchdown pass to Walter Taylor
Aria Gerson
Walter Taylor, the former Commodores quarterback, caught his first pass as a tight end for a touchdown strike from Jared Curtis. The play was originally ruled out of bounds but later overturned upon review.
Vanderbilt 28, Delaware 17: Austin Howard blocked punt touchdown
Aria Gerson
After Vanderbilt forced a Delaware three-and-out, it was the Commodores' turn to score on a blocked punt touchdown, as Austin Howard blocked the punt and then recovered it in the end zone.
Vanderbilt 21, Delaware 17: Jared Curtis 1-yard rushing touchdown
Aria Gerson
Jared Curtis came back out after halftime and completed a 35-yrd pass to Junior Sherrill downfield, then scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown on 4th-and-goal to regain the lead for the Commodores.
Vanderbilt vs Delaware update: Jared Curtis back in after halftime
Aria Gerson
After halftime, Jared Curtis returned to the game as the Commodores got the ball.
Delaware 17, Vanderbilt 14: Tyler Ebel punt blocked for a touchdown
Aria Gerson
Vanderbilt went three-and-out on a drive late in the second quarter, with audible boos ringing out through FirstBank Stadium. Then, Tyler Ebel's punt deep in the Commodores' own territory was blocked, recovered by Delaware for a touchdown.
Vanderbilt vs Delaware update: Blaze Berlowitz's return is shaky
Aria Gerson
Blaze Berlowitz re-entered the game just before the half, but after making three completions on the drive, he attempted to hurdle a defender on a run play and fumbled, with Delaware recovering.
Vanderbilt 14, Delaware 10: Viron Ellison 1-yard rushing touchdown
Aria Gerson
After Vanderbilt was stopped on fourth down, Delaware made a 10-play, 82-yard touchdown drive with the first half winding down, capped off by Ellison's rushing score on 4th-and-goal.
Vanderbilt vs Delaware update: Brock Taylor field goal taken off the board
Aria Gerson
Brock Taylor made a 42-yard field goal, but Delaware was called for running into the kicker. Vanderbilt opted to accept the penalty and go for the 4th-and-2, but Junior Sherrill came up just short of the sticks on Jared Curtis' pass.
Vanderbilt 14, Delaware 3: Tucker Smack 37-yard field goal
Aria Gerson
Delaware drove into Vanderbilt territory for the first time thanks to a 57-yard catch and run by Da'Wain Loftin, but the Commodores' defense held and forced the field goal.
Vanderbilt 14, Delaware 0: Sedrick Alexander 9-yard rushing touchdown
Aria Gerson
Vanderbilt took advantage of the Delaware interception as it scored a touchdown on a three-play, 26-yard drive capped off by Alexander's touchdown.
Vanderbilt vs Delaware update: Martel Hight gets interception
Aria Gerson
On Delaware's first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Miles Capers tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage and Martel Hight grabbed it for an interception, starting Vanderbilt deep in Delaware territory.
Vanderbilt 7, Delaware 0: Jared Curtis 1-yard rushing touchdown
Aria Gerson
Facing a 3rd-and-22 after a delay of game, ineligible receiver downfield and intentional grounding, Curtis found Jayvontay Conner downfield and Conner advanced to the 1-yard line.
Then, on third-and-goal from the 1, Curtis dropped the snap but recovered and fell over a defender into the end zone for his first career touchdown.
Jared Curtis enters at quarterback for Vanderbilt football
Aria Gerson
Jared Curtis entered the game at quarterback for Vanderbilt with 4:44 remaining in the first quarter after Blaze Berlowitz was 0-for-4 passing and did not have a rush attempt on the two drives he led.
Vanderbilt football schedule 2026
Aria Gerson
All times Central.
Asterisk (*) denotes SEC game.
Sept. 5:Austin Peay, 28-9 win
Sept. 12:Delaware (3:15 p.m., SEC Network)
Sept. 19:NC State (11:45 a.m.. SEC Network)
Sept. 26:at Auburn* (TBA)
Oct. 3:at Georgia* (TBA)
Oct. 10:Ole Miss* (TBA)
Oct. 17:Arkansas* (TBA)
Oct. 24:at Kentucky* (TBA)
Nov. 7:at Mississippi State* (TBA)
Nov. 14:Alabama* (TBA)
Nov. 21:at Florida* (TBA)
Nov. 28:Tennessee* (TBA)
Vanderbilt vs Delaware history
Aria Gerson
Vanderbilt has never previously faced Delaware.
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Vanderbilt to play two quarterbacks against Delaware
https://www.cbssports.com/
9/10/26
Clark Lea aims to build a larger sample size between Blaze Berlowitz and freshman Jared Curtis as the Commodores look to extend an eight-game home winning streak against Nick Minicucci and the Blue Hens.
Vanderbilt played two quarterbacks in its season-opening victory over Austin Peay last weekend, and the Commodores (1-0) plan to do so once again when they face visiting Delaware on Saturday.
Graduate Blaze Berlowitz made his first career start and was 11-of-16 passing for 149 yards in Vanderbilt's 28-9 victory. He also carried the ball 11 times for 45 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Jared Curtis, a local five-star recruit who flipped his commitment from Georgia late in the recruiting cycle, completed 7 of 9 passes for 60 yards and ran for 22 yards on three rushing attempts.
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea said Tuesday he hasn't seen enough to commit to one quarterback over the other.
"Right now, this is still about finding the best formula for us to win Saturday, but also to become the best team we can become. There's no manual for this," Lea said. "I'm just trying to get enough sample size to have some clarity as to what each guy brings to the table.
"Where does it go from here? ... I'm still unsettled, so I want to create a little larger sample size."
There's no uncertainty regarding Delaware's quarterback situation. Nick Minicucci led Conference USA in passing yards (3,683) and total offense (3,918) last season, accounting for 33 total touchdowns (23 passing, 10 rushing).
Minicucci connected on 20 of 36 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns when Delaware (1-0) opened its season by beating FCS opponent Merrimack 42-7 last Thursday. He also scored on a 12-yard run.
Ten Delaware receivers caught at least one pass in the win. Wide receiver Sean Wilson led that charge with six receptions for 73 yards and a TD.
"There's going to be moments where (Vanderbilt's) talent shows up," Delaware coach Ryan Carty said. "How we respond to those moments is what's going to dictate the result of the football game."
Vanderbilt, which has won its last eight home games dating back to the start of last season, recorded five sacks against Austin Peay.
"Protecting the QB will be the cornerstone of what we need to do to win football games," Carty said.
====================================
Delaware's game at Vanderbilt is their first against an SEC opponent
WDEL - Sean Greene Published Sep 9, 2026
Mikey Reeves | University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware's move to the Football Bowl Subdivision has been successful, but they enter arguably college football's deepest water for the first time this weekend.
Delaware will face SEC member Vanderbilt Saturday at 3:30, in the Blue Hens first-ever meeting against a member of college football's most dominant conference over the past several decades.
The Blue Hens are 18-29-4 against Power 4 conference teams, but 17 of those wins are against Maryland and Rutgers, who were once not national powers.
Vanderbilt was picked to finish 13th of 16 SEC teams this year in the pre-season media poll, and are coming off a 10-3 season a year ago where they made the Carquest Bowl, and finished ranked 15th in the country.
This year's team is 1-0 after a victory over FCS squad Austin Peay, but are receiving just two votes in the national poll.
The game is one of two Power 4 games for Delaware, who are set to face No. 25 Virginia in two weeks, in games where they will receive money to play in lieu of any return game in Newark.
In turn, Delaware has been paying their FCS opponents, like Merrimack last week, while most other games against fellow "Group of 6" conference teams have been home-and-homes, where the teams pay each other equal amounts for their respective trips in different years.
Delaware played one power conference team last year, losing 31-7 at Big XII squad Colorado.
The Blue Hens hung tough in the first half, trailing only 10-7 until the final seconds of the first half, before a long pass play by the Buffaloes broke the game open in the second half.
Delaware head coach Ryan Carty said the goal is to try to treat Vanderbilt as normally as any opponent, as possible.
"We all know the caliber of athlete that we're going to face on Saturday, but that doesn't change what winning football looks like, right? You have to play physical, you have to executive, and you have to hold on to the football."
Delaware enters the game off a 42-7 victory over FCS squad Merrimack, in a game where they struggled offensively early, scoring on just two of their first 5 drives, before putting things together just before and after halftime.
QB Nick Minicucci got off to another quick start this year, throwing for 330 yards and two touchdowns, although the offense only rushed for 112 yards on 29 carries (3.9 per carry).
Vanderbilt won their opener 28-9, and Carty said a key will be keeping his team confident.
"Not being tentative because someone may be a little more talented than you. We're excited for the opportunity to go out there and see how we measure up."
Delaware has made a point to have major conference teams on their schedules, as they'll go to Maryland in 2028 for the first time in 20 years, ACC squad Pittsburgh in 2029, and national champion Indiana in 2030.
The Hens are also working on, or will soon begin home-and-homes with JMU, UCONN, Western Michigan, Buffalo, Coastal Carolina, and Temple.
Kickoff between the Blue Hens and Commodores is set for 4:15 p.m. Saturday in Nashville, and will be seen on the SEC Network.
=====================================================
VUFB Game Week – Delaware
Vandy continues homestand against Blue Hens
September 08, 2026 - https://vucommodores.com/
Coming off a win in the season opener, Vanderbilt will host Delaware at FirstBank Stadium at 3:15 p.m.on Saturday afternoon. The matchup will be broadcasted on SEC Network and 102.5 The Game, whether Commodore fans are in the stands or following from home they can track the action on VUCommodores.com throughout the day.
Game 2: Vanderbilt (1-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Delaware (1-0, 0-0 CUSA)
When: Saturday, Sept. 12 • 3:15 p.m.
Where: FirstBank Stadium • Nashville, Tenn.
Watch: SEC Network (Dave Neal, Cole Cubelic and Tori Petry)
Listen: 102.5 The Game (Andrew Allegretta, Norman Jordan and Kevin Ingram)
GAME PREVIEW
• Vanderbilt hosts Delaware on Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in what will mark the first meeting between the two schools.
• After going undefeated at home last season, Vanderbilt has won eight home contests in a row for the first time since a nine-game stretch that spanned the 1954, 1955 and 1956 seasons.
• With a sellout crowd of 35,000 at the home opener last week, Vandy has sold out five consecutive home games dating back to last season.
• Vanderbilt will be Delaware’s first-ever SEC opponent.
LAST TIME OUT
• Vanderbilt football opened the 2026 campaign with a 28-9 victory over Austin Peay in front of a sold-out crowd at FirstBank Stadium.
• The Commodores delivered strong performances on defense and special teams. Vandy returned a blocked PAT for two points in the first quarter and added a 27-yard punt return for a score in the third quarter.
• Additionally, the Dores held the Governors to 178 total yards.
• Graduate Blaze Berlowitz made the most of his first collegiate start, combining for 194 total yards and posting a quarterback rating of 147.0.
• Berlowitz ran for a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter and connected on 11 of his 16 passing attempts, as nine different Commodores had at least one catch.
• Graduate Issa Ouattara made his presence felt in a big way in his return to the field after missing all but one game last season.
• The Cologne, Germany, native had his first career multi-sack game, with 2.0 sacks, and blocked a PAT, which Martel Hight picked up and returned 88 yards to give Vandy two points.
• Vanderbilt has won five consecutive home openers entering after the season-opening win over Austin Peay.
MARRIED TO THE GAME
• Sedrick Alexander’s 27 total touchdowns rank third in program history. He recorded his 22nd career rushing score in the opener against Austin Peay, moving him into fourth on Vandy’s all-time rushing touchdown list.
• The Texan carried the ball into the end zone 11 times in 2025, sixth-most in a season by a Commodore.
• Alexander added four receiving touchdowns last fall for 90 total points, fourth-most in a season at Vandy.
• The senior has totaled 1,584 yards on the ground for his career while adding 575 through the air.
• His 1,469 snaps entering the season were the most of any returning running back at the NCAA FBS level.
SHERRILL STRIKES
• Junior Sherrill is Vanderbilt’s top returning receiver after finishing the 2025 season with career-high totals of 54 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Sherrill’s first catch in the opener against Austin Peay put him over 1,500 career receiving yards. The senior finished the night with four catches for 70 yards.
• Sherrill was tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns and ranked second in receptions and receiving yards in 2025.
• The wideout totaled a career-best 123 receiving yards on eight catches against Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
• Sherrill’s next touchdown reception will give him 14 in his career and move him into the top 10 all-time at Vandy.
• The Nashvillian has made at least one catch in 38 straight games.
THE D-LINE
• Vanderbilt returns a lot of experience on the defensive line.
• Miles Capers started all 13 games for the Commodores last season, finishing with 40 tackles including 9.5 for a loss of 60 yards. He led the Commodores in TFLs and with 4.5 sacks, adding five QB hurries.
• The Dores also return Issa Ouattara, who missed most of 2025 due to injury. A native of Germany, Ouattara was named a team captain for the second year in a row ahead of the 2026 campaign.
• Ouattara made an immediate impact in his return to the field against Austin Peay. His two sacks were a career high in both sacks and TFLs and he blocked a PAT which was returned for two points.
TEAM 6
• Head coach Clark Lea is in his sixth season at the helm of the Commodores, who are coming off the program’s first ever 10-win season in 2025.
• The 2026 roster features 14 returners (eight on defense, six on offense) with five or more career starts at Vanderbilt.
• The Commodores received eight votes in the Preseason AP Top 25 poll and 37 votes in the US LBM coaches’ poll.
• Vandy’s schedule includes four games against ranked opponents, two against current top-10 teams.
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Merrimack Football Falls After Giving Delaware Early Scare
9/3/26 - https://merrimackathletics.com/
NEWARK, Delaware – The Merrimack College football team gave FBS-rooted Delaware an early scare, but ultimately the Blue Hens rode a strong second-half effort to a 42-7 verdict at Delaware Stadium on Thursday night.
The Warriors (0-2) held the Fighin' Blue Hens to just one score during the opening 25 minutes, and a blocked field goal by Merrimack defensive back Danny Simms kept it a two-score deficit in the final minutes of the first half. The Blue Hens then turned a late Merrimack turnover into a 21-0 halftime lead.
"We got a couple stops defensively and it was looking like – you look at the half and it could have been a 14-3 game. But would've, could've, should've, you know? We just didn't do enough," Merrimack head coach Mike Gennetti said after the game. "Pleased with the fight, pleased with the effort. I think that's there. The execution needs to improve for sure. I think if we have some of that it's going to help us out going forward."
Merrimack running back Galamama Mulbah scored a seven-yard touchdown to get the Warriors on the board in the third quarter. Mulbah averaged 5.9 yards per carry in the contest and added four kick returns for 84 yards.
On the defensive side, Jacob Wilson finished with a team-high 10 tackles. Merrimack defensive linemen Trent Taylor and Kendall Carter combined for a first-half sack while Dwayne Green Jr. and Micah Green each had a tackle for loss.
"We knew who Delaware was before we took the field. We know how good they are," Gennetti said. "We knew it was going to be a challenge and we just didn't do enough to really make it competitive at times. Early in the game we had opportunities to keep it closer, but it just didn't amount to enough. We just made too many mistakes."
The Warriors return to action next Saturday when they travel to Maine.
===============================================================
Delaware dominates Merrimack in opening night football victory
Kevin Tresolini
Delaware News Journal
Sept. 3, 2026Updated Sept. 4, 2026
Delaware certainly had moments when it looked like a team playing its first football game of the season on the night of Sept. 3.
But there was no evidence of that on the scoreboard at Delaware Stadium.
The Blue Hens did what was expected in their opener, walloping Merrimack 42-7 in front of 17,268.
Delaware (1-0) began its second season as an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision team in Conference USA, and it certainly looked that way against the overmatched Warriors (0-2), a Football Championship Subdivision independent.
The Blue Hens scored on just two of their first five possessions, which included one punt and two missed field goals. They then scored on their next four series, being especially effective when the passing attack soared.
Labor Day sales are heating up: Shop the best deals before they're gone“It was important to kind of just stay the course,” Delaware coach Ryan Carty said. “There certainly is the first-game stuff. I'm also playing against a very physical and aggressive football team and we didn’t have the ball a ton in the first quarter. In the second quarter, it was nice to kind of put one in there at the end and just execute.”
Delaware extended its lead to 42-7 just 12 seconds into the final period on Nick Minicucci’s 8-yard TD pass to Nick Tyree. A 33-yard pass to Matthew McKinley-Daniels put the Hens in position.
Minicucci’s night ended there with Braden Streeter stepping in at quarterback.
“Today was a very mediocre day, I'd say, on our side of the ball,” Minicucci said. “I know we scored 42 points but I think we did just okay. It starts with me. I was excited to come out and be the starter, but did I play great? No, I don't think so. So I got a lot to clean up this week, especially in the film room, and just going to be doing extra throws and stuff with the boys too.”
Minicucci was 20-for-36 passing for 330 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Sean Wilson had six catches for 73 yards and a TD. Running back Viron Ellison Jr. also threw for a TD and ran for one.
Delaware outgained the visitors 547-244 in total yards.
“The defensive coordinator [Manny Rojas] kind of challenged us in fall camp," bandit linebacker Blake Matthews said, "put some statistics up on the board, showing us how we compared to other people in Conference USA, and we didn't like that. All fall camp he challenged us and wanted more out of us. Even though we had good days, he wanted more from us. So we came out there with a chip on our shoulder today, and we're looking to carry it forward.”
Kaderris Roberts caught a 75-yard heave from fellow running back Viron Elliison Jr., who had taken a pitch from quarterback Nick Minicucci, for a touchdown as the Blue Hens extended their lead to 35-0 against Merrimack.
But Merrimack did then get on the scoreboard on Galamana Mulbah's 7-yard TD run after the Warriors intercepted a Minicucci pass and took over at the UD 30.
The Hens had gone up 28-0 on the previous series as Roberts scored from the 1 to close a 10-play, 83-yard drive.
Blue Hens up at halftime
Failure was quickly followed by accomplishment and the Blue Hens have taken a 21-0 lead into halftime at Delaware Stadium against Merrimack in the season opener.
Sean Wilson’s leaping 12-yard TD catch of Nick Minicucci’s pass with a defender glued to him and 16 seconds left in the first half allowed Delaware to stretch its advantage.
Blake Mathews had just recovered a Merrimack fumble forced by freshman safety Kevin Moore at the 12.
But before that Tucker Smack missed his second field-goal try for Delaware, this one a 26-yarder.
Delaware had moved into scoring position on several passes, including Minicucci’s 18-yard throw to tight end Elijah Sessoms, the Dover High grad.
Through the first two periods, Delaware has outgained the visitors 227-79 in total yards.
Minicucci is 13-for-22 for 187 yards and Wilson has five catches for 54 yards.
Nick Minicucci runs for TDNow the Blue Hens are up to their old tricks.
Delaware has extended its lead against Merrimack to 14-0 in the second period at Delaware Stadium with a 6-play, 80-yard drive on its fourth possession.
It ended with a UD staple, quarterback Nick Minicucci running up the middle 12 yards for the TD. He ran for 10 TDs last year.
To get there, Delaware used a couple explosive pass plays as Minicucci threw to Donovan Lewis for a 31-yard gain, Lewis making a difficult catch while falling to his back, and Bryson Graves for a 37-yard completion.
Unsatisfying series for Blue Hens
Delaware coach Ryan Carty had expressed concern that Merrimack had the benefit of having already played a game, even though it lost in lopsided fashion to Rhode Island, while the Blue Hens were playing their first.
That has shown some, especially after Delaware's third series.
Two incompletions were followed by a fumbled snap. Delaware did recover the football, but then had to punt.
But Delaware then came up with a big defensive play as safety George Mullins, a Michigan State transfer, picked off an overthrown pass in the end zone. It was a third-and-10 at the UD 35.
Blue Hens score on first possession, then miss FG
The Blue Hens have struck first in their season-opening football game.
Viron Ellison Jr.’s 11-yard TD run and Tucker Smack’s PAT have put Delaware ahead 7-0 against Merrimack at Delaware Stadium with 7:35 left in the first quarter.
Bryson Graves’ 27-yard punt return positioned Delaware at the 50 to start and they needed nine plays to score.
Nick Minicucci’s 14-yard pass to Graves, a Coastal Carolina transfer, on a third-and-13 and Ellison’s 6-yard gain on fourth-and-1 were key plays.
On its ensuing series, Merrimack converted a fourth-and-2 to keep moving but a 45-yard field-goal try was wide right on the first play of the second quarter. The Warriors moved 58 yards and have made four first downs in their first two possessions.
On Delaware's subsequent possession, Smack missed a 47-yard field-goal try that was also off to the right. Delaware was forced to try a field goal after Minicucci was sacked for 7 yards and a pass was dropped.
Nick Minicucci’s aspirations centered on team success
Nick Minicucci was one of the most productive quarterbacks in the country last year.
That has earned the Delaware starter a heap of preseason recognition, including Conference USA preseason Offensive Player of the Year and watch list status for various awards.
While appreciating the notice and the notoriety, Minicucci’s sentiments are centered on his team, not himself.
As the Blue Hens kick off the 2026 season Sept. 3 against Merrimack at 7 p.m. at Delaware Stadium, Minicucci welcomes the opportunity to begin creating new successes while expanding his repertoire.
“I don't accept any of those because it's preseason,” Minicucci said of the early hype. “Why do I care about something I haven't earned yet? That stuff's all just out there. It's outside noise to me, and I don't really care about it. It feels good, but what is that going to do for me on Thursday?”
The fourth-year Blue Hen will be focused on operating coach Ryan Carty’s spread offense at peak efficiency while becoming more comfortable with his surrounding playmakers, which include several transfer arrivals.
“I really want to win a conference championship,” Minicucci added. “I don't really care about personal accolades. I've never really been that way. I'm not a selfish guy. I really care about just the team, and I want us to win and win together. A Conference USA championship here at Delaware would mean the world to me.”
Minicucci was one of just two quarterbacks last year nationally to have at least 3,500 passing yards and 10 rushing TDs, along with Vanderbilt’s Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia.
Carty has been pleased with Minicucci’s ongoing quest to be better, despite his 2025 accomplishments. Being a second-year starter allows him to have a deeper grasp of how to best move the football, and try new, different and potentially better things.
“Nick's done a really nice job,” Carty said on the eve of his fifth season as coach. “He's always asking for more. There's never a day that goes by that he's going to rest and say ‘I made it. I’m good.’ It's always something that's driving him.”
Hen scratch
Delaware will be donning an unprecedented uniform combo: blue jerseys with white pants instead of the traditional yellow . . . Carty has never lost a home opener during his coaching career, including his time on the staffs at New Hampshire (2007-17) and Sam Houston (2018-21) . . . Delaware is 23-4 in home games under Carty . . . Delaware threw more passes last year (540) than any other FBS team except Florida Atlantic (582).
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Merrimack Football Heads To Delaware For First Road Test
9/1/26 - https://merrimackathletics.com/
Game notes in PDF
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- The Merrimack College football team will travel to face the University of Delaware Blue Hens at Delaware Stadium on Thursday night.
The Warriors (0-1) benefit from a short week after dropping their home opener to the seventh-ranked Rhode Island Rams on Friday night. It'll mark a second straight challenge for coach Mike Gennetti and company as the Blue Hens are rooted in the FBS, one of two FBS programs the Warriors will face this season. The head-to-head matchup is the first in the program's history.
Warrior quarterback AJ Hariston Jr. earned the start and went 12-for-23 for 145 yards passing. Matthias Latham scored Merrimack's lone touchdown while Bryce Goulet led Merrimack in receiving on four receptions for 67 yards.
Delaware head coach Ryan Carty enters his fourth season at the helm with an overall record of 33-17. The Blue Hens, who are playing their first game of the season, are coming off their first campaign at the FBS level after they joined Conference USA in 2025. Delaware posed a 7-6 overall record and went 4-4 in conference play. The Hens were former members of the
Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).
Delaware's offense averaged 29.4 points per game on 411 yards of offense in 2025. The Blue Hens threw for 292 yards passing and rushed for 119 yards on the ground. The team's defense allowed 31 points per game on 405 yards allowed. Delaware quarterback Nick Mediccui is a three-year starter behind center.
Kickoff from Delaware Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be aired on ESPN+.
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Delaware Blue Hens College Football Preview 2026
https://collegefootballnews.com/
The CFN 2026 preview for the 2026 Delaware season.
The Blue Hens have the talent to build off a great first season in the
FBS.
Delaware was supposed to be okay in its first season as an FBS program, but it couldn’t be too much happier with how it started.
The Blue Hens are used to success, getting to the FCS Playoffs in the first two seasons under Ryan Carty before going 9-2 in 2024 – they weren’t eligible for the playoffs with the move up in ranks.
There were a few unfortunate stubbed toes last season – losing to 2-10 Sam Houston was inexcusable – and the defense needs some work, but they got to the 68 Ventures Bowl, took down Louisiana, and began life in the big leagues with a winning record.
Now it’s time to do even more.
Sep 6, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens running back Jo Silver (27) celebrates his touchdown in the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Sep 6, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Delaware Fightin Blue Hens running back Jo Silver (27) celebrates his touchdown in the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field.
© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Delaware Quick Hits
Head Coach: Ryan Carty (5th year at Delaware, 33-17)
Best Case / Worst Case: Win CUSA title/Losing season and miss out on a bowl
Key Player: Nick Minicucci, QB Sr.
2025 Record: 7-6
Biggest Question: Can the defensive front be stronger against the run?
– 2026 Delaware Football Schedule Analysis
Delaware Key 2025 Stats
Delaware Scoring: 1st Quarter 58, 2nd Quarter 138
No. 1 Conference USA Total Offense: 441.6 yards per game
Onside Kicks: Delaware 3-of-3, Opponents 0-for-1
Offense
It worked.
It wasn’t always smooth, but the yards piled up in bunches for the best offense in Conference USA. More than enough key parts are back from the attack that led the league in total offense and was second in scoring to be even better.
What’s Working
Nick Minicucci is an all-conference quarterback. He wasn’t the opening drive starter, but he took over right away, threw for 3,683 yards and 23 touchdowns, and ran for ten scores.
Great at keeping the mistakes to a minimum, he’s the exact veteran leader the offense needs this season.
The offensive line wasn’t a dominant force, but it was good enough. Now it comes back experienced, starting with the good tackle pair of Anthony Caccese and Noah Rosahac. The interior will be fine in time – it’s a bit young.
All of the main runners return. Miniucci was third on the team with 235 rushing yards, and the 1-2 punch of Jo Silver and Viron Ellison is back after combining for over 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns. Both backs can catch.
What Needs Work
The receiving corps is going through an overhaul. Sean Wilson is back after leading the team with 68 catches for 877 yards and three scores, but everyone else of note has to be replaced.
On the plus side, Elijah Sessoms is a good receiving tight end who can handle the midrange routes.
It’s all about getting the ground game going. The line has decent size, but it doesn’t blast away. Last year, the Blue Hens went 6-0 when running for four yards or more, and were 1-6 when they didn’t.
Hanging on to the ball is a must. Delaware lost the most fumbles in Conference USA by a mile – 11, the next worst team lost eight – and it mattered. The team was 0-3 when it lost two fumbles, and was 3-5 when it lost at least one.
Player to Watch
Nick Minicucci, QB Sr.
The power deep arm is good enough, but his real strength is his consistency. He’s accurate, good at keeping the chains moving, and is dangerous enough on the move to worry about. Be shocked if he’s not one of the best quarterbacks in Conference USA again.
Defense
It was a bit of a rough first season for the Delaware defense.
The overall stats make things appear worse than they really were – the Blue Hens were tenth in CUSA in total defense – but when they couldn’t come up with stops, the floodgates were open.
Enough experience returns to be stronger and more consistent.
What’s Working
The linebacking corps has a star to work around. Gavin Moul tackled everything. The all-star led the team with 111 tackles as an undersized man in the middle.
The outside should be fine with Blake Matthews like a big safety on one side, and Colin Gallagher about to take on a bigger role on the other.
Expect more from the secondary. There’s more corner depth now around Kshawn Cox and Jamarion Kolagbodi, and the safety situation got a whole lot better with George Mullins coming in from Michigan State to go along with KT Seay, who was second on the team with 91 tackles and three picks.
Great things happened when the Blue Hens took the ball away. They were good at coming up with interceptions, and overall, when they forced mistakes, they won, going 5-1 when generating multiple takeaways.
What Needs Work
The line needs more playmakers. The pass rush wasn’t anything special, and it mostly came from the interior.
Keyshawn Hunter is done, and now Trace Scott has to do even more. 300-pound Dominick Brogna is a decent anchor; now the line around him has to do more.
The run defense got gashed a bit too often. There were too many tackles down the field, allowing 4.6 yards per carry and 200 yards or more four times. When the run D was a rock, the team won.
Fourth down stops … Delaware couldn’t seem to come up with any. It was the worst in Conference USA by a ton, allowing teams to convert 18-of-26 times.
To feel a little bit better, the 128th defense in the nation on fourth downs was still better than Alabama.
Player to Watch
Gavin Moul, LB Jr.
A star when he got his chance in 2024, he came up with 71 tackles with two picks and six tackles for loss.
With a year under his belt, he did everything for the defense last season with 111 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three broken up passes, and a scoop and score. He’s not all that big, but he gets in on everything.
Keys to the Season
Delaware has to do what it did last year, only a little bit better.
There has to be a bit more explosion to the offense, a little more consistency, and more toughness on a defense that has to hold up better and be more physical.
Player Who Needs To Shine
Trace Scott III, DT Jr.
The Blue Hens need more out of the interior against the run. 300-pound Dominick Brogna is the size, but there isn’t a ton of bulk around him.
The 6-4, 265-pound Scott is a quick tackle who can get behind the line, but he’ll have to be even stronger against the power running teams.
Biggest Concern
Holding up against the run.
There aren’t too many killer running teams on the slate, but Delaware has to be far tougher and nastier against everyone on the ground. There isn’t a lot of size across the board, so it has to make up for it with more plays in the backfield and owning third downs.
Biggest Game
Liberty, Oct. 2
It was the one time in Conference USA play last year when everything went totally wrong.
Liberty wasn’t that great, but it did whatever it wanted in a 59-30 win over the Blue Hens with 561 yards of total offense and great drive after great drive.
This year, it’s the CUSA opener, and it’s a Delaware home game with three of the next four dates on the road.
Transfer Portal
The Blue Hens didn’t do much.
They lost a few players, but for the most part, everyone stayed around, and most of the key backups stayed put. Among the little action there was through the portal, overall, Delaware did okay.
Best Signing
George Mullins, S (Michigan State)
He’s a tall, thin 6-3, 190-pound safety with range. He didn’t do much in his one year at Michigan State, but he’ll play a big starting role right away in the Blue Hen secondary.
Biggest Loss
Anwar O’neal, OG (Louisville)
A 6-6, 315-pound all-star guard with experience, O’neal would’ve been the best blocker on the Delaware front. Now he’ll be an instant fix for the Louisville line once he gets over an offseason injury.
Other Names to Know
Jaquise Alexander, CB (North Dakota State)
Tucker Smack, PK (Salisbury)
Jack Small, OT (Duke)
CFN Season Prediction
It’s a Delaware program that expects to win – it’s not just happy to be decent.
There’s still a talent gap overall, and it can’t just run out on the field and scheme its way to wins, but it’s a good football team that knows how to pull off wins.
But, like last season, just when you think everything is going great, there will be a puzzling clunker somewhere to rest the expectations.
CFN Prediction: 6-6
Can the Blue Hens be good enough to get by Western Kentucky and Kennesaw State on the road, and Jacksonville State and Liberty at home? If they win three of those four games, they should be playing for the Conference USA title game.
Beating Coastal Carolina would be a big deal in non-conference play, but with road games at Virginia and Vanderbilt, it should be a bit of a tough start.
Even so, the Blue Hens will be good enough to get back to a bowl game with a shot at yet another winning season.
View post: Delaware Blue Hens Football 2026 Schedule: Analysis, Key Games, Outlook
Delaware Blue Hens Football 2026 Schedule: Analysis, Key Games, Outlook
It should be a good second season at the FBS level, but can the Blue Hens handle the more difficult slate? Here’s the CFN analysis of the 2026 Delaware football schedule.
About the author
Pete Fiutak
Publisher of CollegeFootballNews.com since 1998, worked with the College Football Playoff along with USA TODAY, Stadium, FOX Sports, and Sports Illustrated. America's favorite college football radio guest. It's not my fault your school isn't better at college football.
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Delaware Athletics Announces Updates to Football In-Venue Fan Experience
8/27/2026 bluehens.com
NEWARK, Del. – Ahead of their second season in Conference USA, the University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens return to Delaware Stadium on September 3, 2026 at 7 p.m. vs. Merrimack, aiming to build on a historic-inaugural FBS campaign and an electric home-gameday atmosphere in Newark. There are several changes and exciting updates coming to Delaware Stadium this fall. Visit bluehens.com/gameday to stay up-to-date with all gameday questions and needs throughout the season.
The Flight Path
Back for the second season, The Flight Path team arrival returns to Delaware football gamedays. Fans can join the Delaware marching band and spirit squads in front of the Bob Carpenter Center to welcome the Fightin' Blue Hens football team as it arrives at Delaware Stadium three hours prior to kickoff. Immediately following The Flight Path the marching band and spirit squad will head to the plaza outside the Spartin Gate to host the flock party, performing gameday favorites.
West Stands March
The return of a beloved Delaware football gameday tradition, the University of Delaware marching band is bringing back the pregame march under the west stands. Following the sidewalk show, the Delaware marching band will make its way to the pregame show by marching in the Spartin Family Gate and through the west concourse. UDMB will stop briefly to perform the fight song on the concourse and continue to the northwest corner of the stadium where the band will enter the field for its pregame performance.
Fireworks
New for the 2026 season, Delaware football games will now feature in-game fireworks. Fireworks will be fired off the top of the Bob Carpenter Center during the national anthem, when the team enters the field pregame, following a set number of Fightin' Blue Hens' touchdowns per game, and one final celebration following a Fightin' Blue Hens' win.
All Fan Giveaways
During the 2026 season, two Delaware football games will feature an all-fan giveaway. Blue rally towels will be given out on Friday, October 2 vs Liberty as part of the "Blue Out" game for Parents & Family Weekend. LED sound-activated wristbands will be distributed to all fans on Tuesday, October 20 when Missouri State comes to Newark. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for both games to claim the giveaways.
Concession Updates and Offerings
This year's concessions lineup features local favorites, expanded meal options, and a variety of beverages across multiple locations. Fans can grab local treats like Helen's Sausage House at booth two, sweet treats from Desserts By Dana and UDairy at booths one and six, respectively, new specialty items like Walking Tacos at Booth five, and the Henwich Sandwich at Booth one. Meal exchanges for all UD students are available at booths three, five, and the Frybox 2.0, while alcohol and draft beer will continue to be served at booths two, three, the kiosk, East Main, and Minite Plaza.
Flyovers
Delaware football has two pregame flyovers scheduled for the 2026 season. In celebration of First Responders' Night, Delaware State Police Aviation will provide a pregame flyover for the September 3 game vs. Merrimack. As part of Military Appreciation Day on November 14, Delaware Army National Guard will provide a pregame flyover.
Gate Times
All entrance gates to Delaware Stadium will now open 90 minutes prior to kickoff, allowing fans to take advantage of all of the pregame offerings like the i.g. Burton Fan Zone – a free, family-friendly entertainment space next to the Hen House powered by Schell Brothers. Fans can stop by the Hen House and fan zone before heading into the stadium to take advantage of free giveaways, game-themed activations, purchase food from the Rolling Rooster Food Truck, DJ entertainment, and more.
Clear Bag Policy
Delaware Stadium will now carry a clear bag policy. Only clutch purses and/or fanny packs (no larger than 5" x 7"), clear bags (no larger than 12" x 6" x 12"), medical bags, and diaper bags will be allowed into Delaware Stadium. All non-clear bags (hard-sided coolers, bags with metal frames, backpacks, draw-string bags, camera cases, tinted plastic bags, oversized tote bags, mesh bags, purses, and plastic bags) are strictly prohibited in Delaware Stadium. All clear bags are subject to inspection by gate security once entering through the Evolv Weapons Detection units. Clear bags are available for purchase in the Delaware Bookstore, at the merchandise store inside the stadium, and online at shopbluehens.com.
Tickets
A limited number of season tickets remain available for the 2026 season, giving fans the opportunity to secure their seats for every home game at Delaware Stadium. Fans looking for more flexibility can also take advantage of three-game mini plans, group ticket options for 15 or more, and single-game tickets for select home matchups. To explore available ticket options and secure your seats, visit BlueHens.com/FBTickets.
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Four Players on 2026 HERO Sports Preseason Group of Six All-American Teams
8/14/2026 - bluehens.com
SEATTLE – University of Delaware football placed four student-athletes on the HERO Sports Preseason Group of Six All-American teams, the publication announced Friday. S KT Seay landed on the first team, WR Sean Wilson earned second team honors, while OL Steven Demboski and QB Nick Minicucci rounded out the list on the third team.
Seay, a 2025 First Team All-CUSA selection, played and started all 13 games as a junior at safety. He followed up a stellar 2024 season by tying for the sixth-most INTs in CUSA (3) and finishing with the 11th-most tackles (91). Seay finished with the most solo tackles on the squad with 62. His 2025 season was highlighted by a career-high 13 tackles against UConn and a career-high 3.5 TFLs at Jax State, a mark that tied for the second most by a CUSA player that season. This preseason, Seay has been named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Watchlist, CUSA Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team, and Pro Football Network All-CUSA Second Team.
Wilson burst onto the scene as a starter in his first full season in 2025. He led the team with 68 catches for 877 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. His receptions and receiving yards are freshman records for the Hens. Across conference action, Wilson had a stretch of three-consecutive games with 100+ receiving yards, becoming the first Fightin' Blue Hen to do so since Aaron Love had four-straight 100-yard games in 2006. He set career bests with 162 yards and nine catches at Sam Houston. This preseason, Wilson has been named to the Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team, and Pro Football Network All-CUSA Second Team.
Demboski, a 2025 Second Team All-CUSA selection, played and started in 11 games at center last season. According to PFF, he did not allow a sack all season in his first year as the full-time starter. He was named the CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week after UConn after making his season debut in the 44-41 OT win after missing the first two games due to injury. Under his leadership, the Delaware rushing attack had its best game on the ground, accounting for five rushing touchdowns and 247 rushing yards for an average of 5.5 yards per attempt in the team's first-FBS home win. This preseason, Demboski has been named to the Rimington Trophy Watchlist, Outland Trophy Watchlist, Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watchlist, Lombardi Award Watchlist, CUSA Watchlist, Shriners Children 1000 Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, Phil Steele All-CUSA First Team, Pro Football Network All-CUSA First Team, and an Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee.
Minicucci, a 2025 Second Team All-CUSA selection and 68 Ventures Bowl Offensive MVP, spearheaded a Fightin' Blue Hen offense that finished with a bowl win in its first FBS season. In 2025, Minicucci led CUSA in passing yards (3,683), completions (322), attempts (512), passing yards/game (283.3), total offense (3,918), and total offense per game (301.4). He connected with 10+ receivers in seven games, eight or more in 10 of 13 games, and seven in all 12 regular season games. On the ground, the signal caller tied for fourth in the conference with 10 rushing touchdowns. Minicucci became the second QB in program history with 20 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs (first since 1969). He ranked among the nation's best in passing yards (sixth), pass yards per game (eighth), total yards (eighth), and total yards per game (ninth). This preseason, Minicucci has been named to the Maxwell Award Watchlist, CUSA Watchlist, Athlon Sports All-CUSA First Team, Phil Steele All-CUSA Second Team, Pro Football Network All-CUSA First Team, and the Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year.
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Football Position Previews: Safeties, Bandits, Linebackers, and Specialists
8/10/2026 bluehens.com
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team is preparing for the 2026 season which kicks off at home against Merrimack on Thursday, September 3 at 7 p.m. Throughout fall camp, positional previews will be posted online to spotlight the different units that make up the 2026 Fightin' Blue Hens.
SAFETIES
Assistant Head Coach, Defense / Defensive Coordinator / Safeties Coach Manny Rojas leads the unit in his seventh season with the Blue Hens. It is his first year in charge of the safeties after only serving as the defensive coordinator the last six seasons.
"Our recruiting class last year and then this year has gotten some bigger, longer guys, obviously some faster guys as well," Rojas said. "So, as we have taken the step, and now we're FBS, we're getting a lot more of that attention nationwide."
The safeties room is full of youth behind two returning seniors, KT Seay, a 2025 First Team All-CUSA selection and HERO Sports Group of Five Third Team All-American, and Kahlil Ali, who played in all 13 games last season.
Also returning in the Hens safety room are sophomores Nasir Eatmon, AJ Graham, and Noah Jefferson who appeared in 12, 12, and 13 games, respectively, as true freshmen last season.
Joining the unit this season are Michigan State transfer George Mullins (Webster, Fla. / South Sumter) as well as freshmen Dannell Jester Jr. (Meigs, Ga. / Thomas County Central), Kevin Moore (Coram, N.Y. / St. Anthony's), and Dorian Rutledge (Chester, Pa. / Middletown [Del.]).
BANDITS
Bandits Coach Jarred Holley heads the room in his first season with UD after coming over from Marshall where he spent the 2025 season in charge of its defensive backs.
"With the bandit position, you have to be able to do a lot of different things," Holley said. "You gotta be able to support the run, you have to be able to blitz, and you have to be able to cover."
The newly-minted position group for the Blue & Gold consists of three players: fifth year Blake Matthews, LIU transfer Jalen Bell (Kissimmee, Fla. / Osceola), and sophomore Dillon Griffith.
Matthews is the leader of the room, appearing in 23 games over the past two seasons with the program. Bell was an FCS AP All-American safety last season at LIU, leading the team with 72 tackles, while Griffith is looking to make his collegiate debut.
LINEBACKERS
Co-Defensive Coordinator / Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach Rocco DiMeco leads both the special teams corp. and linebacker unit in his fourth season with the Blue Hens. He picked up the title of co-defensive coordinator heading into this season, where he will assist Rojas with the third down packages.
"We got a good group of kids who love football," DiMeco said about the linebacking corp. "They're physical, they're running to the ball, and they're attacking the ball. Those three things in particular are going to make us much better on defense this year."
Senior Gavin Moul and junior Colin Gallagher lead the way for the unit. Moul has played in 36 career games with 24 starts at UD over the past three seasons, while Gallagher earned a role last season, appearing in all 13 games.
Jawarren Corbin, Gevaris Lassiter, and Julius Puryear provide depth as returnees, while a trio of freshmen recruits join the squad this year in Wayne Cunningham Jr. (Clearwater, Fla. / Clearwater), Demarco Daniels (Hawthorne, Fla. / Eastside), and Joseph Zamot (Millville, N.J. / The Lawrenceville School). In addition, Stevenson transfer Tysean Milligan Jr. (Dover, Del. / Dover) and freshman Gehret Gentzyel (York, Pa. / York Suburban) walked on.
SPECIALISTS
"These guys are promising and they're talented," DiMeco said of the specialists. "Tucker Smack, who we brought in from Salisbury, comes from a kicking family. His brother (Tre Smack) is in the NFL right now. He has the right mindset, he has the tools, and he's a tireless worker. Kason Mullis is a true freshman with some of the best leg potential that I've been around as a young kid. Josh (Cupitt) looks great right now, He's got experience and wisdom, and he was booming punts out there today, so I'm really excited for Josh."
Smack and Mullis are competing to replace Nate Reed who holds numerous kicking records at UD. Smack has appeared in 29 career games at Salisbury, going 6-for-7 on field goal attempts and 79-of-84 on PATs. Mullis (Bartow, Fla. / Jones) was a five-star rated kicker according to Kohl's Camp coming out of high school.
Josh Cupitt will serve as the primary punter for UD. Cupitt, who missed all of last season due to injury, was Delaware's primary punter in 2024 after transferring from Towson. In his first season in Newark, the Reading, Pa. native punted 27 times for 1,160 yards, averaging 43.0 yards per punt, including 10 punts of 50+ yards. Freshman Austin LaBellman (Maitland, Fla. / Winter Park), a five-star rated punter and four-star rated kicker according to Kohl's, will serve as the backup.
Maddox Sills will be the long snapper after appearing in 10 games for the Hens last season. Freshman Luke Epstein (St. Charles, Ill. / St. Charles North) is the backup.
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Football Completes 2028 Schedule with Addition of Western Michigan and Morgan State
7/15/2026 - bluehens.com
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware football has finalized its 2028 schedule with the addition of Western Michigan and Morgan State, head coach Ryan Carty announced Wednesday.
The bout with Western Michigan will be the first of a home-and-home series with the Broncos coming to Newark on September 23, 2028 and the Fightin' Blue Hens heading to Kalamazoo on September 7, 2030. These will be the first-ever matchups between the two programs.
Delaware will welcome Morgan State to Delaware Stadium on September 16, 2028 for the sixth all-time matchup between the schools. The Hens are 4-0-1 in those contests.
TICKET INFORMATION
Get your 2026 Delaware Football season tickets now by visiting bluehens.com/fbtickets.
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Football Announces 2026 Promotional Schedule
6/3/2026 bluehens.com
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football program and athletic department have announced the gameday promotions and experiences schedule for the upcoming 2026 season. Fans will have six opportunities to see the Blue Hens in action at Delaware Stadium this fall, and can look forward to exciting promotions and in-game entertainment.
September 3 vs. Merrimack – 7 p.m.
302 Game | Government Employee Appreciation | First Responder Appreciation
Two discounted tickets for first responders and government employees.
September 19 vs. Coastal Carolina – 11:30 a.m.
Educator Appreciation | Band Day
Two discounted tickets for all teachers (K-12).
Performances by local high school bands at halftime alongside the UD Marching Band.
October 2 vs. Liberty – 7:00 p.m.
Parents & Family Weekend | Blue Out | Breast Cancer Awareness
Wear your favorite blue Delaware gear to the game.
Stay tuned for more information regarding the Parents & Family Weekend tailgate.
October 20 vs. Missouri State – 7 p.m.
Senior Day | CUSA Mental Health Game | Healthcare Appreciation
Celebrate Delaware football's senior class.
Two discounted tickets for health care professionals.
November 14 vs. FIU – 3 p.m.
Homecoming | Celebration of Champions | Military Appreciation | MVP | UD Faculty & Staff Appreciation
Two discounted tickets for all active duty, reserve and veteran military personnel.
Two discounted tickets for all UD Faculty and Staff.
November 28 vs. Jax State – 3:30 p.m.
Youth Day | BE A Hero
Discounted tickets for kids (ages 3-12) with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Season tickets and partial plan packages for the 2026 season are on sale now.
Single game tickets for all home games, except UD's Parents & Family Weekend contest against Liberty (Oct. 2), will go on sale on June 17. Parents & Family weekend tickets will go on sale on July 24. Fans can purchase tickets to Parents and Family weekend now if you purchase season tickets or within a partial plan package.
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Football Game Times, TV Assignments Announced
5/27/2026 bluehens.com
DALLAS – University of Delaware football game times and TV assignments have been set, Conference USA announced Wednesday in conjunction with its broadcast partners. The Fightin' Blue Hens will play on national television at least seven times in 2026.
In total, UD will appear on CBS Sports Network five times this season with one game on ESPNU. Designation and game time are still to be determined for the non-conference game at Virginia.
Three games in November are designated to appear on ESPN Networks, which could include ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN+ among others. Those games remain subject to the league's 12-day selection process, and kickoff times are subject to change based on television placement.
2026 SCHEDULE (All game times in ET)
Thursday, September 3, 2026 - Delaware vs. Merrimack - 7 p.m. on ESPN+
Saturday, September 12, 2026 - Delaware at Vanderbilt - 4:15 p.m. on SEC Network
Saturday, September 19, 2026 - Delaware vs. Coastal Carolina - 11:30 a.m. on CBS Sports Network
Saturday, September 26, 2026 - Delaware at Virginia - TBD
Friday, October 2, 2026 - Delaware vs. Liberty (Parents & Family Weekend) - 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - Delaware at Middle Tennessee - 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 - Delaware vs. Missouri State - 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 - Delaware at WKU - 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
Saturday, November 7, 2026 - Delaware at Kennesaw State - 3 p.m. on ESPN Networks
Saturday, November 14, 2026 - Delaware vs. FIU (Homecoming) - 3 p.m. on ESPN Networks
Saturday, November 21, 2026 - Delaware at New Mexico State - 3 p.m. on ESPN Networks
Saturday, November 28, 2026 - Delaware vs. Jax State - 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
TICKET INFORMATION
Get your 2026 Delaware Football season tickets now by visiting bluehens.com/fbtickets.
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Former Blue Hen
Football Player, Wilmington mayor and Riverfront architect Mike Purzycki dies
Story by Anitra Johnson, Sophia Voight and Shane Brennan, Delaware News Journal
5-19-26
Michael S. Purzycki, who reshaped the Wilmington Riverfront from an industrial wasteland into a regional destination and later, as a two-term mayor, worked to reform the downtown of Delaware’s largest city, has died at 80.
A former pro-football player who became a real estate developer, attorney and politician, he stepped down as mayor in January 2025 after his two terms. He led Wilmington through the COVID‑19 pandemic and advanced housing reforms, including stricter code enforcement and initiatives to stabilize struggling neighborhoods. His administration reported declines in crime, though its policing drew concern about its impact on the community.
Gov. Matt Meyer's office confirmed May 19 that Purzycki had died. Later that afternoon, Mayor John Carney's office confirmed the former leader lost a "hard-fought" battle with cancer.
Born in 1945 in Newark, New Jersey, Purzycki was a standout football player at the University of Delaware, setting Blue Hen receiving records. After graduating, he signed a contract with the New York Giants for the 1967-1968 season, but his football career was cut short due to injury.
Purzycki later worked in banking, real estate and law, serving as an attorney for the Delaware State Senate and practicing for more than a decade. His political journey began in 1982 when he was elected to the New Castle County Council, where he chaired the finance committee for nine years.
"I didn't have a big brother, but Mike came awfully close," Carney said in that afternoon statement, as other reaction streamed in across the state. "He was someone I looked up to and respected both as a colleague and as a friend. ... Wilmington lost a giant today, and my thoughts are with Mike's wife, Bette, his children, family members, and many friends."
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Conference USA Announces Updated 2026 Football Schedule
4/29/2026 - bluehens.com
DALLAS – Conference USA has released an updated 2026 football schedule following the recent settlement agreement between the league and Louisiana Tech, the league announced Tuesday. The University of Delaware football program's 12-game schedule includes the four previously announced non-conference games with eight CUSA contests, including four home and four away games. The 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Champion Fightin' Blue Hens' slate will feature matchups against eight teams that played in a bowl game last season.
The 2026 CUSA alignment will feature 10 teams: Delaware, FIU, Jax State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, and WKU.
The Hens' schedule saw just three changes from the original version before the departure of LA Tech. The game scheduled at Missouri State has now been changed to a home game on October 20, the October 13 game vs. New Mexico State has been changed to an away game on November 21, the October 20 game at Kennesaw State will now be on November 7, and the November 7 game at Middle Tennessee will now be played on October 13.
All dates are subject to change and game times will be announced at a later date.
2026 SCHEDULE:
Thursday, September 3, 2026 - Delaware vs. Merrimack
Saturday, September 12, 2026 - Delaware at Vanderbilt
Saturday, September 19, 2026 - Delaware vs. Coastal Carolina
Saturday, September 26, 2026 - Delaware at Virginia
Friday, October 2, 2026 - Delaware vs. Liberty (Parents & Family Weekend)
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - Delaware at Middle Tennessee
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 - Delaware vs. Missouri State
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 - Delaware at WKU
Saturday, November 7, 2026 - Delaware at Kennesaw State
Saturday, November 14, 2026 - Delaware vs. FIU (Homecoming)
Saturday, November 21, 2026 - Delaware at New Mexico State
Saturday, November 28, 2026 - Delaware vs. Jax State
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Five Football Student-Athletes are Headed to the NFL
4/27/2026 - bluehens.com
NEWARK, Del. – Five University of Delaware football Fightin' Blue Hens are headed to the NFL after CB Nate Evans signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent and OL Fintan Brose (Las Vegas Raiders), DT Nick Karika (New York Jets), S Mysonne Pollard (Tennessee Titans), and K Nate Reed (Las Vegas Raiders) were invited to rookie mini camps.
"I'm so proud of these young men," Head Football Coach Ryan Carty said. "They've all been great representatives of the University of Delaware and our football program. I'm excited to see them continue to represent UD as alumni of this prestegious institution."
Evans played in 24 games with 15 starts over two seasons for the Blue & Gold. The Virginia Beach, Va. native, who began his career at NC State, was a 2024 All-CAA Honorable Mention selection in his first season in the 302. In 2025, Evans started all 13 games for UD, leading the team with eight PBUs. His collegiate career was capped off by a victory in the 68 Ventures Bowl where he was named the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Defensive MVP.
Brose played in 56 games with 39 starts for the Fightin' Blue Hens. His 56 games played are third most in program history, just in front of his older brother, Braden, who appeared in 55 games. The Irwin, Pa. native was a three-time all-conference selection, including a 2025 Conference USA First Team nod. In his final season with the Hens, Brose started all 13 games, with starts at three different positions along the offensive line. An East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 selection, Brose allowed only two sacks all season, with none in the final nine games, according to Pro Football Focus. In Brose's six-year tenure, UD went 45-24, including the team's first-ever FBS bowl win in the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl.
Karika appeared in 35 games with six starts for the Fightin' Blue Hens. The St. James, N.Y. native began his career at Wagner before transferring to Delaware in 2023. Over three seasons for UD, the defensive tackle notched 27 tackles, 7.0 TFLs, and 3.0 sacks with a pair of forced fumbles. A true student-athlete, Karika was a 2025-26 Conference USA Academic Honor Roll selection.
Pollard appeared in 24 games with 13 starts for the Fightin' Blue Hens across two seasons. A 2025 Conference USA All-Conference Second Team selection as a kick returner, Pollard started all 13 games at safety in 2025 while providing a boost on special teams. The Norwalk, Conn. native recorded 66 total tackles, 2.5 TFLs, a team-high four INTs, one PBU, and two forced fumbles as a senior, while returning 15 kickoffs for 384 yards with a long of 51 yards.
Reed played in 46-career games with 35 of those coming for Delaware over three seasons. The Manheim, Pa. native was the first-ever Fightin' Blue Hens' specialist to be selected to attend the NFL Specialist Showcase at the NFL Combine in 2026. The 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Second Team All-America selection made his mark on the record book in 2025, setting the record for kicking points in a game (19), as well as kicking the most touchbacks in program history (101). He went 3-for-3 on onside kicks this past season, helping Delaware become just the fourth team in the last 10 seasons to do so, and the only one to have a 100-percent success rate. He tied a program record of four field goals in two games this season, en route to earning an All-CUSA Second Team laurel. He earned three all-conference honors in his tenure, capping his career by being named the 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Special Teams MVP
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Conference USA Announces 2026 Football Schedule
3/13/2026 - bluehens.com
NEWARK, Del. – The 2026 Conference USA football schedule has been released, the league announced late Thursday night. The University of Delaware football program's 12-game schedule includes the four previously announced non-conference games with eight CUSA contests, including four home and four away games. The 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Champion Fightin' Blue Hens' slate will feature matchups against eight teams that played in a bowl game last season.
The 2026 CUSA alignment will feature 11 teams with no divisions, including Delaware, FIU, Jax State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, and WKU. The 2026 schedule complies with CUSA scheduling policies as approved by the Board of Directors.
The Blue & Gold begin league action against Liberty for a Friday night on Parents & Family Weekend inside Delaware Stadium on October 2.
The next three weeks see the Fightin' Blue Hens take on first-time opponents with UD traveling to fellow second-year FBS member, Missouri State, on Wednesday, October 7. The following week sees the Hens host New Mexico State on Tuesday, October 13. The first-time foes conclude with the Blue & Gold traveling to 2025 CUSA champion, Kennesaw State, on Tuesday, October 20. All three games will be a part of "Weekday CUSA" action.
This marks the fourth season of "Weekday CUSA," which will see all October league matchups played on midweek evenings. CUSA's broadcast partners will share the October weeknight football games on linear television across CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Staying on the road, Delaware makes its first trip to Murfreesboro, Tenn. since 1978 with a Saturday, November 7 tilt at Middle Tennessee.
UD will host FIU on Saturday, November 14 for homecoming. The Panthers hold a special place in program history as the first-ever CUSA win for the Blue & Gold.
The following week, the Fightin' Blue Hens make the trip down to Ruston, La. on Saturday, November 21 for the first time since the 1982 NCAA I-AA Semifinals when Delaware defeated the Bulldogs, 17-0, to advance to the national championship.
A home finale will be held against 2025 league runner up, Jax State, on Saturday, November 28. This will be the Gamecocks first trip to Newark since 1978 in the NCAA DII Quarterfinals.
All dates are subject to change and game times will be announced at a later date.
2026 SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 3, 2026 - Delaware vs. Merrimack
Saturday, September 12, 2026 - Delaware at Vanderbilt
Saturday, September 19, 2026 - Delaware vs. Coastal Carolina
Saturday, September 26, 2026 - Delaware at Virginia
Friday, October 2, 2026 - Delaware vs. Liberty (Parents & Family Weekend)
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 - Delaware at Missouri State
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - Delaware vs. New Mexico State
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 - Delaware at Kennesaw State
Saturday, November 7, 2026 - Delaware at Middle Tennessee
Saturday, November 14, 2026 - Delaware vs. FIU (Homecoming)
Saturday, November 21, 2026 - Delaware at LA Tech
Saturday, November 28, 2026 - Delaware vs. Jax State
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UPDATE - Worrilow may have accepted a job with the Cleveland Browns recently.
Former NFL Captain and UD Alum Paul Worrilow ‘13 Hired as Assistant Football Coach
2/19/2026 bluehens.com
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team has hired UD alumnus Paul Worrilow '13 as an assistant coach, head coach Ryan Carty announced Thursday. Worrilow will coach the bandit linebackers in his second stint on staff in Newark.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Paul back home to UD as a member of our staff," Carty said. "He brings an NFL pedigree that our student-athletes will relate to. He's the definition of Blue Hen Built and we couldn't be happier to have him back in Newark."
Worrilow rejoined the Blue & Gold originally in 2022 as a volunteer assistant coach for defense and special teams.
"I'm looking forward to being back at a place that has had such a great impact in my professional and personal life," Worrilow said. "UD is a place I hold in such high regard, and I can't wait to serve the school, team, and student-athletes in my new role."
A 2023 inductee of the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame, Worrilow most recently served as the defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at the Salesianum School where he led the top-rated defense in the state in 2025. His special teams unit also paced The First State in blocked kicks and return touchdowns. This was his second stint with the Sallies having held the same role in 2023.
In between stints at Salesianum, Worrilow served as a defensive assistant with the New York Jets under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich in 2024.
He had an eight-year NFL career that saw him play in 76 games with 52 starts. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and appeared in all 16 games in each of his first two seasons. His 142 total tackles in 2014 ranked fifth in the NFL and he was named a team captain in both 2014 and 2015.
Worrilow appeared in 59 games over four seasons with the Falcons before joining Detroit in 2017. He suited up in 13 games for the Lions before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. He missed the 2018 season due to injury, before appearing in four games for the New York Jets in 2019. Worrilow was on the Jets' practice squad for part of the 2020 season.
For his career, Worrilow compiled 415 total tackles to go along with 15.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and two interceptions.
A 2012 All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team honoree and Third Team All-American (The Sports Network) selection as a senior, Worrilow was a two-time team captain for the Blue Hens. He was named the 2012 team MVP and received the 2013 Edgar Johnson Award, given annually to a Delaware student-athlete "demonstrating the characteristics of hard work, dedication, fairness, and striving for excellence."
The Wilmington, Del. native was a key member of the UD team that advanced to the 2010 FCS national championship game, leading the defense with 113 total tackles. Worrilow finished his decorated career ranked fifth all-time in program history with 377 career tackles and is also 11th with 33.5 TFL.
Worrilow graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in history in 2013.
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Football Set to Play Illinois in 2027 instead of Penn State
Date Changes Announced for 2026
1/21/2026 - bluehens.com
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team has added a game at the University of Illinois on September 11, 2027, the schools announced jointly Wednesday. The addition of this game will replace the previously announced game for this same date at Penn State as the programs mutually agreed to cancel the contest.
For the 2026 season, the Fightin' Blue Hens will now host Merrimack on Thursday, September 3 and welcome Coastal Carolina on Saturday, September 19.
The first-ever game against the Fighting Illini, this will be the second game on the docket for the Fightin' Blue Hens for the 2027 campaign, as they play host to LIU on September 2. The remaining announced games for the 2027 season are a home matchup against former CAA rival James Madison on September 18, and the return game at UConn, concluding the home-and-home that started this season.
This will be the third game the Blue Hens will play in program history in the Prairie State, and first since they defeated SIU in the 2007 Division I-AA Semifinals en route to a FCS Championship game appearance.
With this announcement, UD has scheduled matchups against all Power 4 conferences over its first three seasons of FBS competition, with three of the four coming over the first two seasons. To date, the Hens have scheduled eight games against Power 4 teams through the 2030 season with four happening over the first two seasons.
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All-Conference QB announces return for 2026 after 3,600-yard season
A massive boost for one of the newest programs in the FBS.
Dustin Lewis Dec 29, 2025 https://www.si.com/
Players around the country have important decisions to make over the next few weeks. This is the time of year when everyone has a choice: whether that's returning to their current program, exploring the transfer portal, or making a leap to the professional level.
The market is expected to be overinflated this offseason, particularly at the quarterback position. With just 15 days for players to officially submit paperwork to transfer, the first half of the opening month of the New Year should provide plenty of action.
While some of the top passers in the FBS are headed to the NFL or searching for a new home, one breakout signal-caller is staying put in a rare move.
The Delaware Blue Hens were one of two teams to jump up from the FCS to FBS ahead of the 2025 season. The program quickly became a fan favorite in college football, especially among those who racked up plenty of hours in EA Sports' CFB 26.
Delaware turned to junior quarterback Nick Minicucci to spearhead its transition early in the year. The choice paid off as the Blue Hens went 7-6, defeating Louisiana 20-13 in the 68 Ventures Bowl.
Minicucci had a breakout campaign this fall, finishing in the top 10 in passing yards in the regular season. Currently, he ranks second in the nation in passing yards. Minicucci would've drawn interest from other programs if he entered the portal.
Instead, Minicucci plans to return to Delaware for his final season of eligibility. He announced the news on social media on Sunday.
"This place is legit," Minicucci wrote. "Excited to keep showing the nation what it’s like to be a Blue Hen!"
Minicucci actually began the 2025 season as Delaware's backup quarterback but was forced into action during the first quarter of the opener after Zach Marker suffered a leg injury. He went on to appear in all 13 games, starting the final 12. Minicucci completed 322/512 passes for 3,683 yards with 23 touchdowns to 7 interceptions while adding 235 yards and 10 more scores on the ground.
The New Jersey native led Conference USA in passing attempts, completions, and yards. He was named second-team all-conference for his standout campaign. Minicucci threw for 300+ yards in seven games, including four of his final six outings of the season.
Minicucci signed with head coach Ryan Carty and the Blue Hens in 2023. He appeared in six games as a true freshman, making his first career start against Lafayette in the FCS Playoffs.
Injuries led to Minicucci playing a larger role than expected in 2024 after team captain Ryan O'Connor and Marker both went down. He started the last four games of the season, completing 79/124 passes for 825 yards with 10 touchdowns to 3 interceptions.
In his college career, Minicucci has played in 28 games and 18 starts. He's completed 450/717 passes for 4,982 yards with 38 touchdowns to 15 interceptions. Minicucci has added 190 rushes for 532 yards and 13 more scores.
With Minicucci running it back, Delaware will have an opportunity to contend for a conference championship and another postseason berth next year.
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Delaware football caps off first season of FBS play with 68 Ventures Bowl win over Louisiana
December 18, 2025 / AP via cbs.com
Jo Silver ran for 116 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown, and Delaware wrapped up its first year in the FBS with a 20-13 victory over Louisiana in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Wednesday night.
The Fightin' Blue Hens, who went 6-6 in their first year of FBS play, were granted a waiver to play in a bowl game after there were not enough six-win teams to fill all 42 of the FBS bowl games. In general, first-year FBS teams are not chosen for bowl games during their transition period. Wednesday's victory makes Delaware 7-6 overall.
The Blue Hens had to defend two passes into their own end zone in the final seconds to preserve the win. The Ragin' Cajuns had the ball on their own 7-yard line with 1:41 remaining. Lunch Winfield led a drive that included a 32-yard completion to Charles Robertson and a pass interference penalty on Delaware.
After Louisiana (6-7) reached the 8-yard line, Winfield ran for 1 yard on first down and threw incomplete on second down. On third down with two seconds left, Blake Matthews broke up a pass in the end zone.
Silver's long touchdown gave Delaware a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter and the Blue Hens went on to lead 10-3 at halftime. Nick Minicucci's 35-yard touchdown pass to Sean Wilson made it 17-3 early in the third quarter and a field goal made it 20-3 midway through the third quarter.
Louisiana kicked a field goal to make it 20-6 heading to the fourth and Winfield added an 8-yard touchdown pass to Shelton Sampson Jr. to make it 20-13 with eight minutes left.
Minicucci passed for 176 yards and Winfield had 231 yards.
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Louisiana Rally Falls Short In 68 Ventures
Bowl vs Delaware, 20-13
12/18/2025 https://ragincajuns.com/
Three turnovers, missed red zone chances hurt Cajuns against Fighting Blue Hens
By: Matt Sullivan | Director of Athletics Communications
MOBILE, Ala. – Louisiana came up just short in a late rally as Delaware held on for a 20-13 victory in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Wednesday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
Lunch Winfield threw for 231 yards and a touchdown, finishing 21 of 36 through the air, and guided the Ragin' Cajuns 86 yards in the final minute before Delaware broke up a pass in the end zone on the game's final play. Louisiana (6-7) was undone by three turnovers and missed opportunities deep in Blue Hens territory.
Jo Silver rushed for 116 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown run, and Nick Minicucci completed 19 of 30 passes for 176 yards and a score as Delaware (7-6) earned a win in its FBS postseason debut.
Louisiana missed a field goal on its opening possession and later had a drive end with an interception in the end zone. Silver capped the Blue Hens' first-quarter takeaway by racing untouched up the middle for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
The Ragin' Cajuns answered with a 22-yard field goal by Tony Sterner after driving to the Delaware 5, but the Blue Hens carried a 10-3 advantage into halftime. Minicucci connected with Sean Wilson for a 35-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the third quarter, and Nate Reed added a pair of field goals to extend the lead to 20-6.
Louisiana found life in the fourth quarter when Jordan Lawson blocked a 52-yard field goal attempt, setting up a drive that ended with Winfield's 8-yard touchdown pass to Shelton Sampson Jr. on fourth down. The Cajuns later forced a turnover on downs but gave the ball back on a fumbled snap near midfield.
Pinned at its own 7 with no timeouts, Louisiana moved into scoring position behind completions to Zylan Perry, Caden Jensen and Landon Strother before a pass interference penalty set up first-and-goal at the 8.
After a 1-yard gain and spike to stop the clock with two seconds left, Delaware's Blake Matthews broke up a pass in the end zone to seal the win.
Jaden Dugger led Louisiana with seven tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss. Maurion Eleam added six tackles, while Lawson recorded five stops and three tackles for loss as the Ragin' Cajuns saw a four-game winning streak come to an end.
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Louisiana and Delaware meet for the 68 Ventures Bowl
Pre-Game Stats:
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated 11:03 AM EST, December 16, 2025
Delaware (6-6) vs. Louisiana (6-6), Dec. 17 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
BetMGM College Football Odds Opening Line: Louisiana by 3. Against the spread: Louisiana 5-6, Delaware 4-8.
How to watch: ESPN
Key stats
Louisiana Offense:
Overall: 344.8 yards per game (100th in FBS)
Passing: 155.3 yards per game (124th)
Rushing: 189.5 yards per game (29th)
Scoring: 27.1 points per game (74th)
Louisiana Defense:
Overall: 417.1 yards per game (115th in FBS)
Passing: 228 yards per game (87th)
Rushing: 189.1 yards per game (118th)
Scoring: 30 points per game (105th)
Delaware Offense:
Overall: 417.1 yards per game (37th in FBS)
Passing: 301.2 yards per game (6th)
Rushing: 115.9 yards per game (118th)
Scoring: 29.8 points per game (48th)
Delaware Defense:
Overall: 411.2 yards per game (110th in FBS)
Passing: 246.8 yards per game (114th)
Rushing: 164.3 yards per game (89th)
Scoring: 32.5 points per game (120th)
Louisiana ranks 106th in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 42.8% of the time. Delaware ranks 46th on offense, converting on 41.8% of third downs.
Delaware is 120th in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 89.4% of trips. Louisiana’s red zone offense ranks 50th, scoring on 87.5% of red zone opportunities.
Team leaders
Louisiana:
Passing: D’Wayne Winfield, 1,195 yards, 8 TDs, 6 INTs, 61 completion percentage
Rushing: Elijah Davis, 739 yards on 148 carries, 6 TDs
Receiving: Shelton Sampson Jr., 495 yards on 29 catches, 5 TDs
Delaware:
Passing: Nick Minicucci, 3,514 yards, 22 TDs, 7 INTs, 62.5 completion percentage
Rushing: Jo’Nathan Silver, 536 yards on 105 carries, 4 TDs
Receiving: Kyre Duplessis, 794 yards on 58 catches, 5 TDs
Last game
Louisiana won 30-27 over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Nov. 29. Winfield threw for 82 yards on 10-of-21 attempts (47.6%) with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball nine times for 36 yards. Davis had 126 rushing yards on 15 carries and one touchdown, adding four receptions for 33 yards. Steven Blanco recorded 29 yards on one catch. He also had two carries for seven yards and one touchdown.
Delaware beat UTEP 61-31 on Saturday, Nov. 29. Minicucci led Delaware with 311 yards on 24-of-38 passing (63.2%) for three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball 10 times for 47 yards and one rushing touchdown. Silver had 64 rushing yards on seven carries and one touchdown, adding two receptions for 20 yards. Duplessis recorded 104 yards on four catches.
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Louisiana athletic director discusses program ahead of 68 Ventures Bowl
v. Delaware
Portrait of Shannon Mia BeltShannon Mia Belt
Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Dec. 16, 2025
The first half of the athletics calendar is nearly complete at the University of Louisiana.
Headlining the fall slate is Louisiana football, with the Ragin’ Cajuns set to make their eighth consecutive postseason appearance. UL will compete in the 68 Ventures Bowl against Delaware on Dec. 17. The appearance gives Louisiana the 10th-longest active bowl streak in college football, trailing Power Four programs such as Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State.
Winter sports are also underway, as a new Cajun culture is being established under first-year men’s basketball coach Quannas White, while the women’s program works through a roster overhaul. Diamond sports are on the horizon as well, with hopes of stronger finishes during the 2026 season. UL softball enters Year 2 under coach and Crowley native Alyson Habtez, while UL baseball and coach Matt Deggs begin their seventh season together.
With the Cajuns’ athletics schedule only getting busier, The Daily Advertiser spoke with UL Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Bryan Maggard about the current state of the department and what lies ahead.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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UL president Joseph Savoie (left), hospital administrator Kathy Healy-Collier, coach Billy Napier and athletic director Bryan Maggard pose after it was announced Our Lady of Lourdes has acquired Cajun Field naming rights.
What does it mean for Louisiana football to make eight straight bowl game appearances?
Maggard: This is something that I’m personally very proud of. It’s an accomplishment that very few teams in the country can claim in terms of sustained bowl appearances. Led by Michael Desormeaux, he’s done an amazing job with coaching and leadership this year, given all the challenges this team has faced. We’re hopeful we can end the season with a bowl championship.
How has Louisiana athletics handled recruiting with NIL and the transfer portal changing the landscape across sports?
Maggard: It’s certainly added a new challenge to the world of recruiting. Not only are you recruiting high school seniors, but you also have to re-recruit your roster every year and be prepared when you lose players to the portal. Our coaches are doing a good job of adapting and finding the best recruiting approaches for their specific sports. We’ve also created a new revenue-share fund within the RCAF (Ragin' Cajun Athletic Fund), allowing donors to give directly to a specific sport or to the general Cajuns Edge fund to share revenue with student-athletes.
Head Coach Michael Desormeaux speaking at the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Football Media Day. Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.
Is UL happy to have former head coach Billy Napier back in the Sun Belt Conference?
Maggard: When that announcement was made, I texted coach Napier and told him I looked forward to seeing him every December. He replied, ‘Absolutely.’ I couldn’t be happier for him and his family. They went through a tough time in Gainesville, and unfortunately it didn’t work out, but I know the stress and pressure they faced. I think it’s a great opportunity for him, and we just have to make sure we’re prepared to match up with them when we get that chance.
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Maggard: It’s something I always consider. It doesn’t have to be the ultimate decision-maker, but there’s value in hiring someone who’s familiar with the community, the state or the Southeast region. Fit is extremely important here because of the culture of the community and the surrounding area. You want people who understand what Cajun culture is about or who can adapt to it.
With one win between the UL basketball programs, what is the outlook heading into Sun Belt Conference play?
Maggard: I’m really pleased with what Quannas White is trying to do during a challenging time. I know it’s frustrating for everyone, but no one is more frustrated than he and his staff. No one is upset, angry or pointing fingers — they’re just trying to overcome a series of injuries, similar to what football has dealt with. As for coach Garry Brodhead, he’s working with a brand-new team as well, and those things take time.
Sam Ardoin 4 throws down to first as Louisianas Ragin Cajuns take San Jose State baseball. Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.
What are the expectations for UL’s diamond sports entering the 2026 season?
Maggard: The proof will be in the pudding once those sports get going in the spring, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from a recruiting standpoint. Both programs will have a lot of new faces, both players and coaches, and change is going to be constant. We have to stay adaptable, but I’m optimistic and feel really good about the recruiting classes as we get underway.
Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at
sbelt@gannett.com.
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2025 68 Ventures Bowl Prediction: Delaware vs Louisiana
Delaware gets a bowl game appearance in its first FBS season, and Louisiana has a chance to finish off its year in style. Here's the CFN 68 Ventures Bowl preview and prediction.
Pete FiutakDec 11, 2025 - https://collegefootballnews.com/
The 68 Ventures Bowl is in its fifth name change since kicking off in 1999 and becoming the GMAC Bowl.
It's known for hosting one of the greatest bowl games in modern history - a thrilling 64-61 Marshall win over East Carolina in 2001 - and it's usually among the highest-scoring games of the bowl season, and ...
It's been rough, with nine blowouts in ten years before Arkansas State beat Bowling Green last year 38-31 in a game that wasn't quite as interesting as the final score.
But this time around, it's a big deal for the two programs. Louisiana is playing in its seventh straight bowl game, but it has yet to win one in the first three tries under head coach Michael Desormeaux.
And for Delaware, it was supposed to be done with its first season as an FBS bowl, but because there were extra teams with six wins - and, then, teams started dropping out of the bowls - here it is with a shot at a winning season.
How To Watch Delaware vs Louisiana
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Game Time: 8:30 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
@PeteFiutak
- Bowl Schedule, Predictions, Lines
- All 41 Bowl First Thoughts Picks
- What to Know About All 84 Bowl Teams
Why Delaware Will Win
The passing attack can bring the production.
Veteran quarterback Nick Minicucci can bomb away, the ground attack is dangerous, and it should all work for a fired up team dealing with a Louisiana team that's been all over the map this season.
The Ragin' Cajuns aren't bad when the defense is on, but when the offense starts turning it over - it gave the ball away multiple times in six games - it has a problem overcoming the mistakes.
The Blue Hen defense isn't anything amazing - it will give up passing yards as quickly as it gets them - but the offense will happily get into a shootout.
It's Delaware in a bowl game. It'll let it rip, and it shouldn't have any problems coming up with 250 passing yards, all while keeping the ball for a long time against a team that doesn't care a lick about the time of possession battle. But ...
Why Louisiana Will Win
The Ragin' Cajun offense is able to move in a hurry. When it gets into a groove, it gets defenses on their heels, and it usually finds ways to win.
It finished the year as the No. 2 offense in the Sun Belt behind the high-powered Texas State attack, but it does bring a little bit of defense, too.
The D might not be a brick wall, but it brings a ton of pressure and isn't afraid to take plenty of chances. The Delaware offensive front has enjoyed a few strong moments for the running game, but the pass protection isn't sketchy, to be nice about it.
No, the Ragin' Cajuns might not have the ball often enough, but when they're on, they win third downs and play the game with they're style. And ...
Delaware vs Louisiana Prediction, Betting Lines
This might sound obvious, but it's not as clear as you might think for some teams.
When Delaware and Louisiana score, they win.
Some teams put up lots of late points in losses, some get into crazy shootouts and lose in wild battles, but Delaware and Louisiana are relatively simple. When they score a lot, that means the offense is working, the defense is doing what it needs to do, and they win.
Again, I know - "yeah, no duh, you win by scoring more than the other team." I'm probably not phrasing this right, so let me go this way.
Neither side is good in low-scoring slugfests. They each need to get to at least 30 points to have a shot at winning - this won't be 24-17 - and these two should hit each other with plenty of haymakers.
And Louisiana will score more points than Delaware.
Louisiana 31, Delaware 27
Line: Louisiana -3, o/u: 58.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5
Must See Rating: 3
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27TH 68 VENTURES BOWL MATCHUP SET WITH LOUISIANA AND DELAWARE
December 6, 2025 https://68venturesbowl.com/
The Dec. 17 game will be televised by ESPN at 7:30 p.m. Central Time
MOBILE, Ala. – The 27th 68 Ventures Bowl will feature a matchup of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the University of Delaware following an announcement by the bowl committee on Saturday.
The Ragin’ Cajuns and Blue Hens will meet at Hancock Whitney Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. CST. The game will be televised on ESPN.
Ticket prices start at $15 with a total of six different pricing locations throughout the stadium available for purchase. Tickets and parking are available at 68VenturesBowl.com.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Louisiana and host Delaware in its first-ever bowl appearance,” said 68 Ventures Bowl President Jerry Silverstein. “The city of Mobile always puts on a first-class experience in what promises to be an action-packed matchup between these two opponents.”
Louisiana went 6-6 in the regular season and 5-3 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Ragin’ Cajuns won their last four games to secure their second-consecutive bowl appearance.
This will be Louisiana’s Sun Belt Conference-leading eighth consecutive bowl trip, second appearance in the 68 Ventures Bowl and 15th overall. The program is 6-6 all-time in bowl games, including a 27-17 win over Miami (Ohio) in the 2019 Lending Tree Bowl.
“The Ragin’ Cajuns are extremely excited to participate in the 68 Ventures Bowl,” Louisiana Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Bryan Maggard said. “The bowl experience in Mobile, Alabama is second to none and we are very excited to compete against the University of Delaware.”
“We are incredibly excited to be playing in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile,” Louisiana head coach Michael Desormeaux said. “Our team has worked hard to earn a postseason opportunity, and it makes it even better that it is in such a great location. Mobile was great to us the last time we played in their bowl game, and we look forward to their hospitality again.”
Delaware went 6-6 in 2025 – it’s first season as a Football Bowl Subdivision member – and 4-4 in Conference USA. NCAA rules prohibit teams transitioning to the FBS level from playing in bowl games unless they have six victories and there aren’t enough bowl-eligible teams available. The Blue Hens were able to gain eligibility following the last game of the regular season.
UD is in the postseason for the 25th time. The Blue Hens made 24 NCAA I-AA/FCS tournament appearances from 1980-2024.
“We are thrilled to be participating in the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama,” UD Athletics Director Jordan Skolnick said. “Thank you to Jerry Silverstein and everyone involved with the bowl for the invitation. We are excited to represent Conference USA in our first of many FBS bowl games!”
“We are beyond excited to head to Mobile to play in the 68 Ventures Bowl,” UD Head Coach Ryan Carty said. “Being able to represent Conference USA and the University of Delaware in our first-ever FBS bowl berth is extremely special.”
This will be the first ever meeting on the gridiron between the two schools.
About 68 Ventures
68 Ventures (68V) is the parent company for numerous operating businesses along the Gulf Coast which focus on development, investment and construction. Headquartered in Daphne, Ala., 68V is a purpose driven, culturally focused organization with a strong operational track record that has resulted in it becoming the largest single-family developer within the region, deploying well over a billion dollars in capital, and reaching the rank of one of the top 100 private home builders.
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Football Lands 11
players on All-CUSA Teams in Inaugural FBS Season
12/4/2025 12:00:00 PM | bluehens.com
DALLAS – University of Delaware football had 11 student-athletes named All-CUSA in its first season competing in the league, the league office announced Thursday. This is the second-consecutive year that the Fightin' Blue Hens have had double-digits earn all-conference nods.
Three Blue Hens earned a spot on the first team, four made an appearance on the second team, three more picked up honorable mentions, and two were named to the freshman team.
OL, Fintan Brose, First Team
Brose played and started in all 12 games in his graduate season (10 at LG, 2 at C). He allowed only two sacks all season, including none in the final eight games, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Brose was named CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week after the Hens' victory over Delaware State where he made his first-career start at center. In Delaware's win over UTEP, Brose played in his 55th-career game, tying him for third all-time with his brother Braden and Kedrick Whitehead. This is Brose's third-career all-conference selection on the offensive line after starting his collegiate career on defense.
WR, Kyre Duplessis, First Team
Duplessis joined the Blue Hens prior to the 2025 season as a transfer from Coastal Carolina and made an impact in the receiving corps immediately. He finished fifth in CUSA in receptions (55) and receiving yards (755), sixth in receiving yards per game (62.9), and 10th in receiving TDs (5). Duplessis had two games with 100+ receiving yards and four games with 100+ all-purpose yards. He also got some reps on special teams at punt returner, being named the CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week after a 68-yard punt return touchdown against FIU. He tallied his first-career 100-yard and 150-yard receiving outing, reeling in nine catches for 161 yards in the Hens' first FBS victory over an FBS team with a 44-41 OT victory over UConn.
DB, KT Seay, First Team
Seay played and started all 12 games as a junior after earning an all-conference laurel in 2024 at safety. He followed up a stellar 2024 season by tying for the sixth-most INTs in CUSA (3) and finishing with the 11th-most tackles (84). Seay finished with the most solo tackles on the squad with 56. His season was highlighted by a career-high 13 tackles against UConn and a career-high 3.5 TFLs at Jacksonville State, a mark that tied for the second most by a CUSA player this year.
OL, Steven Demboski, Second Team
Demboski played and started in 10 games at center in his senior season. According to PFF, he did not allow a sack all season in his first year as the full-time starter. He was named the CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week after UConn after making his season debut in the 44-41 OT win after missing the first two games due to injury. Under his leadership, the Delaware rushing attack had its best game on the ground, accounting for five rushing touchdowns and 247 rushing yards for an average of 5.5 yards per attempt in the team's first FBS home win.
QB, Nick Minicucci, Second Team
Minicucci became the starter after Zach Marker went down with a season-ending injury on the first drive of the year and spearheaded a Blue Hen offense that finished bowl-eligible in its first FBS season. In 2025, Minicucci led CUSA in passing yards (3,507), completions (303), attempts (482), passing yards/game (292.3), total offense (3,738), total offense per game (311.5), and points responsible for (194). He connected with 10+ receivers in seven games, eight or more in 10 of 12 games, and seven in all 12. On the ground, the signal caller tied for fourth in the conference with 10 rushing touchdowns. Minicucci is the second QB in program history with 20 passing TDs and 10 rushing TDs (first since 1969). He ranks among the nation's best in pass yards per game and passing yards, finishing the regular season fourth in both categories and sixth nationally in total yards per game and total yards.
KR, Mysonne Pollard, Second Team
Pollard slotted into the starting kick returner spot prior to the 2025 campaign, setting multiple marks that ranked among the best nationally and within Conference USA. Pollard ranks eighth nationally in kick return average (27.3) and third in CUSA. He played and started all 12 games on defense, making 64 tackles, reeling in a team-high four interceptions, and forcing two fumbles.
K, Nate Reed, Second Team
Reed closed out his Delaware career with an illustrious graduate season, making him one of the most accomplished kickers in program history. He set the career touchback record, finishing his career with 96 touchbacks. He went 3-for-3 on onside kicks this season, helping Delaware become just the fourth team in the last 10 seasons to do so, and the only one to have a 100-percent success rate. He tied a program record of four field goals in two games this season. Reed finished the season against UTEP with a program record for kicking points with 19 after four field goals and seven extra points. He knocked in a career-long 51-yard game-winning field goal after converting a successful onside kick against LA Tech, earning the Lou Groza Award Star of the Week and CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week. This is the second year-in-a-row that Reed has earned all-conference kicker honors.
LB, Gavin Moul, Honorable Mention
Moul earned all-conference honors for the second-straight season after playing and starting in all 12 games at linebacker for the Blue Hens in 2025. He recorded 103 tackles, becoming the 37th player in program history to record at least 100 tackles in a season for the Blue & Gold.
Moul ranked T-32nd nationally in total tackles and T-35th in tackles per game (8.6). The 103 tackles rank third in Conference USA. He also had six games with over 10+ tackles. In addition to his open-field prowess that stopped the opposing attack, he also recorded 6.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, a touchdown and two PBUs. The recovered fumble was returned for his first-career touchdown in the win over UTEP.
OL, Anwar O'neal, Honorable Mention
The Delaware native played and started in 11 games at LT. He allowed only six sacks this season, according to PFF. O'neal picked up his second all-conference honor in his second year starting on the Blue Hens' offensive line.
WR, Sean Wilson,Honorable Mention/All-Freshman Team
After a true freshman season where he appeared in one game, catching two passes for two touchdowns, Wilson burst onto the scene as a starter in his first full season in Newark. He led the team with 60 catches for 796 receiving yards, which rank fourth and third in CUSA, respectively. His 66.3 receiving yards per game rank 59th nationally, lead the Blue Hens, and are fourth in the conference. Across conference action, Wilson had a stretch of three-consecutive games with 100+ receiving yards, becoming the first Blue Hen to do so since Aaron Love had four-straight 100-yard games in 2006. He set career bests with 162 yards and nine catches at Sam Houston.
DB, Jamarion Kolagbodi, All-Freshman Team
Kolagbodi, a cornerback from Fort Wayne, Ind., appeared in all twelve games as a true freshman for the Blue Hens in 2025, making three starts. He broke up six passes on the year and recorded an interception in Delaware's final game of the season against UTEP.
UP NEXT
Delaware finished its first regular season competing in Conference USA at the FBS level at 6-6, clinching a spot in a bowl game that will be announced on Sunday, December 7.
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Football is Bowl Bound; Bowl Game Announced December 7
11/29/2025 Bluehens,com
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football program is bowl bound, Conference USA and Coca-Cola Bowl Season confirmed Saturday night after the conclusion of the 2025 regular season. Delaware, in its first season at the FBS level, will find out its fate on December 7 when all bowl games are announced.
The Fightin' Blue Hens find themselves heading to a bowl game after securing six wins on the season and not enough six-win teams eligible for the 42 FBS bowl games (including CFP).
UD, along with FBS newcomer and conference mate Missouri State, become the second and third first-year FBS programs over the past three seasons to make a bowl game, joining CUSA's Jacksonville State in 2023. Overall, Delaware is one of four programs in all of FBS football since 2012 to advance to a bowl game in its first season (UAB, 2017) with six other six-win teams missing out previously.
Conference USA has bowl ties to the Independence Bowl (12/30), New Orleans Bowl (12/23), ESPN Events (previously Bahamas, TBD), Armed Forces Bowl (1/2), Birmingham Bowl (12/29), Boca Raton Bowl (12/23), Cure Bowl (12/17), First Responder Bowl (12/26), Frisco Bowl (12/23), Myrtle Beach Bowl (12/19), New Mexico Bowl (12/27), Salute to Veterans Bowl (12/16), 68 Ventures Bowl (12/17), and GameAbove Sports Bowl (12/26).
The Hens will be one of seven CUSA teams heading to a bowl this season, joining FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, LA Tech, Missouri State, and WKU.
Deposits for bowl game tickets can be made by visiting Bluehens.com.
TICKET INFORMATION
Get your 2026 Delaware Football season tickets now by visiting Bluehens.com, and make your bowl game deposits.
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UTEP loses final CUSA game, falling to Delaware
by: Dave Burge - https://www.ktsm.com/
Posted: Nov 29, 2025
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The UTEP football team lost its final Conference USA game before going to the Mountain West next year.
Delaware’s Nick Minicucci threw for 311 yards and accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing), leading Delaware to a 61-31 win over UTEP on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 29 in Newark, Delaware.
UTEP football to play last-ever CUSA game vs. Delaware
The Fightin’ Blue Hens picked up their sixth win of the season (6-6, 4-4 Conference USA) in their first year as an FBS member. The Miners’ season ended with a 2-10 mark. UTEP finished 1-7 in its 20th and final year in CUSA.
“There’s a lot of great building blocks this year, but a lot of things we have to correct and a lot to adjust,” second-year UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. “But there are a lot of bright spots, contrary to popular belief, that a lot of guys grew and a lot of them got better.
“I’m very proud of the fight of this team. I think there were multiple instances where we could’ve shut it down, laid it down, but this team doesn’t do that. We just didn’t have enough firepower. We didn’t win the line of scrimmage and turned the ball over too much. I’m proud of the seniors, proud of these guys, but we ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard too many times,” Walden said.
Delaware turned in a strong performance on both sides of the ball, setting season highs in points, total yards (527), tackles for loss (14), and sacks (five).
The Miners were playing catch-up after Delaware scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to break a 7-7 tie. UTEP made it a one-possession game (31-23) late in the third quarter, but the Hens put the next 10 points on the board, putting the game out of reach in the process.
UTEP scored 31 points for the second consecutive week and generated five plays of 27 yards or more in the passing game. Skyler Locklear completed 22-of-40 passes for a career-high 338 yards, but also threw five interceptions. The Miners turned the ball over six times, leading to 17 points for the Hens.
The Miners picked up 243 of their 370 yards on five pass plays, including long touchdown throws from Locklear to Kenny Odom (49 yards), Josh Schuchts (64 yards) and Wondame Davis Jr. (68 yards).
Davis Jr. led UTEP with three catches for 112 yards. Odom chipped in with seven receptions for 94 yards, and Schuchts had four catches for 87 yards.
Kyre Duplessis caught four balls for 104 yards for Delaware.
The UTEP defense was missing Micah Davey, the team’s leading tackler. Jayden Wilson led the unit with 10 stops.
“I have to look at myself first, then look at our staff, look at our roster, and decide what adjustments need to be made in the offseason to put the best product on the field in 2026,” Walden said.
The Miners will launch a new era of football when they join the Mountain West Conference on July 1.
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Delaware wraps up first FBS season with 61-31 rout of UTEP
November 29, 2025 https://apnews.com/
NEWARK, Del. (AP) — Nick Minicucci threw three touchdown passes, the Delaware defense intercepted five passes, and the Blue Hens blew out UTEP 61-31 on Saturday.
Delaware concluded its first season of FBS play with a 6-6 record, 4-4 in Conference USA.
Minicucci completed 24 of 38 passes for 311 yards. His three passing touchdowns give him 22 for the season.
UTEP quarterback Skylar Locklear threw five interceptions, two of which were hauled in by Mysonne Pollard. Locklear threw for 338 yards and had four TD passes.
Kyre Duplessis had 104 receiving yards for Delaware and Wondame Davis Jr. had 112 receiving yards for UTEP (2-10, 1-7).
The score was 17-7 in the second quarter before Gavin Moul’s 16-yard fumble return touchdown for Delaware made it 24-7. Moul had 13 tackles.
UTEP was within 41-31 entering the fourth quarter before Minicucci threw a touchdown pass and Greg Spiller ran 55 yards for a touchdown for a 55-31 lead. Delaware added two field goals in the final two minutes.
Delaware had 527 total yards to UTEP’s 370.
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CUSA matchup features Delaware squaring off against UTEP
https://www.msn.com/ - 11/26/25
UTEP (2-9) at Delaware (5-6), Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. EST.
How to watch: ESPN+
Key stats
Delaware Offense
Overall: 407.1 yards per game (53rd in FBS)
Passing: 300.3 yards per game (8th)
Rushing: 106.8 yards per game (126th)
Scoring: 26.9 points per game (73rd)
Delaware Defense
Overall: 414.9 yards per game (115th in FBS)
Passing: 238.0 yards per game (95th)
Rushing: 176.9 yards per game (109th)
Scoring: 32.6 points per game (122nd)
UTEP Offense
Overall: 328.4 yards per game (113th in FBS)
Passing: 204.6 yards per game (96th)
Rushing: 123.7 yards per game (106th)
Scoring: 22.6 points per game (106th)
UTEP Defense
Overall: 379.0 yards per game (76th in FBS)
Passing: 213.7 yards per game (60th)
Rushing: 165.3 yards per game (91st)
Scoring: 27.6 points per game (89th)
UTEP ranks 133rd in third down percentage, converting 30.2% of the time.
Both teams have poor turnover margins. Delaware is 120th in the FBS at -8, and UTEP ranks 114th at -7.
Delaware ranks 113th in FBS in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on 88.9% of trips.
UTEP ranks 134th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 25:19, compared to Delaware's 50th-ranked average of 30:26.
Team leaders
Delaware
Passing: Nick Minicucci, 3,203 yards, 19 TDs, 7 INTs, 62.4 completion percentage
Rushing: Jo'Nathan Silver, 472 yards on 98 carries, 3 TDs
Receiving: Sean Wilson, 717 yards on 54 catches, 2 TDs
UTEP
Passing: Malachi Nelson, 1,163 yards, 8 TDs, 9 INTs, 54.7 completion percentage
Rushing: Ashten Emory, 540 yards on 107 carries, 4 TDs
Receiving: Wondame Davis Jr., 492 yards on 22 catches, 5 TDs
Last game
Delaware fell to Wake Forest 52-14 on Saturday, Nov. 22. Minicucci led Delaware with 140 yards on 21-of-30 passing (70.0%) for one touchdown and no interceptions. Viron Ellison Jr. carried the ball nine times for 34 yards, adding seven receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown. Max Patterson had three receptions for 33 yards and one touchdown.
UTEP fell 34-31 to New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 22. Skyler Locklear threw for 151 yards on 16-of-30 attempts (53.3%) with two touchdowns and one interception. He also carried the ball 10 times for 37 yards and one rushing touchdown. Emory had 181 rushing yards on 18 carries and one touchdown, adding two receptions for 11 yards. Kenny Odom recorded 48 yards on eight catches with one touchdown.
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Wake Forest Cap Historic Home Season with 52-14 Senior Day Victory
Over Delaware
11/22/2025 - https://godeacs.com/
With eight victories in 2025, the Demon Deacons stand as the winningest Power 4 program in the Carolinas. Head coach Jake Dickert also secured his eighth win in his debut season, setting a new Wake Forest record for most wins by a first-year head coach.
By: Kaitlyn Stocum
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – On Senior Day at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, the 2025 edition of Wake Forest football (8-3, 4-3 ACC) became the 11th team in program history to reach eight or more wins following a 52-14 victory over Delaware (5-6, 3-4 C-USA). Additionally on Saturday, Wake Forest Athletics honored 31 football players, 19 members of the Spirit of the Old Gold & Black, 18 Deacs from the Spirit Squads and two student staffers.
With eight victories in 2025, the Demon Deacons stand as the winningest Power 4 program in the Carolinas. Head coach Jake Dickert also secured his eighth win in his debut season, setting a new Wake Forest record for most wins by a first-year head coach.
The Deacs recorded more than 577 yards of total offense, led by 263 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns from junior wide receiver Carlos Hernandez. The Alhambra, Calif.-native hauled in a program-best 93-yard reception to power the Demon Deacon offense.
In the air, three different Deacs hauled in receiving touchdowns as redshirt senior quarterback Robby Ashford finished with 314 passing yards in addition to 64 yards on the ground. Specifically through the air, Hernandez paced the Deacs passing attack as he totaled 197 receiving yards, which was the third most in a single game in school history.
Defensively, the Deacs held the Blue Hens to only 67 yards rushing, well below their season average of 110.8 yards per game. The vaunted Wake Forest defense also totaled six tackles-for-loss and two sacks. Not to be overshadowed, Wake's special teams turned in another game changing play on Saturday with a forced fumble and recovery in a kickoff.
Next up, Wake Forest will face off with Duke on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Wallace Wade Stadium. Kickoff time being announced at a later time. Looking ahead, the Demon Deacons are going bowling for the eighth time since 2016. Deacon Nation can click here for more bowl information. Additional ticket and fan event and travel information will be shared on Sunday, Dec. 7 when Wake Forest's bowl destination is selected. Wake Forest Bowl merchandise will be made available on WakeForestShop.com as it becomes available and fans can shop there for all the latest Demon Deacons gear too!
As Wake Forest football closed the book on its home season on Nov. 22, there is no better time to reserve your spot for the much-anticipated 2026 season as season ticket deposits for home games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium are now available, which includes a limited number of new $99 full-season Built in the Dark ticket plans are available through the Demon Deacon's December bowl game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Wake Forest was clinical in its first offensive drive, marching 84 yards over 15 plays. Senior running back Demond Claiborne capped the drive with a one-yard rushing touchdown up the gut.
Redshirt-sophomore running back Ty Clark had a pair of rushes over 10 yards on the opening drive to help sustain the drive.
Defensively, the Demon Deacons forced a three-and-out on the second drive, thanks in part to a nice stop in the open field by senior defensive back Nick Andersen on second down.
Redshirt-senior quarterback Robbie Ashford picked up a crucial six-yard scramble on fourth down en route to the Deacs' second touchdown of the day. Clark punched it in from 13 yards out to extend Wake Forest's lead.
Redshirt-senior wide receiver Sawyer Racanelli ran in the two-point conversion to make the score 15-0.
Delaware got on the board after a swing pass to the running back went for a 43-yard touchdown. 15-7 Wake Forest.
Ashford took off for a 43-yard scramble on third and nine to put the Deacs inside Delaware's 30.
Redshirt-freshman kicker Connor Calvert drilled a 44-yard kick to extend the lead to 11.
Redshirt-junior defensive end Nuer Gatkouth recorded the first sack of the game for either team, forcing Delaware's fourth punt of the day.
Redshirt-freshman wide receiver Chris Barnes took a lateral 78 yards on the first play of the drive to set up the Deacs inside the Delaware 15.
Shortly after, Ashford hit paydirt on a delayed draw. Calvert's extra point made it 25-7, Deacs.
On the ensuing kick, linebacker Whittman Whaley recovered the ball after it was muffed by the Delaware returner.
Calvert made a 44-yarder to make the score 28-7 in favor of the Demon Deacons.
After a Delaware interception, Wake Forest's defense came up big yet again, forcing another turnover.
Redshirt-senior corner back Karon Prunty forced the Blue Hen fumble with redshirt-senior defensive lineman Jayden Loving there for the recovery.
The Deacs took a commanding 35-7 lead into the half after Ashford found junior wide receiver Carlos Hernandez down the seam for a 79-yard touchdown late in the second quarter.
Ashford found redshirt-senior wide receiver Sterling Berkhalter for a 19-yard score on a back-shoulder ball.
Wake Forest extended the lead to 42-7, tying its season high in points (42-10 vs. Western Carolina).
Hernandez reeled in an impressive catch on a play-action crossing route and took off for a 93-yard touchdown. Ashford recorded his third passing touchdown of the afternoon.
With 49 points on the day, the Demon Deacons set a season-high in points.
Calvert logged his longest field goal of the day of the afternoon at 47-yards to extend the Deacs' lead to 52-7.
The Blue Hens responded to make it 52-14.
Wake Forest held off a final Delaware scoring attempt to defeat the Hens, 52-14.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
This year's senior class is one of the winningest classes in program history. The five-year win total of 35 victories ranks fifth in program history:
38 (2017-21)
37 (2018-22)
36 (2004-08 & 2006-10)
35 (2021-25)
35 (2019-23)
34 (2016-20)
33 (2015-19)
31 (2020-24 & 1944-48)
30 (1940-44)
Senior Standouts:
QB Robbie Ashford dazzled in his first career four-touchdown performance, throwing for three and rushing for another.
Final line– Passing: 15-22, 292 yards and three touchdowns.
Rushing: eight rushes, 64 yards, one touchdown.
CB Karon Prunty finished with three tackles, one TFL and a forced fumble in addition to his terrific coverage on the day.
WR Sterling Berkhalter caught his second touchdown pass of the season with a 19-yard reception. Overall for the game, he tallied 42 yards on a pair of catches with that aforementioned score.
Other Notable Performances
Junior Carlos Hernandez had another huge day offensively. The wideout finished his afternoon with five receptions, 197 receiving yards and two touchdowns. That total is the third-highest mark for a single game in program history.
He surpassed his previous career high against the Tar Heels with 202 all-purpose yards versus Delaware.
After recording 181 yards against Virginia, the Alhambra, Calif., native notched the longest reception in school history with a 93-yard score Saturday.
Hernandez got his name on the scoreboard with a 79-yard reception for a touchdown late in the second quarter.
Redshirt junior defensive end Langston Hardy led the Deacs with 1.5 TFLs in addition to five total tackles and half a sack.
Redshirt freshman placekicker Connor Calvert was perfect on the day. He made all three of his field goals, all of which from 40 yards out or further (3/3 FGs: 44, 44, 47).
STAGGERING STATISTICS
The Demon Deacons have now won eight games during the 2025 season and are the winningest Power 4 program in the Carolinas and are tied with East Carolina as the winningest FBS team in the Carolinas.
Records of North & South Carolina FBS Programs:
Wake Forest: 8-3 (ACC)
East Carolina: 7-3 (American)
Coastal Carolina: 6-4 (Sun Belt)
NC State: 6-5 (ACC)
Duke: 5-5 (ACC)
Clemson Tigers: 5-5 (ACC)
North Carolina: 4-6 (ACC)
Appalachian State: 4-6 (Sun Belt)
South Carolina: 3-7 (SEC)
Charlotte 49ers: 1-9 (American)
With the win against Delaware, head coach Jake Dickert earned his eighth win in his first season at Wake Forest, becoming the winningest first-year head coach in program history:
1. Jake Dickert (2025) - 8
2. Bill Dooley (1987) - 7
T3. Jim Grobe (2001) - 6
T3. Tom Rogers (1951) - 6
T3. F.S. "Pat" Miller (1929) - 6
T3. Hank Garrity (1923) - 6
Additionally, he has been one of the winningest first-year head coaches in the country this season:
2025 FBS First-Year Head Coaches – Most Victories *
9 – Dan Mullen, UNLV
8 – Jake Dickert, Wake Forest
7 – Charles Huff, Southern Miss
7 – Jason Eck, New Mexico
7 – Jerry Mack, Kennesaw State
7 - Charles Kelly, Jacksonville State
7 – Matt Entz, Fresno State
7 – Matt Drinkall, Central Michigan
FROM COACH DICKERT
"First off, just proud of our football team. Starting with the seniors, our guys had a high passion level to go out and play for these guys. All 31 of them, I thought, left it out on the field. I said it before the game, they won't remember the score – they'll remember how they feel walking out of this locker room. I said in the postgame out there on the field, so many of these guys, they decided to put the stake in the ground and say, 'I want to be a Demon Deacon, and I want to see this all the way through,' before they entrusted us to come here, wherever they came from, whether it was with us at Washington State or elsewhere. I was really proud of those guys, and this moment wouldn't be happening without them. That was a dominating win in all three phases. Our guys had the right mentality and they fought for this type of standard really for the last 11 months. So excited to get the learns, our B.E.S.T is still out there. Big rivalry game to finish the regular season. Thankful for that stadium. Thankful for the people that support us, thankful for the fans, the students. You know, it means a lot to me as we keep building this program, we need every one of you. So thanks to you guys. That's a big statement, on senior night and exactly what we thought we were capable of doing."
UP NEXT
Next up, Wake Forest will face off with Duke on Saturday, Nov. 29 at Wallace Wade Stadium. Kickoff time being announced at a later time. Looking ahead, the Demon Deacons are going bowling for the eighth time since 2016. Deacon Nation can click here for more bowl information. Additional ticket and fan event and travel information will be shared on Sunday, Dec. 7 when Wake Forest's bowl destination is selected. Wake Forest Bowl merchandise will be made available on WakeForestShop.com as it becomes available and fans can shop there for all the latest Demon Deacons gear too!
====================================================
Wake's Jake Dickert pursues record win total in matchup vs. Delaware
FLM Nov 18, 2025 - CBS Sports
Wake's Jake Dickert pursues record win total in matchup vs. Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens
Wake Forest Demon Deacons will aim to double its win total from each of the last two seasons on Saturday afternoon when it meets Delaware in Winson-Salem, N.C.
The Demon Deacons (7-3) continued their meteoric rise under first-year head coach Jake Dickert with a 28-12 victory over North Carolina last Saturday.
Dickert is tied with Bill Dooley (1987) for the most wins in school history by a first-year head coach. That's quite an accomplishment given that Wake Forest was selected to finish 16th out of 17 teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll.
For Dickert, it's not about one player carrying the mail. It's more about complementary football.
"Football is a crazy game. You bring a different team to the field every week," he said Monday. "The mentalities of the young people change, the perception of how you look at it changes, and the more consistent you can be to that approach, the better you can be."
Carlos Hernandez recorded season-high totals in catches (six) and receiving yards (100) while recording his first two touchdowns of the season against the Tar Heels. Hernandez alertly picked up a teammate's loose ball and rushed 51 yards for a score in the first quarter and was on the receiving end of a 70-yard flea-flicker in the third.
Robby Ashford threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and Demond Claiborne produced 98 rushing yards with a score as Wake Forest picked up its second win in a row.
Delaware (5-5) fell for the fourth time in the past six games with a 26-23 setback at Sam Houston last Saturday.
The Blue Hens nearly overcame a 26-10 deficit early in the fourth quarter, but a successful onside kick led to an unsuccessful 36-yard field-goal attempt with 21 seconds to play ended their threat.
"Hard to wrap my head around, to be honest," Delaware coach Ryan Carty told Blue Hens Radio. "Obviously, we had a slow start, worked our way down in the red zone, got a penalty, worked our way back out of it, kept getting more penalties.
"Too many turnovers, too many mistakes, too many sacks. Too little, too late."
Sean Wilson had career-best totals in catches (nine) and receiving yards (162) vs. the Bearkats. He has at least 100 receiving yards in three straight games.
================================================
Kats rally, hold of Delaware for second win
11-15-25 - https://gobearkats.com/
Sam Houston fought off a feisty Delaware squad to rally from a 10-point deficit for a 26-23 victory at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday. The Blue Hens had a chance to tie the game in the final minutes but missed a 36-yard field as the Kats (2-8) were able to kneel out the clock.
Sophomore running back Coco Brown had a huge game, rushing for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 62-yard burst in the third quarter that pushed the momentum of the night into Sam Houston's favor. Freshman quarterback Landyn Locke made his first career start and threw for 213 yards, 66 going to wide out Chris Reed.
The Bearkat defense harassed Blue Hens quarterback Nick Minicucci after he led Delaware to a 10-0 lead before Sam Houston sniffed a score. Minicucci was sacked eight times, the most Sam Houston recorded since setting a school record with 12 against Nicholls in 2010.
The Bearkats managed to tie the game at the half then picked up right where they left off to begin the final 30 minutes. Locke zipped a 49-yard pitch and catch to Reed to move into Blue Hen territory. Kicker Christian Pavon gave Sam Houston its first lead of the night at 13-10 with a 48-yard field goal.
That erased a 10-point first half deficit and the Kats were just getting started.
Brown broke free for a 62-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that featured some razzle dazzle. After he took the handoff up the middle, Brown hurdled a pair of diving defenders at the SHSU 45 and outraced everyone to the end zone to push the lead to 20-10 with less than nine minutes to go in the third.
Brown opened Sam Houston's next possession with a 30-yard run. Pavon was able to put another three points on the board with a 23-yard field goal before hitting about one from 48 yards as the Bearkats went up 26-10.
The Blue Hens added a pair of late touchdowns in the fourth but ran out of time in the end.
Sam Houston did not have much to show for offensively for most of the opening half except a 28-yard run by Alton McCaskill before that drive eventually stalled. The Kats were forced to punt, and the Blue Hens turned it into points to take a 7-0 lead in the closing minutes of the first quarter.
Delaware tacked on a 37-yard field to go up two scores before Sam Houston finally got a big play to ignite the offense.
Locke connected on a 20-yard pass to Brown to get a drive started after defensive lineman AJ Sargent came up with a loose ball near midfield for the Kats' first turnover. A short pass to Grady O'Neill and a defensive pass interference penalty set up a 2-yard scoring plunge by Brown to trim the lead to 10-7.
Sam Houston was able to tie the game heading into the half when Locke tossed a completion to Reed for 20 yards then found O'Neill along the left sideline for 18 more down to the Delaware 18. Offsetting penalties took a Bearkat touchdown off the board, but Pavon split the uprights from 32 yards out to knot it at 10.
UP NEXT
The Bearkats hit the road for the final time this season next weekend when they head to Murfreesboro to take on Middle Tennessee on Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. on ESPN+
==============================================================
Landon Brown’s two touchdowns runs help Sam Houston hold off Delaware 26-23
November 15, 2025 - AP NEWS
HOUSTON (AP) — Landon Brown rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns to help Sam Houston hold on for a 26-23 victory over Delaware on Saturday night.
Nick Minicucci scored on a 7-yard run late in the first quarter to give Delaware (5-5, 3-4 Conference USA) a 7-0 lead and Nate Reed’s 37-yard field goal made it 10-0 midway through the second.
Brown had a 2-yard touchdown run for Sam Houston (2-8, 1-5) and Christian Pavon kicked a 33-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to tie it 10-all.
Brown had a 62-yard touchdown run in between 33- and 48-yard fields goals by Pavon and the Bearkats led 23-10 after three quarters.
Pavon kicked another 48-yarder before Viron Ellison Jr. ran it in from 3 yards out for the Blue Hens to cut it to 26-16. Delaware closed within three on Minicucci’s 26-yard touchdown pass to Max Patterson with 2:36 to go.
The Blue Hens recovered an onside kick at the Sam Houston 43 and Minicucci drove them to the 12. Dylan Frazier sacked Minicucci for a 7-yard loss on second down, and Minicucci failed to connect on third down. Reed missed a potential tying 36-yard field goal with 21 seconds left to end the rally.
Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller (52) and linebacker Gabe Harris Jr. (0) react after an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Georgia up to No. 4 in AP poll, Sooners back in top 10 and Mean Green are ranked 1st time since 1959
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) pass the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game, against TCU, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/George Frey)
No. 12 BYU crushes TCU 44-13, snapping five-game skid against the Horned Frogs
Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy (29) runs past Mississippi State linebacker Tyler Lockhart (11) and safety Hunter Washington (21) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Hardy rushes for career-best 300 yards, 3 TD to help Missouri beat Mississippi State 49-24
Landon Locke completed 16 of 38 passes for 213 yards for Sam Houston. Brown did his damage on 10 carries.
Think you know who belongs in the Top 25? Now it’s your turn to vote with the AP Top 25 fan poll.
Minicucci finished with 338 yards on 24-for-36 passing with an interception. Sean Wilson had nine receptions for 162 yards. Ellison rushed 19 times for 97 yards.
==============================================================
Sam Houston meets Delaware in CUSA action
The Associated Press- Sports - 11/11/25
Delaware (5-4) at Sam Houston (1-8), Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. EST.
How to watch: ESPN+
Key stats
Sam Houston Offense:
Overall: 303.4 yards per game (125th in FBS)
Passing: 172.3 yards per game (117th)
Rushing: 131.1 yards per game (98th)
Scoring: 17.1 points per game (129th)
Sam Houston Defense:
Overall: 479.3 yards per game (136th in FBS)
Passing: 268.2 yards per game (127th)
Rushing: 211.1 yards per game (133rd)
Scoring: 38.2 points per game (133rd)
Delaware Offense:
Overall: 416.1 yards per game (43rd in FBS)
Passing: 303.6 yards per game (8th)
Rushing: 112.6 yards per game (119th)
Scoring: 28.8 points per game (65th)
Delaware Defense:
Overall: 403.9 yards per game (104th in FBS)
Passing: 232.3 yards per game (90th)
Rushing: 171.6 yards per game (106th)
Scoring: 31.2 points per game (115th)
Delaware is 113th in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 44.4% of the time. Sam Houston ranks 136th on offense, converting on 22.1% of third downs.
Delaware is 112th in the FBS with a -5 turnover margin, compared to Sam Houston's 37th-ranked +3 margin.
Sam Houston ranks last in FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 54.5% of trips.
Sam Houston ranks 117th in the FBS with an average time of possession of 28:15.
Team leaders
Sam Houston:
Passing: Hunter Watson, 1,108 yards, 5 TDs, 4 INTs, 57.1 completion percentage
Rushing: Landan Brown, 306 yards on 59 carries, 2 TDs
Receiving: Chris Reed, 278 yards on 20 catches, 3 TDs
Delaware:
Passing: Nick Minicucci, 2,725 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTs, 61.4 completion percentage
Rushing: Jo'Nathan Silver, 472 yards on 98 carries, 3 TDs
Receiving: Kyre Duplessis, 671 yards on 49 catches, 5 TDs
Last game:
Sam Houston won 21-17 over Oregon State on Saturday, Nov. 8. Mabrey Mettauer threw for 43 yards on 4-of-10 attempts (40.0%) with one touchdown and no interceptions. He also carried the ball three times for 29 yards. Elijah Green carried the ball six times for 22 yards, adding one reception for -4 yards. Reed recorded 47 yards on three catches with one touchdown.
Delaware defeated Louisiana Tech 25-24 on Saturday, Nov. 8. Minicucci led Delaware with 304 yards on 26-of-52 passing (50.0%) for two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also carried the ball nine times for 55 yards. Silver had 21 rushing yards on 10 carries, adding two receptions for 10 yards. Sean Wilson had five receptions for 107 yards.
Next game:
Sam Houston plays at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 22. Delaware plays at Wake Forest on Nov. 22.
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- Delaware Mocks Louisiana Tech Running Back For Disrespectful Celebration Just Moments Before Disaster
Google News - https://brobible.com/sports/article/delaware-football-victory-bell-curse-louisiana-tech/ - by Grayson Weir
Last Updated Nov 10, 2025 11:43 am
Delaware Victory Bell Football Louisiana Tech Curse
Louisiana Tech running back Clay Thevenin cursed his college football team with bad karma against Delaware. He rang the Blue Hens’ victory bell before the game was over.
The football Gods punished him accordingly.
Not only did the home come back to win the college football game in the final minute of the fourth quarter, it did so in heartbreaking fashion for the visitors. It was a tough pill to swallow for the Bulldogs.
Clay Thevenin rang the bell.
The University of Delaware bell has had many names over the years. It was first known as Academy Bell, then College Bell, and now Victory Bell.
Purchased almost 200 years ago in 1834, the bell was initially used to wake students on campus and summon them to class. But the students fought back!
They would tie the bell’s clapper to its rim, invert the bell so it could be filled with water on freezing winter nights and hide the rope so it could not be rung. That was only just the beginning.
There is a well-documented history to the College Bell, which tolls for the Fightin’ Blue Hens.
It was eventually called to service in 1952 as the Victory Bell in the new Delaware Stadium and a new tradition was born. The home team rings its bell after every touchdown scored. Key words: home team.
Louisiana Tech running back Clay Thevenin broke tradition on Saturday. He rang the bell after a 13-yard touchdown run, which gave the Bulldogs a one-point lead in the fourth quarter.
His celebration proved to be a curse.
Delaware beat Louisiana Tech.
The final three minutes of Saturday’s college football game between Delaware and Louisiana Tech were insane and the chaos started with the un
Not too long after Thevenin rang the Victory Bell, Blue Hens quarterback Nick Minicucci threw a pick-six.
JACOB FIELDS‼️
The Bulldogs took a 24-16 lead with two minutes and 23 seconds remaining. It felt like the game was over. But it wasn’t!
Delaware drove 75 yards on eight plays in one minute and 49 seconds. An extra point cut the lead to two.
With no other choice but to kick onside, Nate Reed delivered a beauty and the home team recovered!
Have you ever seen a better onside kick �� pic.twitter.com/Rm0iN93pVU
— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB) November 8, 2025
It was Reed’s time to shine yet again just three plays later. He kicked a 51-yard field goal to win the game as time expired.
51 YARDS FROM NATE! �� pic.twitter.com/EUC9WXlUNz
— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB) November 8, 2025
There may not be a more exhilarating finish this college football season. The Blue Hens looked like they were going to lose but the curse of the Victory Bell came back to haunt the Bulldogs.
Nobody rings our bell. pic.twitter.com/wtFwDZh3DD
— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB) November 9, 2025
A Delaware team in its first year on the FBS level is now one win away from bowl eligibility. Don’t ring the bell!
===============================================================
Bulldogs Stung Late After Fourth-Quarter Surge
vs Delaware
11/8/2025 - https://latechsports.com/
NEWARK, Del. – Louisiana Tech's furious fourth-quarter comeback fell just short Saturday afternoon as Delaware connected on a 51-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining to hand the Bulldogs a heartbreaking 25-24 loss at Delaware Stadium.
Trailing 16-7 entering the final period, LA Tech (5-4, 3-3 CUSA) erupted for 17 unanswered points in a six-minute stretch to seize momentum late. Drew Henderson's 38-yard field goal cut the deficit to 16-10 with just over nine minutes remaining. On Tech's next possession, Clay Thevenin capped a quick eight-play, 39-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs ahead 17-16 with 3:09 on the clock.
Moments later, the Bulldog defense delivered what appeared to be the game-sealing play when Jacob Fields jumped a route and returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 24-16 with just 2:23 to play.
However, Delaware (5-4, 3-3 CUSA) refused to go quietly. Taking advantage of a pair of penalties by the Bulldogs, quarterback Nick Minicucci engineered an eight-play, 75-yard march, finding Elijah Sessoms for a three-yard score with 34 seconds remaining to make it 24-22.
The two-point conversion attempt failed thanks to a breakup by Jhamal Shelby Jr. on a fade route, keeping LA Tech in front – briefly.
The Blue Hens recovered an onside kick, giving the home team a chance to win the game. While the LA Tech defense did its job by not allowing a first down, a 6-yard completion was just enough to put Delaware in field-goal range setting up kicker Nate Reed, who drilled a 51-yarder through the uprights with 12 seconds left to snatch the victory for the Blue Hens.
Thevenin led LA Tech with 106 all-purpose yards and two rushing touchdowns, including a 37-yarder in the first quarter. The Bulldogs, who played three different quarterbacks, were outgained Delaware 333-399 and missed out on two other scoring chances in the first half with two missed field goals.
Tech's defense forced two interceptions – Jakari Foster picked off Minicucci on their opening drive of the game – and limited Delaware's ground game to under 100 yards, but Minicucci's 304 passing yards and Reed's four field goals ultimately made the difference.
Quotables
Head Coach Sonny Cumbie's opening statement:
"I'm just disappointed in the outcome. Our guys--I thought they really battled back. They handled adversity throughout the course of the game. Any time your starting quarterback goes down--it happened to us at Kennesaw State--I think our guys responded well from the standpoint of continuing to battle and execute. There were probably three or four areas where we did not execute in a winning manner and that's the difference in the football game for us. I was as pleased with how our guys were able to create takeaways on defense. It's the highest of highs and lowest of lows, really, throughout the course of this game. We talked on the headset when it was 24-16 with all of the coaches as far as keeping a clear mind because we knew that it could come down to a touchdown and a two-point conversion. And if they didn't get the two-point conversion then we needed a good plan for hands team. They executed the onside kick, we weren't able to get it, and then their kicker made the field goal at the end of the game. Just a heartbreaker for our players, for how much they prepared and put into it and how much they put themselves out there for our staff. The thing we have to control is our response in terms of how we get back up and show back up and continue to play winning football, becuase it doesn't get any easier next week with a trip to Washington State."
UP NEXT
LA Tech will now head to the west coast as the Bulldogs take on Washington State in a non-conference matchup. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. CT on the CW.
==============================================
Reed’s onside kick leads to his game-winning 51-yard field goal for Delaware in 25-24 victory
November 8, 2025 - https://apnews.com/
NEWARK, Del. (AP) — Nate Reed converted an onside kick and followed that with a 51-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining as Delaware scored nine points in the final 34 seconds to beat Louisiana Tech 25-24 on Saturday.
Reed’s bounding onside effort cleared the Bulldogs players and Ja’Carree Kelly recovered on the Louisiana Tech 35. Four plays later, Reed booted the game-winner to spoil the Bulldogs’ comeback from a 16-7 fourth-quarter deficit.
Reed’s onside kick came after Nick Minicucci threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sessions to complete an eight-play, 75-yard drive. A two-point try failed.
The Bulldogs (5-4, 3-3 Conference USA) took a 24-16 lead with 2:23 to go on Jacob Fields’ 38-yard pick-6 to cap a run of 17 straight points.
Minicucci was 26-of-52 passing for 304 yards and two touchdowns but also two interceptions for the Blue Hens (5-4, 3-3). He added 56 rushing yards. Sean Wilson had 107 yards receiving.
Three Louisiana Tech quarterbacks combined for 202 yards passing with an interception. Clay Thevenin rushed for two touchdowns.
================================================
Louisiana Tech (5-3) at Delaware (4-4), Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. EST.
How to watch: ESPN+
Key stats
Delaware Offense
Overall: 418.3 yards per game (43rd in FBS)
Passing: 303.5 yards per game (8th)
Rushing: 114.8 yards per game (116th)
Scoring: 29.3 points per game (63rd)
Delaware Defense
Overall: 412.8 yards per game (110th in FBS)
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Passing: 236.1 yards per game (93rd)
Rushing: 176.6 yards per game (108th)
Scoring: 32.1 points per game (119th)
Louisiana Tech Offense
Overall: 370.1 yards per game (82nd in FBS)
Passing: 191.5 yards per game (104th)
Rushing: 178.6 yards per game (47th)
Scoring: 28.6 points per game (69th)
Louisiana Tech Defense
Overall: 371.6 yards per game (71st in FBS)
Passing: 240.6 yards per game (97th)
Rushing: 131 yards per game (45th)
Scoring: 18.1 points per game (19th)
Delaware is 115th in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 43.8% of the time. Louisiana Tech ranks 58th on offense, converting on 41.2% of third downs.
Delaware ranks 105th in the FBS with a -4 turnover margin, compared to Louisiana Tech's 23rd-ranked +5 margin.
Louisiana Tech is 135th in the FBS averaging 74.9 penalty yards per game, compared to Delaware's 17th-ranked 39.6 per-game average.
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Delaware is 76th in FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 84.4% of trips. Louisiana Tech's red zone defense ranks 3rd at 61.9%.
Team leaders
Delaware
Passing: Nick Minicucci, 2,421 yards, 15 TDs, 4 INTs, 63.2 completion percentage
Rushing: Jo'Nathan Silver, 451 yards on 88 carries, 3 TDs
Receiving: Kyre Duplessis, 593 yards on 43 catches, 4 TDs
Louisiana Tech
Passing: Blake Baker, 1,187 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs, 66.7 completion percentage
Rushing: Clay Thevenin, 439 yards on 84 carries, 6 TDs
Receiving: Eli Finley, 334 yards on 25 catches, 0 TDs
Last game
Delaware lost 59-30 to Liberty on Saturday, Nov. 1. Minicucci led Delaware with 344 yards on 29-of-49 passing (59.2%) for two touchdowns and one interception. He also carried the ball eight times for 37 yards and one rushing touchdown. Silver had 25 rushing yards on six carries, adding three receptions for 10 yards. Sean Wilson recorded 109 yards on five catches.
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Louisiana Tech beat Sam Houston 55-14 on Friday, Oct. 31. Baker passed for 221 yards on 17-of-21 attempts (81.0%) with one touchdown and one interception. He also carried the ball seven times for 42 yards and one rushing touchdown. Thevenin had 143 rushing yards on 11 carries and three touchdowns, adding three receptions for five yards. Devin Gandy had two receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown.
Next game
Delaware plays at Sam Houston on Nov. 15. Louisiana Tech plays at Washington State on Nov. 15.
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Flames’ Homecoming Win over Delaware
11/1/2025
https://libertyflames.com/
LYNCHBURG, Va. A well-rested Flames' team had their best offensive showing of the 2025 season, while Evan Dickens tied a Williams Stadium record in a 59-30 Homecoming game win over Delaware, Saturday afternoon.
Liberty, whose last game was 18 days ago on the same field against New Mexico State (Oct. 14), evens its record at 4-4 on the season and moves to 3-1 in Conference USA play. The Flames have now won three games in a row for the first time in 2025.
Delaware has lost three of its last four games, falling to 4-4 on the year and 2-3 in its first year as a member of Conference USA.
The Flames finished the game with a season-high 561 total offensive yards and scored their most points in a game under third-year head coach Jamey Chadwell.
Liberty also returned to what has led to Chadwell's success on the field – running the football. The Flames rushed for a season-high 282 yards and scored six times on the ground.
Chadwell-coached teams have now rushed for 200 or more yards in 103-of-190 games (54.2 percent) with him on the sidelines as a head coach.
The standout in the rushing performance was Dicken's career-high four touchdowns, matching the most scored by a Flame since Williams Stadium opened in 1989. He finished with a career-high 22 carries and a career-best 217 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Ethan Vasko had one of his best games as a Flame, completing 14-of-20 passing attempts for 221 yards and two touchdowns.
Vasko's top target continues to be wide receiver Donte Lee, Jr. The wide receiver finished the game with five receptions for a career-best 92 yards. He scored his fourth touchdown as a Flame and came within inches of getting a second score.
Derrell Farrar paced the Flames' defense with seven tackles, while cornerback Amarian Williams had five tackles and an interception, his fifth pick as a Flame.
The Flames' win today:
Gives the Flames their first three-game winning streak since the team opened November with three straight victories in 2024 (Nov. 9-23).
Marks the team's seventh straight Homecoming triumph, moving Liberty's Homecoming record to 37-14 overall and 15-3 in the last 18 years.
Improves the team's all-time record against CUSA opponents (at time of meeting) to 26-5, including 17-4 since the Flames joined the conference in 2023.
Boosts the Flames' home record at Williams Stadium to 3-1 this season, 16-2 under Jamey Chadwell and 40-8 since joining FBS.
Gives the Flames an 8-1 record in November games under Chadwell.
Marks Chadwell's 25th victory at Liberty (in 34 games), making him the second fastest Flames coach to reach the milestone. Hugh Freeze's 25th win came in his 33rd contest.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 59-30 (Liberty)
Liberty (4-4, 3-1 CUSA)
Delaware (4-4, 2-3 CUSA)
Location: Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
Attendance: 18,455
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
The visitors were the first team to put points on the scoreboard, getting a 42-yard field goal from Nate Reed at the 11:29 mark. Delaware's Nick Minicucci completed 5-of-7 passing attempts on a nine-play, 50-yard drive, but failed to convert on a third-and-eight play to keep the drive alive.
The Flames quickly responded on its first possession of the game, keeping the ball on the ground nine times on a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Ethan Vasko capped the scoring drive with a 15-yard rushing touchdown, his fourth of the season, giving Liberty a 7-3 lead at 6:02.
Second Quarter
Delaware managed to drive deep into Liberty territory on a 15-play, 64-yard drive, but the effort stalled at the Flames' 11-yard line. The Blue Hens were forced to settle for their second field goal of the game, a 28-yarder from Reed to pull within one, 7-6, just 55 seconds into the second quarter.
Dickens took over the game during the remainder of the quarter, scoring three times before the Flames headed to the locker room at the intermission.
The redshirt sophomore scored on carries of one yard, five yards and 30 yards, with the last score coming with 1:39 left before half and just two plays after Liberty intercepted a Minicucci pass.
The Blue Hens did manage to piece together another nine-play, 50-yard drive during the final 100 seconds of the half. The drive ended on Reed's third field goal of the half and another 42-yarder to give Liberty a 28-9 edge at the break.
Third Quarter
On the second play of the third quarter, Dickens showcased his speed, getting to the outside and running down the sideline for a 72-yard touchdown. The running back's fourth rushing touchdown of the game extended Liberty's lead to 35-9 just 30 seconds into the third quarter.
The remainder of the quarter turned into an offensive shootout with both teams scoring a pair of touchdowns.
Minicucci had touchdown passes on back-to-back drives, including an eight-yard scoring play to Elijah Sessoms at 12:58 and a three-yard scoring play to Donovan Lewis at 5:49.
Liberty answered by scoring on back-to-back drives. The Flames got passing touchdowns from Ethan Vasko to tight end Jacob Jenkins (15 yards at 3:07) and Donte Lee, Jr. (31 yards at 0:28) to push their lead back to 49-24.
Fourth Quarter
Delaware score one final time during the early part of the fourth quarter, getting a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Minicucci at 12:57 to pull back within 20 points, 49-30.
However, the Flames capped the offensive outburst with a Vaughn Blue 12-yard rushing touchdown at 9:05 and a 32-yard field goal by Brayden Beck at 4:49 to finish off the win.
What's Next:
The Flames will close out a three-game homestand when they welcome their second-straight CUSA newcomer to Williams Stadium in Missouri State, next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The Liberty vs. Missouri State game will serve as the Flames' annual Military Appreciation Day, including a special halftime show where each branch of the armed forces will be honored and celebrated.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. (ET)
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Delaware (4-3) at Liberty (3-4), Nov. 1 at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
10/28/25 - AP NEWS
How to watch: CBS Sports Network
Key stats
Liberty Offense:
Overall: 344.3 yards per game (103rd in FBS)
Passing: 185.7 yards per game (109th)
Rushing: 158.6 yards per game (64th)
Scoring: 19.1 points per game (120th)
Liberty Defense:
Overall: 356.3 yards per game (57th in FBS)
Passing: 166.7 yards per game (17th)
Rushing: 189.6 yards per game (118th)
Scoring: 21.6 points per game (45th)
Delaware Offense:
Overall: 418 yards per game (44th in FBS)
Passing: 297.7 yards per game (13th)
Rushing: 120.3 yards per game (110th)
Scoring: 29.1 points per game (64th)
Delaware Defense:
Overall: 391.6 yards per game (95th in FBS)
Passing: 230 yards per game (84th)
Rushing: 161.6 yards per game (94th)
Scoring: 28.3 points per game (95th)
Liberty is 92nd in defensive third down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 41.4% of the time. Delaware ranks 22nd on offense, converting on 48.5% of third downs.
Delaware is 17th in the FBS averaging 39.6 penalty yards per game.
Delaware is 89th in FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 82.1% of trips. Liberty’s red zone defense ranks 20th at 76%.
Team leaders
Liberty:
Passing: Ethan Vasko, 1,185 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs, 59.1 completion percentage
Rushing: Evan Dickens, 394 yards on 78 carries, 4 TDs
Receiving: Donte Lee Jr., 344 yards on 18 catches, 3 TDs
Delaware:
Passing: Nick Minicucci, 2,077 yards, 13 TDs, 3 INTs, 64.2 completion percentage
Rushing: Jo’Nathan Silver, 426 yards on 82 carries, 3 TDs
Receiving: Kyre Duplessis, 495 yards on 35 catches, 4 TDs
Last game
Liberty won 30-27 over New Mexico State on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Vasko threw for 179 yards on 20-of-30 attempts (66.7%) with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Dickens carried the ball 13 times for 50 yards and scored two touchdowns. Lee had six receptions for 55 yards.
Delaware won 31-28 over Middle Tennessee on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Minicucci passed for 276 yards on 27-of-41 attempts (65.9%) with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Silver had 51 rushing yards on 14 carries, adding two receptions for 27 yards. Duplessis had seven receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
Next game
Liberty hosts Missouri State on Nov. 8. Delaware hosts Louisiana Tech on Nov. 8.
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Blue Raiders Come Up Short in Midweek Battle at Delaware
10/22/2025 - https://goblueraiders.com/
NEWARK, Del. — Middle Tennessee came up just short in another midweek thriller Wednesday night, falling 31-28 to Delaware in its second Conference USA midweek contest at Delaware Stadium.
The Blue Raiders (1-6, 0-4 CUSA) rallied late behind quarterback Nicholas Vattiato's third touchdown pass of the game — a 6-yard strike to AJ Jones with just over a minute remaining — but could not recover the ensuing onside kick as Delaware (4-3, 2-2) held on for the narrow win.
Vattiato was efficient once again, completing 31 of 50 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns while connecting with nine different receivers. Nahzae Cox, Hunter Tipton, and Jones each found the end zone for the Blue Raiders, with Cox's 5-yard score in the first quarter tying the game 7-7 and Tipton's 11-yard touchdown midway through the third bringing MTSU within three.
Jekail Middlebrook led the Blue Raider rushing attack with 68 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, averaging more than six yards per attempt. He also added 53 receiving yards to finish with a team-best 147 all-purpose yards.
Middle Tennessee outgained Delaware 384-360 in total offense, marking the third straight game the Blue Raiders have topped their opponent in yardage. The MTSU defense recorded a pair of takeaways, including a first-quarter fumble recovery by Abdul Muhammad that set up Middlebrook's 4-yard touchdown run.
Defensively, Anthony Bynum and Shakai Woods paced the unit with nine tackles each, while Muaaz Byard grabbed an interception in the fourth quarter to keep the Blue Raiders within striking distance.
Trailing 31-21 entering the final minutes, MTSU put together a clutch 11-play, 89-yard drive capped by Jones' touchdown catch with 1:03 to play. Despite the late surge, Delaware ran out the clock to seal the 31-28 decision.
The loss marked MTSU's third consecutive single-possession defeat in conference play.
By the Numbers
9,000: with 281 passing yards on the night, Vattiato surpassed 9,000 career passing yards,
384: Despite the loss, the Blue Raiders outgained their opponent 384 yards to 360. This marks the third consecutive game MTSU has outgained its opponent.
9: Nine different Blue Raiders caught a pass on the night.
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Mason
Up Next
The Blue Raiders will return to Murfreesboro for their final midweek matchup against Jax State on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 and over the air on the Blue Raider Network.
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Nick Minicucci throws for 276 yards, 4 touchdowns and Delaware holds off Middle Tennessee 31-28
October 22, 2025 - AP
NEWARK, Del. (AP) — Nick Minicucci threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns, with Sean Wilson and Kyre Duplessis each scoring twice, and Delaware held off Middle Tennessee 31-28 on Wednesday night.
Minicucci left the game midway through the fourth quarter due to an injury and backup Braden Streeter threw an interception late. Middle Tennessee marched down the field and Nicholas Vattiato threw his third touchdown pass with 1:03 remaining to pull within three points.
But Nick Laboy recovered the onside kick to secure the victory.
Minicucci was 27 of 42 for Delaware (4-3, 2-2 Conference USA). Duplessis made seven catches for 65 yards and Wilson added 56 yards.
Vattiato threw for 281 yards with an interception for Middle Tennessee (1-6, 0-3). Jekail Middlebrook rushed for 68 yards and a score.
Minicucci completed all eight of his passes on Delaware’s opening drive of the game, including a 22-yard touchdown to Wilson. Minicucci found Wilson again for a 10-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to tie it at 14-all.
Duplessis’ 4-yard touchdown catch with 38 seconds left before halftime gave Delaware a 24-14 lead. Duplessis’ second touchdown grab came from 9-yards out with 1:39 left in the third for a 31-21 lead
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Delaware vs. MTSU
Wednesday, October 22nd | 7:30 P.M.
Delaware Stadium, Newark, DE
Youth Cheer and Dance Day | Breast Cancer Awareness | First Responder Appreciation | Educator Appreciation
Delaware Stadium Ticket Office (Bob Carpenter Center Box Office) Open: 8:30 a.m.
Parking Lots Open: 3:30 p.m. Click here to purchase parking in advance.
Stadium Gates Open: 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: Purchase Here
Watch: ESPN2
Live Gameday Update: @UDBlueHens & @DelawareFB on Twitter
Radio: 94.7FM WDSD / 91.3 WVUD
The Blue Hens return home on Wednesday, October 22nd as the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders make their way to Delaware Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m and gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Arrive hungry because it is Dollar Dog Night! Hot dogs are just $1 while supplies last.
Digital Ticketing: Delaware Athletics has moved to a digital ticketing system. Please click here for more information. We highly suggest adding your tickets to your mobile wallet before attending the game to avoid entry delays and spotty cellular service in the stadium on gamedays.
Traffic & Parking: Season and single game parking lots open four hours before kickoff for you to enjoy tailgating with your fellow Blue Hens. Parking on game days is $25 per car in all single game lots, excluding the ice arena which is $60 day of game. New for 2025: Cash will no longer be accepted for day of game parking. All parking must be paid with a credit or debit card. Advanced single game parking is available to purchase online for $20; you must print your pass and have it in hand upon entry. Please review the entrances and traffic flow patterns prior to arrival to avoid delays by clicking here. Please note, the all new Flight Path will be taking place approximately 3 hours prior to kickoff. During this time, parking entrance A will be closed until the conclusion of the Flight Path (approx. 15 minutes).
Anchor Buick GMC Fan Zone
Anchor Buick GMC Fan Zone will open at 4:00 p.m.
Club Seat Pregame Sweep: To ensure only club seat holders are seated in the club seat sections of Delaware Stadium, stadium security will perform a pre-game sweep to check tickets of those seated in club seat and loge box locations. Please be sure to sit in your ticketed section throughout the game.
Bags/Backpacks Policy: Bags smaller than 16" x 16" x 8" are permitted into the stadium. Backpacks are not allowed in the stadium. Bags and containers are subject to inspection by gate security prior to entering the facilities. Hard-sided coolers and bags or backpacks with metal frames are not allowed.
Concessions and Beer Service: Concessions are available throughout Delaware Stadium, with new offerings this season. Click here for a map of locations. Beer service is available to all adults over the age of 21 with a valid driver’s license.
Guest Services: Fans may visit our Guest Services gazebos outside of the stadium on the west side beginning four hours prior to kickoff. There is one central Guest Services tent located inside the east main gates of Delaware Stadium; this booth will be open two hours prior to kickoff and remain open through the conclusion on the game, and houses our Lost and Found. Guest are invited to stop by for general information, solutions, and helpful service. Be on the lookout for guest service representatives walking around throughout the duration of the game for additional assistance.
Stadium Policies: In order to ensure the safety of our guests, all bags will be checked as patrons enter the facility. Please plan accordingly as long lines may exist. Delaware Stadium has a no re-entry policy. Patrons experiencing an emergency or who must exit for medical reasons may go to the main Guest Services kiosk inside the stadium in the east concourse assistance. For a full list of stadium policies, click here. For the comfort and safety of all, the following items are not permitted in Delaware Stadium:
Noise Makers • Bottles/Cans • Outside Alcoholic Beverages
Backpacks • Footballs • Coolers/Ice Chests/Thermos
Large bags • Umbrellas • Open Containers
Strollers • Video Cameras • Outside food or drink
Animals • Banners/Signs • Weapons/Firearms
Sporting Equipment
UD reserves the right to inspect and remove any packages and containers. All persons are subject to search, which includes clothing, jackets, bags and purses. The stadium will not be responsible for items left at any of the entry gates. Fans should return restricted articles to their vehicle.
Tailgating: Patrons may tailgate beginning four (4) hours prior to kickoff and may resume postgame for up to two (2) hours after the conclusion of the game. Tailgates must be limited to the immediate space behind the patron's vehicle and driveways must be kept clear at all times. For information on hospitality and tailgating packages in Blue Hens Hospitality Village, contact GroupTickets@udel.edu or 302-831-7386.
Tobacco Free Policy: The University of Delaware is a Tobacco-Free Campus applicable to all members of the University community and on all UD property. The use of all tobacco products (smoking, snuff, & e-cigarettes) on University property is prohibited to ensure a “Tobacco-Free UD.” For details, click here.
UD Player Guests: UD player guests should proceed to the player guest tent on the Bob Carpenter Center plaza to the left of the ticket windows.
UD Football Recruits: UD football recruits should proceed to the player guest tent on the Bob Carpenter Center plaza to the left of the ticket windows.
Visiting Team Guests: Guests whose names have been left on a pass list from the visiting school and/or who need to pick up tickets purchased directly through the visiting school should proceed to the visiting team tent on the plaza of the Bob Carpenter Center
HS Coaches/Non-Football Recruits: High school coaches and non-football recruits should proceed to the designated tent on the Bob Carpenter Center plaza to the left of the ticket windows.
Guest Code of Conduct
As part of the Guest Code of Conduct, the following will not be permitted:
Foul or abusive language or gestures
Intoxication or other signs of impairment related to alcohol consumption
Fighting, taunting, or threatening remarks or gestures
Sitting in a location other than the guest’s ticketed seat
Displays of affection not appropriate in a public setting
Obscene or indecent clothing
Any disruption to the progress of the event by guests’ actions
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DOLLAR DOG NIGHT on 10/22/25
The Blue Hens return home to Delaware Stadium to host another CUSA opponent when the Blue Raiders visit Newark on Wednesday, October 22nd, at 7:30 p.m. Grab your tickets now for this weekday CUSA matchup between your Blue Hens and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.
Be sure to arrive early and come hungry, because it's Dollar Dog Night! All concession stands, except booth 6, will be selling hot dogs for just $1 while supplies last. If you need something to wash those dogs down with, there is also a drink deal for $3 Bud Lights and White Claws. With deals this good, you really won't want to miss this game, so get your tickets now!
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Middle Tennessee vs University of Delaware
Next Game: Wed, Oct. 22nd, 2025 at 6:30 PM
AT: DELAWARE STADIUM IN NEWARK DELAWARE
TV: ESPN2
RADIO: WDSD 94.7
; WVUD FM 91.3
; WGNS 1450 AM/100.5 FM/101.9 FM – 93.3 FM/95.1 FM - TuneIn
Opponent History:
Middle Tennessee 0 Wins
University of Delaware 2 Wins
Last Matchups:
Middle Tennessee 3 University of Delaware53
OCT 21 1978
Middle Tennessee 7 University of Delaware 60
OCT 22 1977
Team Leaders
Passing
Nicholas VattiatoJersey Number:11
Nicholas Vattiato
QB
Mid
1392 YDS
Rushing
Jekail MiddlebrookJersey Number:9
Jekail Middlebrook
RB
Mid
433 YDS
Receiving
Nahzae CoxJersey Number:1
Nahzae Cox
WR
Mid
353 YDS
Game Info:
October 22, 2025
6:30 PM
Conference USA
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Jax State plucks Blue Hens to stay atop CUSA standings
10/15/25 - Jax
State plucks Blue Hens to stay atop CUSA standings - Jacksonville State
University Athletics
JACKSONVILLE – Jax State ramped up the defensive intensity against Delaware Wednesday evening to extend its home winning streak to nine and remain unbeaten in Conference USA.
Cam Cook, the nation's top rusher, ran for 117 yards and three touchdowns and Jax State's defense forced turnovers that led to two quick scores as the Gamecocks held on to defeat the Fightin' Blue Hens 38-25 before a crowd of 16,884 at AmFirst Stadium. Jax State improved to 4-3 overall and 3-0 in CUSA.
"I was proud of our guys for competing for 60 minutes. We didn't play perfect by any means, but that was a good football team on the other side," said Jax State head coach Charles Kelly. "Our whole slogan this week was 'Do Your Job.' When you do your job and you don't worry about the results, good things are going to happen and that's what we've got to keep on doing."
The Gamecocks' defense forced a key early turnover on Delaware's second series for a 7-0 lead. Travis Franklin Jr. forced a fumble after a Blue Hens' completion and linebacker Walker O'Steen scooped up the loose football and returned it 27 yards to Delaware's 11.
Cook then found the end zone from six yards away and Garrison Rippa, the hero of Jax State's previous game at Sam Houston, added the extra point with 9:27 remaining in the first quarter.
Another Blue Hens' miscue after a completed pass extended Jax State's lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter.
Linebacker Mac Sanders stripped the ball from Delaware's Jake Thaw after a short completion and safety Caleb Nix returned the fumble 45 yards for a touchdown with 10:37 to go in the second quarter. Nix's return was the longest for a score by a Jax State defensive player since Nicario Harper's 55-yard fumble return vs. Stephen F. Austin in 2021.
Jax State tacked on another touchdown less than 2˝ minutes later to extend its lead. Caden Creel, making his second career start at quarterback, moved the Gamecocks 48 yards in only three plays, finishing off the drive with a 23-yard strike to wide receiver Brock Rechsteiner at the 8:16 mark.
Rechsteiner's fourth receiving TD of the year and Rippa's third extra point pushed the Gamecocks' lead to 21-0.
Creel passed for 116 yards and ran 12 times for 57 yards.
Jax State carried a 21-6 lead into the locker room at halftime despite being outgained 199-193 by the Fightin' Blue Hens (3-3, 1-2).
Cook found the end zone twice in the third quarter as Jax State built a 35-6 lead. He broke loose for a 66-yard jaunt deep into Delaware territory, then capped the eight-play, 81-yard drive with a one-yard TD run with 8:44 left in the third.
Cook later added a two-yard run for his second career three-touchdown game and first with the Gamecocks.
Sanders led the Gamecocks with nine stops with 1˝ tackles for loss. Cornerback RJ Rainer contributed a career-best five solo tackles.
Jax State has an open date next week. The Gamecocks return to action on Wednesday, October 29, to face Middle Tennessee (1-5, 0-2), which is off this week before visiting Delaware next Wednesday.
Kickoff at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn. is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPN2 – Jax State's third straight national TV appearance.
Jax State Postgame Notes – Delaware
October 15, 2025 • Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium • Jacksonville, Ala.
Jax State Captains: Redshirt senior receiver Michael Pettway, redshirt senior tight end Preston Baldwin, redshirt sophomore kicker Garrison Rippa, redshirt junior defensive lineman Darrell Prater.
Jax State won the opening toss and deferred its option to the second half, the fifth time it has won the toss in seven games and first time at home.
Jax State has won nine straight games at AmFirst Stadium and 14 of its last 16 dating back to the start of the 2023 season.
Cam Cook, who entered the night as the leading rusher in FBS, added 117 yards vs. the Fightin' Blue Hens and now stands 138 yards shy of moving past Boyce Callahan (1,087 yards in 1972) for 10th place on the single-season rushing list.
Rippa, who also missed kicks of 54 and 46 yards, needs one more field goal to move into a tie for ninth place on Jax State's all-time career field goals list, tying Connor Rouleau (2013-16) and Rocky Riddle (1976-79) with 28.
Rippa's second career 52-yard kick in the fourth quarter ties Griffin Thomas (2013 vs. Eastern Kentucky) and Steven Lee (2003 vs. Murray State) for the longest field goal in program history. He now owns four of the 11 longest field goals in Jax State history.
Linebacker Walker O'Steen's first-quarter fumble recovery was the first of his career. The 27-yard return was the second-longest of the season, one yard shy of Chase Alexander's 28-yard return at Georgia Southern.
Safety Caleb Nix's 45-yard fumble return for a TD was the first by a Gamecock defender since Curley Young Jr. returned one for 26 yards against Middle Tennessee on Oct. 4, 2023.
Jax State, which saw its streak of games with multiple rushing touchdowns end at 11 in the season opener at UCF, rushed for three TDs against Delaware and now has 20 in its past six games.
Jawaun Campbell, a 282-pound defensive lineman, lined up in the backfield and took a direct snap in the third quarter but was stopped for no gain on his first career rushing attempt.
The Gamecocks are 9-1 all-time during "Weekday CUSA" games.
Redshirt freshman running back Jalen Likely finished with a career-best 42 yards on three carries, including a 34-yard run in the third quarter.
Games played on October 15 have been good for the Gamecocks. Over the past six decades, Jax State is 8-1 on this date while averaging 35.7 ppg. in those games.
Jax State is 4-3 for the second consecutive season.
Wednesday's broadcast on ESPN marked the fifth year in a row that Jax State has appeared in a game on the network's flagship channel. This was Delaware's first regular-season appearance on the Worldwide Leader since a 2008 game at No. 8 Maryland.
Seven different players had at least three carries for the Gamecocks.
The Gamecocks are off to a 3-0 start in Conference USA for the second straight year.
Jax State has averaged 42.6 ppg in its last seven games in the month of October.
Delaware, fellow CUSA member Middle Tennessee (Blue Raiders), Duke (Blue Devils) and Creighton (Bluejays) are the only NCAA Division I athletic programs with "Blue" as part of their nicknames.
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Cam Cook's 3 rushing touchdowns lead Jacksonville State past Delaware 38-25
ByAP
Updated: Oct 15, 2025, 10:57 pm
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- — Cam Cook rushed for 117 yards and three touchdown, Caden Creel threw for 116 yards and a touchdown, and Jacksonville State beat Delaware 38-25 on Wednesday night.
Jacksonville State (4-3, 3-0 Conference USA) has won nine straight at AmFirst Stadium.
Jacksonville State scored the opening 21 points and extended it to 35-6 after Cook's two short touchdown runs in the third quarter. Garrison Rippa made a 52-yard field goal with 11:57 left in the fourth for a 38-12 lead.
Creel also carried it 12 times for 57 yards for Jacksonville State. Brock Rechsteiner had three catches for 48 yards and a score. Caleb Nix scored for the defense on a 45-yard fumble return.
Nick Minicucci was 32 of 50 for 422 yards and a touchdown for Delaware (3-3, 1-2). Viron Ellison Jr. had three short touchdown runs.
Delaware won the other two series meetings — in the 1978 Division II playoffs and in the 2020 FCS playoffs.
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Gamecock vs Delaware Football Moved to ESPN
10/11/-25 - Gamecock Football Moved to ESPN - Jacksonville State University Athletics
Jax State's Week 7 contest on Wed., Oct. 15, at AmFirst Stadium against Delaware has been upgraded from ESPN2 to ESPN, as announced Saturday by Conference USA and ESPN.
Kickoff for the game will still be 6 p.m. CT(7pm ET) with Clay Matvick (PxP) and Chase Daniel (Analyst) on the call. This will be the first regular-season CUSA game on the flagship channel since WKU and LA Tech faced off on ESPN on Oct. 5, 2023.
The Gamecocks have previously played on ESPN the last two seasons in the 2024 Cure Bowl and 2023 New Orleans Bowl. The last time a Jax State regular season game aired on ESPN was in 2021 against UAB.
A limited number of tickets remain for the game and are available at
JaxStateSports.com/tickets.
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