You’ve probably seen the Blue Hens flags flying high around Newark for years, but the ud football schedule 2025 marks something fundamentally different. This isn't just another season in the CAA. The University of Delaware has officially made the leap to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), joining Conference USA (CUSA). It's a move that feels like the school finally outgrew its backyard and decided to see how it fares on the national stage.
Honestly, it’s a lot to take in for a fanbase used to a certain rhythm. For decades, the road to a national title meant navigating the FCS playoffs. Now? The rules have changed. Because of NCAA transition rules, Delaware was actually ineligible for a bowl game in 2025 (though they ended up playing in the 68 Ventures Bowl under special circumstances, but more on that later).
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The Midweek Mayhem and New Faces
One of the first things you notice about the 2025 slate is the shift in when games are played. If you’re a traditionalist who loves Saturday afternoon tailgates at Delaware Stadium, CUSA’s "midweek" schedule was a bit of a shock.
The conference is famous—or maybe infamous—for its October TV deal that moves games to Tuesday and Wednesday nights. This is all about getting those eyeballs on ESPN and CBS Sports Network when there’s no NFL or Power Four competition. It’s great for national exposure, but kinda tough if you’ve got a 9-to-5 and a commute to Newark.
Take a look at how the heart of the season unfolded:
- August 28: The season kicked off on a Thursday night against Delaware State. A classic "Route 1 Rivalry" to start the new era. UD handled business with a 35-17 win.
- September 6: This was the big one. A trip to Boulder to face Deion Sanders and Colorado. It was a reality check, a 31-7 loss, but the visibility was massive.
- September 13: A home nail-biter against UConn. The Blue Hens won 44-41 in overtime, proving they could hang with established FBS programs.
- September 20: The official CUSA debut. A trip to Miami to play FIU, resulting in a solid 38-16 victory.
Why October Felt So Strange
After starting 3-1, the schedule got "weird" in October. This is where the midweek "CUSAction" kicked in.
On October 15, a Wednesday, Delaware traveled to Jacksonville State. They lost 38-25 in a game that felt faster and more physical than what they saw in the CAA. Just a week later, on Wednesday, October 22, they were back home to beat Middle Tennessee 31-28. The short turnaround is brutal for players, something coach Ryan Carty had to manage carefully with a roster that was still transitioning from FCS depth levels.
The end of the season saw some heavy hitters. A trip to Lynchburg to face Liberty on November 1 ended in a 59-30 blowout. Liberty has been the gold standard in CUSA lately, and they showed Delaware exactly how much further the program needs to go.
The Unexpected Postseason
What’s wild is that Delaware finished the regular season 7-6. Normally, a team in its first year of FBS transition can’t go to a bowl. But because there weren't enough bowl-eligible teams across the country to fill all the slots, the Blue Hens got the call for the 68 Ventures Bowl on December 17.
They faced Louisiana in Mobile, Alabama. Most experts figured UD was just happy to be there. Instead, they ground out a 20-13 win. It was a statement. It told the rest of the G5 (Group of Five) that Delaware wasn't just joining to collect a paycheck; they came to compete.
Key Matchups and Results:
- vs Western Kentucky (Oct 3): A narrow 27-24 loss on a Friday night.
- vs Louisiana Tech (Nov 8): A 25-24 Homecoming win that saved the season’s momentum.
- at Wake Forest (Nov 22): A tough 52-14 loss against an ACC opponent.
- vs UTEP (Nov 29): A 61-31 blowout win to close the regular season on Senior Day.
Real Talk: Was the Move Worth It?
There’s been a lot of debate among alumni about whether leaving the CAA was the right call. You lose the local rivalries with Villanova and Richmond. You trade them for flights to El Paso and Houston.
But the reality is about the future of the university's brand. Being on ESPN2 on a Wednesday night brings in a different level of recruit. It’s why you see guys like quarterback Zach Marker and linebacker Gavin Moul staying put instead of jumping into the portal for a bigger school. They want to be the foundation of the FBS era.
The atmosphere at Delaware Stadium held up surprisingly well, too. Even for the non-Saturday games, the "302" crowd showed up. The school has been pumping money into the Whitney Athletic Center and stadium upgrades, and you can see it's paying off.
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What You Should Do Next
If you're looking to follow the Hens as they move into the 2026 season, there are a few practical steps to take.
First, update your streaming setup. Between ESPN+ and the various linear channels like CBSSN, you’ll need more than just a basic cable package to see every game.
Second, buy tickets early for the home games. The capacity at Delaware Stadium is around 18,500, and with the higher profile of CUSA opponents, sellouts are becoming the norm rather than the exception.
Finally, keep an eye on the transfer portal. The transition to FBS means Delaware is now a buyer in the portal, looking for P4 drop-downs who want immediate playing time in a rising program. This roster will likely look very different by the time the 2026 opener rolls around.