It is a weird time to be a fan of the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens football program. If you walk around Newark or grab a beer at Klondike Kate’s, the conversation isn't just about the next Saturday kickoff anymore. It’s about the massive, seismic shift happening behind the scenes. Delaware is moving up. After decades of being a powerhouse in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the Hens are packing their bags for the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Specifically, they are headed to Conference USA in 2025.
It's a big deal. Honestly, it’s a terrifying and exhilarating deal all at once. For years, Delaware was the "big fish in a small pond" type of program. They have those six national titles—the most recent being that 2003 shellacking of Colgate—and a helmet that looks suspiciously like Michigan’s. But the landscape of college football changed. The gap between the FCS and the FBS started feeling like a canyon, and Delaware decided it was tired of being on the wrong side of the ledge.
The move to FBS: What actually changes for Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football?
Most people think moving up just means harder games and more money. It's deeper than that. To make this jump, Delaware had to pay a $5 million application fee to the NCAA. That’s just the cover charge to get into the club. Once they arrive in Conference USA, the requirements for scholarships, stadium capacity, and "average attendance" become much more rigid.
You’ve probably seen the construction. Tubby Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium is undergoing renovations to make sure it looks the part. But the real change is in the roster. Ryan Carty, the head coach and a former Hens quarterback himself, now has to recruit against a different caliber of athlete. In the FCS, you’re looking for the guys who were overlooked by the big schools. In the FBS, you’re competing directly for three-star and four-star recruits who want that "Group of Five" exposure.
The 2024 season is a "transition year." This is a bit of a bummer for the fans because, under NCAA rules, Delaware is ineligible for the FCS playoffs this year. They’re basically playing a full schedule for pride and preparation. It’s a weird limbo. You want to win every game, but you know there’s no trophy at the end of the tunnel this December.
Why the Michigan helmet look isn't a rip-off
Newcomers to Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens football always ask the same thing: "Why do they have Michigan’s helmets?"
Actually, it goes back to David Nelson. He was the head coach at Delaware in the early 1950s. Nelson had played at Michigan under Fritz Crisler, the guy who actually popularized the winged helmet design. When Nelson got to Newark, he brought the design with him because he thought it helped quarterbacks spot their receivers downfield. It wasn't a lack of creativity. It was a tactical choice that became an identity.
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That identity was cemented by Tubby Raymond. If you don’t know that name, you don’t know Delaware football. He coached for 36 seasons. Think about that. Thirty-six years of the "Wing-T" offense. He won 300 games and three national championships. He was a painter, too. Every week, he would paint a portrait of a senior player. That kind of culture is rare. It’s why the transition to the FBS feels so heavy for the old-timers. They don’t want to lose that "small-town" feel that Tubby built, even as they chase the bright lights of national TV contracts.
The NFL factory in Newark
It’s easy to dismiss Delaware because they aren't in the SEC. Don't do that. The "Quarterback U" label gets tossed around a lot, but for a school of this size, the output is actually insane.
Joe Flacco is the obvious one. He came from Pitt, found his groove in Newark, and ended up as a Super Bowl MVP. But it’s not just him. Rich Gannon was a Blue Hen long before he was the NFL MVP with the Raiders. Then you have guys like Troy Reeder and Nasir Adderley who proved that Delaware’s defense could produce pro-level speed.
When you watch Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens football, you’re looking at a roster that usually has at least three or four guys who will get a look from NFL scouts. That shouldn't change with the FBS move. If anything, it’ll increase. Scouts already know the way to Newark; now the competition level will just make their evaluations easier.
Is the Wing-T gone forever?
If you talk to a Delaware fan over the age of 60, they probably still miss the Wing-T. It was a beautiful, confusing mess of guards pulling and backs faking handoffs. It was Delaware's bread and butter for half a century.
But let’s be real. Ryan Carty runs a modern, high-tempo spread offense. It’s built for the modern era. In 2023, the Hens were putting up huge numbers, often crossing the 40-point mark. They use the whole field. They want to snap the ball as fast as possible.
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This shift was necessary. You can’t win in Conference USA or recruit top-tier receivers in 2026 by running an offense from the 1950s. The Wing-T is a legacy, but the "Air Raid" or "Pro-Spread" variations we see now are the future. It’s more explosive. It’s what kids want to play in.
Navigating the 2024 transition schedule
The 2024 schedule is a bit of a gauntlet, mostly because of the mental hurdle. How do you keep players motivated when there's no postseason?
- The Rivalries: Games against Villanova—the "Battle of the Blue"—still matter. Bragging rights in the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) don't disappear just because Delaware is leaving.
- The Audition: Every snap this year is an audition for the 2025 FBS roster. Carty has been active in the transfer portal, and current players know they have to prove they belong at the next level.
- The Revenue: These games are helping fund the transition. Selling out Delaware Stadium is crucial for the budget.
The atmosphere at the games hasn't dipped. If anything, there's more electricity. People want to be part of the "final" FCS year. There's a sense of closing a very long, very successful chapter of a book.
What most people get wrong about the Delaware move
A lot of critics say Delaware is going to get "crushed" in the FBS. They point to schools that moved up and struggled, like UMass.
But look at James Madison University (JMU). They were Delaware’s rival in the CAA for years. They moved to the Sun Belt and immediately became a Top 25 team. Delaware has the same infrastructure, the same fan base, and a similar recruiting hotbed. Newark is centrally located between Philly, Baltimore, and DC. The talent pool is massive.
The biggest hurdle isn't the talent on the field. It’s the depth. In the FCS, you might have a great starting eleven, but if your star linebacker goes down, the backup might be a massive drop-off. In the FBS, you need 85 scholarship players who can all play. Building that depth takes about three to four years of consistent recruiting.
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Actionable insights for fans and followers
If you're following the program or thinking about betting on their transition, keep these factors in mind.
Check the transfer portal entries every December. Delaware is going to be aggressive. They aren't looking for "project" players anymore; they want guys from the Power 5 who aren't getting playing time. Also, keep an eye on the "Blue Hen Touchdown Club" and the donor base. The speed at which they hit their fundraising goals for the new athletic center will tell you exactly how ready the boosters are for the big leagues.
Go to a game now. Seriously. The ticket prices are going to jump once Conference USA opponents start rolling in. Seeing a game at Delaware Stadium is one of the best "bang for your buck" experiences in college sports right now. The tailgating in the lots around the stadium is legendary—lots of scrapple, lots of Blue Hen pride, and a weirdly intense atmosphere for a mid-sized school.
The transition is happening. There's no turning back. Whether Delaware becomes the next JMU or struggles like other programs remains to be seen, but the foundation Tubby Raymond built is solid enough to handle the weight.
What to do next:
- Monitor the 2025 Recruiting Class: Watch 247Sports or Rivals for Delaware’s ranking. If they start landing top-200 players from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the FBS transition is ahead of schedule.
- Check the Non-Conference Schedule: Look for when Delaware schedules "money games" against teams like Penn State or Maryland. These are the games that will test their new depth.
- Follow Ryan Carty’s Pressers: Listen for how he talks about "scholarship math." The move from 63 to 85 scholarships is the most technical part of this jump and requires careful roster management.