By Jay Holahan
Delaware Football is taking a big step, moving up from the FCS level to the FBS level this upcoming year as it joins Conference USA. This is a monumental move for the football team for Delaware fans, so what should be the reasonable expectations for this team as it moves up?
As Delaware closes in on the one-year-away mark from joining Conference USA in the FBS, #BlueHens university President Dennis Assanis continues to emphasize the effect that reclassification could have on the entire institution beyond athletics.
Story ⬇️ https://t.co/UtLw05uRhX https://t.co/QV7HcKEjwe pic.twitter.com/rlSjGNtmXh
— Daniel Steenkamer (@DanSteenkamer) April 6, 2024
FBS Expectations
Delaware was a staple in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) for years as a top team. Delaware watched as other teams moved up from the FCS ranks, ie. Old Dominion and James Madison. Both schools have experienced decent success at the FBS level, and now Delaware will attempt to do the same.
First State, First Season ⬇️🏈
📰: https://t.co/50pVFOfBW4
🎟️: https://t.co/0pPoEeEdCn pic.twitter.com/oxw6opSs70— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB) February 6, 2025
More Sports News
However, this season should provide a challenge for the Blue Hens. The mindset for fans this year will no doubt expect to attend a bowl game, and even take a stab at the C-USA Championship game. However, setting a foundation should be the goal. Delaware will be embarking on a schedule that will test them not just physically, but also their psyche.
Establishing a Foundation
In the second game of the year, they’ll play Colorado in Boulder. Not only does that mark a Group of 5 team against a Power Four team, but it is also the first game that Delaware will be traveling further than they did for a regular-season game during the past two seasons. The Hens will head to Miami, Fla. to play FIU, Jacksonville, Ala., to play Jacksonville State, and Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas.
Establishing a foundation for this team based on how they play rather than the results on the scoreboard will be huge for the Blue Hens moving forward in the FBS era.
© William Bretzger/Delaware News Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The exciting part for Delaware fans is establishing a foundation for their program amongst the “big boys” in the FBS. There should be an establishment of recruiting in the area.
Delaware has done a solid job over the years of keeping its talent within the state. Now it should expect to expand its recruiting into some areas of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and the state of New Jersey is relatively open, and has been somewhat of a hotbed for talent.
Things are looking bright in Newark, Del. Let’s hope this is the start of a great era in the C-USA.
