By Apollo Lundin
As of July 2, the NCAA FBS officially expanded to 136 teams with the addition of Delaware and Missouri State. Both teams will join Conference USA and will not be bowl-eligible until the 2026 season. Here’s what to expect from both teams in this upcoming season.
Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens
Head coach Ryan Carty is entering his fourth year with Delaware. During his tenure Carty has led the Blue Hens to a 26-11 record with two second-round losses in the FCS playoffs. Last season, Delaware finished 9-2 – their best record under Carty – but did not participate in the playoffs. Delaware has been a successful program, having an all-time record of 739-485-44. They have five national titles at the D-II level and a 2003 FCS national championship.
Players to Watch
Jo’Nathan Silver – RB
Silver, Delaware’s senior RB, leads the offense. Last season, he tallied four touchdowns and 462 yards over 70 carries. He also added a touchdown and 118 yards through the air on 12 receptions. These numbers do not stand out until you realize he only started one game for the Hens, earning him the highest rating (tied with FS KT Seay) on EA’s new College Football 26 video game.
KT Seay – S
After being named to the All-CAA Third Team last season, Seay leads the Blue Hens’ defense. He started every game and tallied four interceptions, 38 tackles, and a sack. The junior safety shows a lot of promise and he could be a transfer candidate at the end of the season.
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Missouri State Bears
The Bears have not been the most successful FCS program. Throughout their history, Missouri State has an all-time record of 492-532-39, with one playoff win in five appearances, and holds 10 conference titles. Head coach Ryan Beard, who boasts a career record of 12-11, enters his third season with the team aiming to create FBS success.
Players to Watch
Shomari Lawrence – RB
Lawrence, a 6-foot running back from Pompano Beach, Florida, brings FBS and C-USA experience to the Bears. Lawrence is entering his sixth season of college football, his first with Missouri State, after starting at South Dakota State and transferring to Florida International in his fourth season. He redshirted the 2021 season at SDSU due to a season-ending injury and was granted an extra year of eligibility due to the shortened 2020 season.
2023 was his best season at FIU, where Lawrence tallied 566 yards on 125 carries. Last season, he appeared in eight games and totaled 177 yards and a touchdown. Lawrence was a 2024 preseason All C-USA selection and is the highest-rated player for Missouri State in the College Football 26 game.
DJ Wesolak – EDGE
Wesolak was a three-star edge from Boonville, Missouri, out of high school. He brings FBS experience, having chosen to stay close to home when he committed to Missouri, but redshirted his freshman season and then transferred to Oregon State.
At Oregon State, Wesolak only totaled two tackles, a solo tackle against Oregon and an assisted tackle against Purdue. While he has not received many on-field chances, Wesolak is positioned to make an impact in the C-USA.
