Del State Schedule update

[Henway]

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware, in partnership with Delaware State University, has agreed to an adjustment in the upcoming football series between the two in-state programs. With the transition to Conference USA, the Blue Hens will kick off their inaugural FBS season in 2025 against the Hornets on Thursday, August 28 at Delaware Stadium. This game will replace the 2024 game that was scheduled to be played in Dover.

"We are excited to continue our relationship with Delaware State," Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. "As we make this transition to FBS football, I'm grateful we can maintain our strong and important rivalry for the 302. Our regular competitions in any sport is a great way to bring the whole state together to support its two Division I programs."

As an FBS program, the Blue Hens will have the opportunity to play a maximum of one FCS opponent each season. The Hornets, as the First State's other Division I program, will continue to be an opponent at Delaware Stadium in future years.

"As we continue to rebuild our football program, we welcome the opportunity to maintain the Route One Rivalry as it represents our shared vision for the future of Division I athletics in the State of Delaware," said Delaware State Director of Athletics Alecia Shields-Gadson.

Delaware and Delaware State share a long history on the playing field across all sports. Over the past five years, the two schools have met 20 times in head-to-head competitions in an ongoing in-state series known as the Route One Rivalry. On the gridiron, the Blue Hens have won all 11 meetings against the Hornets, including the most recent matchup in 2022.

The relationship between the two universities extends far beyond athletics, sharing in numerous academic, research and community engagement partnerships that serve the state of Delaware.

The Blue Hens wrapped up the 2023 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in CAA play, advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship for the second-straight season. The nine wins were the most since the 2010 season and it is the first time UD has had consecutive eight-win campaigns since 2003-04. Delaware's offense scored at least 40 points in five games this year and surpassed 500 total yards on four occasions.

Delaware will officially join Conference USA on July 1, 2025, as a full-league member. As they begin the two-year transition process, the Blue Hens will play an FCS schedule in 2024 that will be announced later this week. Deposits for the 2024 season ticket packages are available now.

[Hengrad07]

The route one rivalry continues…

[bluehens2005]

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware, in partnership with Delaware State University, has agreed to an adjustment in the upcoming football series between the two in-state programs. With the transition to Conference USA, the Blue Hens will kick off their inaugural FBS season in 2025 against the Hornets on Thursday, August 28 at Delaware Stadium. This game will replace the 2024 game that was scheduled to be played in Dover.

"We are excited to continue our relationship with Delaware State," Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. "As we make this transition to FBS football, I'm grateful we can maintain our strong and important rivalry for the 302. Our regular competitions in any sport is a great way to bring the whole state together to support its two Division I programs."

As an FBS program, the Blue Hens will have the opportunity to play a maximum of one FCS opponent each season. The Hornets, as the First State's other Division I program, will continue to be an opponent at Delaware Stadium in future years.

"As we continue to rebuild our football program, we welcome the opportunity to maintain the Route One Rivalry as it represents our shared vision for the future of Division I athletics in the State of Delaware," said Delaware State Director of Athletics Alecia Shields-Gadson.

Delaware and Delaware State share a long history on the playing field across all sports. Over the past five years, the two schools have met 20 times in head-to-head competitions in an ongoing in-state series known as the Route One Rivalry. On the gridiron, the Blue Hens have won all 11 meetings against the Hornets, including the most recent matchup in 2022.

The relationship between the two universities extends far beyond athletics, sharing in numerous academic, research and community engagement partnerships that serve the state of Delaware.

The Blue Hens wrapped up the 2023 season with a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in CAA play, advancing to the second round of the FCS Championship for the second-straight season. The nine wins were the most since the 2010 season and it is the first time UD has had consecutive eight-win campaigns since 2003-04. Delaware's offense scored at least 40 points in five games this year and surpassed 500 total yards on four occasions.

Delaware will officially join Conference USA on July 1, 2025, as a full-league member. As they begin the two-year transition process, the Blue Hens will play an FCS schedule in 2024 that will be announced later this week. Deposits for the 2024 season ticket packages are available now.

So every year in Newark ? Great …… one of our home games taken up so the beat downs will continue on an even more grand scale ? At least we don’t have to play at Dover but still our tune up game for C USA Del
state and Colorado would have liked to
Kick off with a C USA game to get the juices flowing for the transition right out of the gate.

[Housthen18]

This is fine. The only concern I had about UD's continued relationship with Delaware State was that institutional politics would cause UD to keep having to play away games in Dover. Playing a yearly tune-up game at home against them is fine, and it lets Del State's athletic department get an extra check.

[Double G]

And now an excuse to skip the annual kick in the groin by Nova.

[bluehens2005]

And now an excuse to skip the annual kick in the groin by Nova.

Yeah looks to be official that we will no longer be playing them!

[Bluewyn Gold]

"Continue to be an opponent in future years" doesn't mean we'll play the Stingers every year or even frequently in football. I'd be surprised if we played them much at all beyond 2025. This release seems like a nice preamble to letting the football series die the merciful death it's come to deserve.

It's also likely we'll give 'Nova the same courtesy Temple's given us since the early 1980s.

[Udforever1]

"Continue to be an opponent in future years" doesn't mean we'll play the Stingers every year or even frequently in football. I'd be surprised if we played them much at all beyond 2025. This release seems like a nice preamble to letting the football series die the merciful death it's come to deserve.

It's also likely we'll give 'Nova the same courtesy Temple's given us since the early 1980s.

That’s how I took the article as well. Maybe they’ll be an opponent every few years but certainly not every year.

[chapelstwasted]

DSU can join the no play list with Villanova & Temple.

[Cluck U]

"Continue to be an opponent in future years" doesn't mean we'll play the Stingers every year or even frequently in football. I'd be surprised if we played them much at all beyond 2025. This release seems like a nice preamble to letting the football series die the merciful death it's come to deserve.

It's also likely we'll give 'Nova the same courtesy Temple's given us since the early 1980s.

Somebody had a good English teacher.

No need to play DSU every year to placate some of the state legislature folks. Give DSU a cookie and some bus money every once in a while…or expect fans to opt for more selective 3-4 game ticket packages.

[Double G]

Seems JMU wants to extend their win streak against the Hens soon.

[bluehenbillk]

"Continue to be an opponent in future years" doesn't mean we'll play the Stingers every year or even frequently in football. I'd be surprised if we played them much at all beyond 2025. This release seems like a nice preamble to letting the football series die the merciful death it's come to deserve.

It's also likely we'll give 'Nova the same courtesy Temple's given us since the early 1980s.

I take the release to say that as a FBS school UD couldn’t play in Dover and for moving the game to Newark UD would agree to play DelState a number of times.

[InvestedHenFan]

Hopeful that Del State comes off the schedule for good- plenty of cool FCS match up options that will serve as a true "tune up" for the boys- 0-11 is no rivalry-

[UD '01 grad]

Hens will want those almost-certain wins most years. If Alabama can suffer through UT-Chattanooga (2023) and Austin Peay (2022), Delaware can host DelState three out of every four seasons.

[finpxz1]

That was my take, as well. I highly doubt we will see DSU on the schedule every year if we are limited to 1 FCS game per season. Hopefully we can rotate in some of our old rivals like Richmond, W&M, Nova...even Lehigh or Lafayette...