2026 football schedule announced

The 2026 Conference USA football schedule has been released, the league announced last week. The University of Delaware football program's 12-game schedule includes the four previously announced non-conference games with eight CUSA contests, including four home and four away games. The 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Champion Fightin' Blue Hens' slate will feature matchups against eight teams that played in a bowl game last season.

The 2026 CUSA alignment will feature 11 teams with no divisions, including Delaware, FIU, Jax State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston and WKU. The 2026 schedule complies with CUSA scheduling policies as approved by the Board of Directors.

The Blue & Gold begin league action against Liberty for a Friday night on Parents & Family Weekend inside Delaware Stadium on Oct. 2.

The next three weeks see the Fightin' Blue Hens take on first-time opponents with UD traveling to fellow second-year FBS member, Missouri State, on Wednesday, Oct. 7. The following week sees the Hens host New Mexico State on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The first-time foes conclude with the Blue & Gold traveling to 2025 CUSA champion, Kennesaw State, on Tuesday, Oct. 20. All three games will be a part of "Weekday CUSA" action.

This marks the fourth season of "Weekday CUSA," which will see all October league matchups played on midweek evenings. CUSA's broadcast partners will share the October weeknight football games on linear television across CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.

Staying on the road, Delaware makes its first trip to Murfreesboro, Tenn. since 1978 with a Saturday, Nov. 7, tilt at Middle Tennessee.

UD will host FIU on Saturday, Nov. 14, for homecoming. The Panthers hold a special place in program history as the first-ever CUSA win for the Blue & Gold.

The following week, the Fightin' Blue Hens make the trip down to Ruston, Louisiana, on Saturday, Nov. 21, for the first time since the 1982 NCAA I-AA Semifinals when Delaware defeated the Bulldogs, 17-0, to advance to the national championship.

A home finale will be held against 2025 league runner up, Jax State, on Saturday, Nov. 28. This will be the Gamecocks first trip to Newark since 1978 in the NCAA DII Quarterfinals.

All dates are subject to change and game times will be announced at a later date.

2026 schedule

Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 - Delaware vs. Merrimack

Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 - Delaware at Vanderbilt

Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026 - Delaware vs. Coastal Carolina

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 - Delaware at Virginia

Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 - Delaware vs. Liberty (Parents & Family Weekend)

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026 - Delaware at Missouri State

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026 - Delaware vs. New Mexico State

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026 - Delaware at Kennesaw State

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 - Delaware at Middle Tennessee

Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026 - Delaware vs. FIU (Homecoming)

Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026 - Delaware at LA Tech

Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026 - Delaware vs. Jax State

Ticket information

Get your 2026 Delaware Football season tickets now by visiting bluehens.com/fbtickets.