The 2026 Delaware Football Schedule runs 12 regular-season games with six home matchups at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware. Delaware kicks off its first FBS season on Thursday, September 3 at home against Merrimack on ESPN+, then travels to Vanderbilt and Virginia for back-to-back Power 4 road tests in September. Conference USA announced kickoff times and television assignments for the entire 2026 conference slate on May 27, with most games landing on CBS Sports Network or the ESPN family of networks.
2026 Delaware Blue Hens Football Overview
Ryan Carty returns as the Delaware head coach in 2026, leading the Blue Hens through their historic transition from FCS to FBS. The Blue Hens compete in the Conference USA (CUSA) with a bye on Saturday, October 10 on the slate and a regular season that closes with the home finale vs Jacksonville State on Black Friday weekend, Saturday November 28 at 3:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.
2026 Delaware Football Schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Sep 3 | vs Merrimack Warriors | 7:00 PM | ESPN+ |
| 2 | Sat, Sep 12 | @ Vanderbilt Commodores | 4:15 PM | SEC Network |
| 3 | Sat, Sep 19 | vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | 11:30 AM | CBS Sports Network |
| 4 | Sat, Sep 26 | @ Virginia Cavaliers | TBA | ESPN network |
| 5 | Fri, Oct 2 | vs Liberty Flames | 7:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| BYE | Sat, Oct 10 | Open Date – Bye Week | – | – |
| 7 | Tue, Oct 13 | @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | 7:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 8 | Tue, Oct 20 | vs Missouri State Bears | 7:00 PM | ESPNU |
| 9 | Tue, Oct 27 | @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 7:00 PM | CBS Sports Network |
| 10 | Sat, Nov 7 | @ Kennesaw State Owls | 3:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 11 | Sat, Nov 14 | vs FIU Panthers | 3:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 12 | Sat, Nov 21 | @ New Mexico State Aggies | 3:00 PM | ESPN network |
| 13 | Sat, Nov 28 | vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks | 3:30 PM | CBS Sports Network |
All times Eastern. Bold entries are network-confirmed from the May 27, 2026 Conference USA broadcast release. ESPN network games will have specific channel and kickoff confirmed about 12 days before each game.
More 2026 College Football Resources
- 2026 College Football Schedule Hub (printable PDFs by team and conference)
- All Conference USA Team Schedule PDFs
2026 Delaware Football FAQ
Who is Delaware’s head coach in 2026?
Ryan Carty returns as the Delaware head coach in 2026, leading the Blue Hens through their historic transition from FCS to FBS.
How many home games does Delaware have in 2026?
Delaware Blue Hens have six home games on the 2026 schedule, all played at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.
When is Delaware’s bye week in 2026?
Delaware has a bye on Saturday, October 10 on the 2026 schedule.
When will Delaware’s remaining game times and TV channels be announced?
Most remaining Conference USA game times and TV channels are announced about 12 days before each game. CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN+ slots are already locked in from the May 27 broadcast release.
Is 2026 Delaware’s first season as an FBS football program?
Yes. 2026 is Delaware’s first season at the FBS level after a long run in the FCS. The Blue Hens join Conference USA as part of the league’s 2026 expansion alongside Missouri State.
