According to numerous reports and first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Delaware is expected to join Conference USA beginning with the 2025-26 athletic year. Delaware would give CUSA 11 full members as Kennesaw State is set to join the league next year as the 10th.

Delaware and Kennesaw State will add to the current list of nine full members in CUSA of Liberty, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston, UTEP, and FIU.

Delaware has played football in the FCS since 1980, moving up just one year after winning the Division II national championship. The Blue Hens won the FCS national championship in 2003 under current CUSA member Sam Houston head coach K.C. Keeler.

Under head coach Ryan Carty, Delaware is 17-8, posting an 8-5 season in 2022 and 9-3 mark this season. The Blue Hens defeated Lafayette, 36-34, on Saturday in the first round of the FCS Playoffs. They will take on No. 2 Montana this Saturday.

Carty spent four years as Keeler’s offensive coordinator at Sam Houston and was the quarterback of the 2003 national championship team. The Blue Hens have qualified for the FCS playoffs five times in the last 13 years.

Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Flacco played his football at Delaware before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Delaware is currently 5-2 in men’s basketball this season under head coach Martin Inglesby. Competing in the CAA, the Blue Hens reached the NCAA Tournament in 2022 as a 15-seed.

The Blue Hens won a field hockey national championship in 2016, and Elena Delle Donne led the Blue Hens’ women’s basketball team to the Sweet 16 in 2013.