Report: Delaware to join Conference USA in 2025-26 season

Delaware’s days in the Coastal Athletic Association are numbered. On Monday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel provided further details on Delaware’s conference move.

“Conference USA is expected to [add] Delaware as a new member for the 2025-26 season,” Thamel said. “The sides have been in talks and a decision is expected to be formalized in the upcoming days.”

Delaware is currently in the CAA, an FCS conference. It won’t be the first program to leave for greener pastures. James Madison University left the CAA and joined the Sun Belt Conference in July 2022. JMU has enjoyed immense success during the transition, posting an 11-1 record this season.

Now, Delaware will look to imitate this success. From a winning standpoint, it certainly boasts an impressive resumé. Under head coach Ryan Carty, Delaware is 17-8, posting an 8-5 season last year and defeating Lafayette 36-34 on Saturday to advance to the second round of the FCS playoffs.

Delaware has no shortage of successful alumni, either, including Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco, who was a first-round NFL Draft pick, and 18-year NFL veteran Rich Gannon. More recently, the program produced 2019 second-round pick Nasir Adderly.

Other factors for Delaware to consider

The geographic price of the move will be hefty. Conference USA’s current members are Sam Houston State and UTEP in Texas, New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech, Jacksonville State in Alabama, Florida International, Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky and Liberty in Virginia. Additionally, Georgia’s Kennesaw State will join the conference next season.

Delaware better be comfortable with extensive trips. The Blue Hens will suffer a setback that has become nearly inevitable with conference realignment: distance. Of course, the move will come with no shortage of perks, either.

Conference USA is currently in its first year of a five-year media rights deal with CBS and ESPN. The lucrative deal reportedly earns each C-USA school $750,000 annually. While Delaware is familiar with heavy cash flow, it will need the extra capital.

“Only Liberty, a collegiate cash cow because of its religious ties and vast on-line student body, invests more in athletics than Delaware among C-USA members,” according to Delaware News Journal reporter Kevin Tresolini.

“Delaware would have to increase that investment significantly for the additional 22 football scholarships, staffing, travel and potential cost of adding a women’s team to meet Title IX gender-equity requirements.”

Moreover, Delaware will reportedly be the first FCS school required to pay $5 million application fee to move up to FBS. The Blue Hens’ move will increase the size of the Football Bowl Subdivision to 135 members.