University of Delaware Athletics
Thursday, August 28
Newark, Del.
7 PM
University of Delaware
vs
Delaware State
Photo by: Mikey Reeves
Football Opens Inaugural FBS Season Against Delaware State
8/25/2025 5:44:00 PM | Football
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team begins its first season at the FBS level Thursday night against in-state rival Delaware State at 7 p.m. in Delaware Stadium.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets | Delaware Game Notes | Delaware Press Conference
ABOUT THE HENS
Don't miss your chance to be part of the action at Delaware Stadium this fall. Get your single-game tickets for the 2025 Delaware home football season today!
Season tickets offer the best seats at the best price for every home game and come with great benefits, such as ticket priority for away games and invites to exclusive member-only events. Partial Plans offer fans flexible options and price savings over individual games.
For more information or to secure your seats, visit BlueHens.com/fbtickets.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware football, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets | Delaware Game Notes | Delaware Press Conference
ABOUT THE HENS
- The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens enter a new era, playing their first season at the FBS level in Conference USA.
- Delaware head coach Ryan Carty has never lost a home opener in his coaching career dating back to 2007, when he was the tight ends coach at New Hampshire. Dating back to his playing days in his first season as a quarterback at UD in 2002, Carty is 22-1 in home openers between being a player and a coach, suffering his only loss in 2004 against the team he eventually coached, UNH.
- The Blue Hens are led on offense by offensive coordinator Terence Archer with head coach Ryan Carty as the play caller. The offense returns five starters from a season ago (QB Nick Minicucci, WR Ja'Carree Kelly, WR Max Patterson, OL Anwar O'neal, and OL Patrick Shupp).
- The Blue & Gold defense is led by sixth-year defensive coordinator Manny Rojas. The defense returns eight starters from 2024 (DT Jack Hall, DT Keyshawn Hunter, LB Gavin Moul, LB Dillon Trainer, CB A'Khoury Lyde, S Hasson Manning Jr., S Jason Scott, and S KT Seay).
- UD's special teams are led by second-year special teams coordinator Rocco DiMeco, and features K Nate Reed (returnee), P Brendan Lach (Michigan Tech transfer), and LS Noah Vitko (returnee).
- Delaware State enters 2025 under first-year head coach and former three-time NFL Pro Bowl wide receiver, DeSean Jackson.
- Jackson comes to the Hornets after spending one season as an assistant coach at Woodrow Wilson High School (CA).
- Jackson takes over a team that won two total games the previous two seasons.
- The Hornets offense is likely to be led by Sacramento State transfer QB Kaiden Bennett, who appeared in 26 games with 12 starts from 2021-24. Also in the mix is Maryland transfer QB Jayden Sauray and incumbent QB Marqui Adams.
- In addition to Jackson, Delaware State's staff includes former two-time NFL Pro Bowl running back, Clinton Portis, as its running backs coach.
Don't miss your chance to be part of the action at Delaware Stadium this fall. Get your single-game tickets for the 2025 Delaware home football season today!
Season tickets offer the best seats at the best price for every home game and come with great benefits, such as ticket priority for away games and invites to exclusive member-only events. Partial Plans offer fans flexible options and price savings over individual games.
For more information or to secure your seats, visit BlueHens.com/fbtickets.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Delaware football, follow the Blue Hens on X, Instagram, and like on Facebook.
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