Football Hosts FIU for Homecoming - University of Delaware Athletics

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team will host the FIU Panthers for Homecoming on Saturday, November 14 at 3 p.m. on ESPN+. This will be the second meeting all-time between the two programs, as Delaware won the inaugural matchup last season, 38-16.

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Delaware Game Notes | Delaware Press Conference
FIU Game Notes | FIU Press Conference

ABOUT THE FIGHTIN' BLUE HENS

The Fightin' Blue Hens enter the contest 4-5, 2-3 CUSA, coming off a 42-40 road loss at Kennesaw State.
QB Nick Minicucci leads the team with 1,885 passing yards and 16 passing TDs. His 269.3 passing yards per game lead Conference USA, while his 16 TDs are tied for the best in the league. Minicucci set a career high with 35 completions last week, throwing for 408 yards and two touchdowns. Minicucci's 35 completions are the fourth-most completions by a Delaware QB in a single game in program history. His 35 completions moves him to 596 for his career, passing Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco for the most passes completed all-time in a Delaware career. Minicucci surpassed the 300-passing yard mark for the 11th time in his career, tying him with Flacco for the program record. Minicucci became the first QB in program history to record back-to-back 400-yard passing games, marking the third of his career. Minicucci's 408 passing yards in the game moves him to 6,867 for his career, passing Bill Vergantino for third on the Delaware all-time career passing yards list. Minicucci's two passing touchdowns in the game moves him to 54 for his career, two shy of a tie for second on the Delaware all-time career passing touchdowns list (Nolan Henderson). Minicucci surpassed the 200-passing yard mark for the 18th time in his career, passing Nolan Henderson for third most by a Blue Hen.
RB Jo Silver tops the team with 416 rushing yards on the campaign to go with two rushing touchdowns. RB Viron Ellison Jr. leads the team in rushing TDs (5).
WRs Sean Wilson, the team's leading receiver, is third in CUSA with 639 receiving yards. Wilson also tops the squad with 46 catches and five touchdown receptions, both top five in CUSA.
LB Gavin Moul leads the Hens with 60 tackles.
BAN Blake Matthews has put constant pressure on the quarterback this season, tallying a team-best 5.0 sacks. His 5.0 sacks are tied for 63rd most in the country and fourth in Conference USA, while his 0.56 sacks per game are tied for 66th in the nation and fourth in the league. His 5.0 sacks are the most in a season by a UD non-defensive lineman since LB Jasawn Thompson recorded 7.0 in 2016. Matthews' TFL numbers are equally impressive, totaling 8.5 tackles for loss and 0.94 TFLs per game on the season, both landing him 60th nationally and fourth in CUSA.
WR Bryson Graves has been lethal on special teams this season. He blocked a punt for a touchdown at Vanderbilt and ranks 13th nationally in combined kick return yards with 404. In kick return average, his 22.4 average ranks 19th in the country. Against Missouri State, he tallied 160 kick return yards, which are the most by a Hen since 2012 when Michael Johnson had 223 against Villanova.
The Hens are 34th in the nation with 2.56 sacks/game. UD's 23 sacks this season are tied for 35th most in the FBS and two more than any other Conference USA team through nine games.
UD ranks 18th nationally and first in CUSA with 15 forced turnovers in 2026.
The Blue & Gold boast the No. 1 passing offense in Conference USA with 299.8 passing yards per contest, all while using five different quarterbacks and having two other players throw a pass.
Delaware is averaging 30.3 points per game (2nd in CUSA), while allowing 29.1 points per game (7th).
UD has recorded 406.6 yards of total offense per game (2nd in CUSA), while allowing 410.9 yards per game (9th).

ABOUT THE PANTHERS

The Panthers are 4-5, 2-3 CUSA, coming off a 23-20 home win over Missouri State.
FIU is led by second-year head coach Willie Simmons, who owns a 10-9 record with the Panthers. Simmons also made stops at Prairie View A&M and Florida A&M as a head coach, holding a career record of 76-33.
Former App State and Iowa State QB JJ Kohl runs the offense for the Panthers. He's completed 172-of-283 passes for 2,035 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season.
On the ground, FIU is led by RB Devonte Lyons with 650 yards and three touchdowns.
WR Maguire Anderson is the team's leading receiver with 610 receiving yards to go with four TDs.
On defense, DB Deandre Boykins leads the way with 51 tackles.
FIU is averaging 19.3 points per game (9th in CUSA), while allowing 20.3 points per game (3rd).
The Panthers have recorded 371.9 yards of total offense per game (5th in CUSA), while allowing 305.4 yards per game (2nd).

TICKET INFORMATION
Get your 2026 Delaware football tickets now by visiting bluehens.com/fbtickets.

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Players Mentioned

Viron Ellison Jr.

Bryson Graves

Blake Matthews

Nick Minicucci

Gavin Moul

Jo Silver

Sean Wilson

University of Delaware Athletics