Conference USA Announces 2026 Football Schedule

NEWARK, Del. – The 2026 Conference USA football schedule has been released, the league announced late Thursday night. The University of Delaware football program's 12-game schedule includes the four previously announced non-conference games with eight CUSA contests, including four home and four away games. The 2025 68 Ventures Bowl Champion Fightin' Blue Hens' slate will feature matchups against eight teams that played in a bowl game last season.

The 2026 CUSA alignment will feature 11 teams with no divisions, including Delaware, FIU, Jax State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, LA Tech, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, and WKU. The 2026 schedule complies with CUSA scheduling policies as approved by the Board of Directors.

The Blue & Gold begin league action against Liberty for a Friday night on Parents & Family Weekend inside Delaware Stadium on October 2.

The next three weeks see the Fightin' Blue Hens take on first-time opponents with UD traveling to fellow second-year FBS member, Missouri State, on Wednesday, October 7. The following week sees the Hens host New Mexico State on Tuesday, October 13. The first-time foes conclude with the Blue & Gold traveling to 2025 CUSA champion, Kennesaw State, on Tuesday, October 20. All three games will be a part of "Weekday CUSA" action.

This marks the fourth season of "Weekday CUSA," which will see all October league matchups played on midweek evenings. CUSA's broadcast partners will share the October weeknight football games on linear television across CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.

Staying on the road, Delaware makes its first trip to Murfreesboro, Tenn. since 1978 with a Saturday, November 7 tilt at Middle Tennessee.

UD will host FIU on Saturday, November 14 for homecoming. The Panthers hold a special place in program history as the first-ever CUSA win for the Blue & Gold.

The following week, the Fightin' Blue Hens make the trip down to Ruston, La. on Saturday, November 21 for the first time since the 1982 NCAA I-AA Semifinals when Delaware defeated the Bulldogs, 17-0, to advance to the national championship.

A home finale will be held against 2025 league runner up, Jax State, on Saturday, November 28. This will be the Gamecocks first trip to Newark since 1978 in the NCAA DII Quarterfinals.

All dates are subject to change and game times will be announced at a later date.

2026 SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 3, 2026 - Delaware vs. Merrimack
Saturday, September 12, 2026 - Delaware at Vanderbilt
Saturday, September 19, 2026 - Delaware vs. Coastal Carolina
Saturday, September 26, 2026 - Delaware at Virginia
Friday, October 2, 2026 - Delaware vs. Liberty (Parents & Family Weekend)
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 - Delaware at Missouri State
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - Delaware vs. New Mexico State
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 - Delaware at Kennesaw State
Saturday, November 7, 2026 - Delaware at Middle Tennessee
Saturday, November 14, 2026 - Delaware vs. FIU (Homecoming)
Saturday, November 21, 2026 - Delaware at LA Tech
Saturday, November 28, 2026 - Delaware vs. Jax State

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

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