Football Hosts Merrimack to Open 2026 Campaign

NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware football team will host Merrimack on Thursday, September 3 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ to open the 2026 season. This will be the first game between the two schools.

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ABOUT THE FIGHTIN' BLUE HENS

The Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens enter year two at the FBS level in Conference USA. UD capped off its inaugural campaign with a 20-13 victory in the 68 Ventures Bowl over Louisiana, becoming the second team all-time to win a bowl game in its first-FBS season (Jax State, 2023).
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 23-1 in home openers between being a player and a coach, suffering his only loss in 2004 against the team he eventually coached, New Hampshire.
The offense returns seven starters from a season ago (QB Nick Minicucci, RB Jo Silver, WR Sean Wilson, TE Elijah Sessoms, OL Anthony Caccese, OL Steven Demboski, and OL Noah Rosahac). Minicucci headlines the group after landing on five different national watchlists this preseason. The senior signal caller finished the 2025 campaign in the top 10 nationally in nearly every passing category and accounted for 23 touchdown passes and 10 rushing scores.
The defense returns five starters from 2025 (DE Noah Matthews, BAN Blake Matthews, LB Gavin Moul, S KT Seay, and CB Kshawn Cox Jr.). Moul returns as the team's leading tackler with 111 total stops last season.
UD's special teams features K Tucker Smack (Salisbury transfer), P Josh Cupitt (returnee), and LS Maddox Sills (returnee). Cupitt returns to the mix after missing the 2025 campaign due to injury.

ABOUT THE WARRIORS

The Warriors enter the contest 0-1, coming off a 34-7 loss to Rhode Island.
Merrimack is led by head coach Mike Gennetti, who owns a 9-15 record with the Warriors.
Merrimack's offense is led by QB AJ Hairston and QB Cole Meehan, who combined for 261 passing yards in the season opener last week.
The Warriors are led on the ground by RB DeMarcus McElroy, who ran for 45 yards against Rhode Island, while RB Matthias Latham was the only Warrior to find the endzone.
WR Bryce Goulet is the team's leading receiver with four catches and 67 receiving yards last week.
On defense, LB Micah Green had nine tackles against Rhode Island to lead the team.

TICKET INFORMATION
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Players Mentioned

Anthony Caccese

Kshawn Cox Jr.

Josh Cupitt

Steven Demboski

Blake Matthews

Noah Matthews

Nick Minicucci

Gavin Moul

Noah Rosahac

KT Seay

Elijah Sessoms

Maddox Sills

Jo Silver

Tucker Smack

Sean Wilson

University of Delaware Athletics