Делавэр готов выиграть чемпионат конференции CUSA во второй год участия

The Blue Hen is the state bird of Delaware. While they aren’t classified as flightless birds, Blue Hens are capable of fluttering wings and taking off for short distances. They may not be flying to the top of a building, but one place they could be flying is under the radar. Three reasons why Delaware is ready to win the CUSA in year two The Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens joined Conference USA last season, but they never set out a goal win the league… because they simply couldn’t. Due to restrictions applied to teams transitioning from the FCS to the FBS, Delaware was ineligible for the CUSA Championship Game. However, the Fightin’ Blue Hens aren’t just eligible in 2026. They have the tools to realistically compete for a spot in the game on Friday, Dec. 4. Most oddsmakers list Delaware as the fourth-highest favorite to win the CUSA, trailing Liberty, Western Kentucky, and Jacksonville State. However, Delaware has several advantages working in its favor, highlighted by the greatest year-over-year stability in the conference. Head coach Ryan Carty returns along with 12 primary starters from a team that finished 7-6 and capped its inaugural FBS season with a 68 Ventures Bowl victory over Louisiana. The last two CUSA champions — 2024 Jacksonville State and 2025 Kennesaw State — were both in their second seasons as FBS programs when they lifted the trophy. Is Delaware next? Here are three reasons to buy Blue Hens stock: 1. Minicucci Mania Delaware returns one of the nation’s most productive quarterbacks. Nick Minicucci finished sixth in the country with 3,683 passing yards, and he delivered 23 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns in a spectacular transition to the FBS level. Minicucci wasn’t even the Week 1 starter. Instead, he took over on the second possession of the season after Zach Marker suffered an injury. Now, Delaware gets an experienced, more polished version of Minicucci who spent the entire offseason preparing as QB1. The dual-threat quarterback appears on the Maxwell Davey O’Brien, and Walter Camp Award watchlists, setting the stage for another stellar season in the CUSA. And he’ll be surrounded by familiar faces. Three starting linemen return to provide protection, including All-CUSA center Steven Demboski. His top two rushers — 68 Ventures Bowl MVP Jo Silver and Viron Ellison Jr. — also are back, as is his No. 1 receiver Sean Wilson, who hauled in 68 receptions for 877 yards in 2025. With those pieces last year, Delaware ranked second in the CUSA in scoring offense, first in total offense, and first in passing offense. An offense that explosive, entering a season with established chemistry across all skill positions and within the offensive line, could do wonders for the Hens’ conference title aspirations. 2. DPOY potential with Seay, Moul Let’s get to the elephant in the room: Delaware’s defense wasn’t great in 2025. The unit had its moments, most notably in the 20-13 bowl victory over Louisiana, but it allowed north of 30 points in six of 13 contests, and more than 40 on three occasions. The Fightin’ Blue Hens finished 116th in scoring defense, 103rd in total defense, and 116th in passing defense. However, there is reason to believe the unit takes a step forward. Five starters return, headlined by First Team All-CUSA free safety KT Seay. Seay was an omnipresent force for the 2025 Blue Hens, racking up 91 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. His decision to remain in Newark was massive for the unit, as was the return of middle linebacker Gavin Moul. Moul finished top 20 in the FBS with 111 tackles and added 6.5 tackles for loss, while demonstrating his effectiveness in coverage. In a conference which regularly loses its top defenders to the transfer portal, having talents like Seay and Moul back in the fold is a significant advantage. Both enter 2026 with legitimate CUSA Defensive Player of the Year potential. Defensive end Noah Matthews, outside linebacker Blake Matthews, and cornerback Kshawn Cox Jr. are the other starters complementing them in the lineup. There are holes to fill — particularly within the pass rush — but Delaware enters 2026 with one of the stronger defensive foundations in the CUSA. Even marginal improvement from last year could be enough to elevate the Fightin’ Blue Hens from a 7-6 finish to two or three more victories in 2026. 3. Toughest games are at home There were essentially two versions of Delaware last season. At Delaware Stadium, the Fightin’ Blue Hens were nearly unbeatable. They finished 5-1 at home, taking down 9-4 UConn and 8-5 Louisiana Tech, while dropping 61 points on UTEP. Their only loss was on a missed field goal at the buzzer against 9-4 Western Kentucky. But when Delaware left the 302 area code, things got rocky. The Hens finished 1-5 on the road with their lone victory coming against FIU. Four of their five losses were by at least 13 points, while the other was a head-scratcher to 2-10 Sam Houston. The good news for Delaware? Its most challenging conference contests are at home in 2026. The Fightin’ Blue Hens host an expected resurgent Liberty for their CUSA opener on Friday, Oct. 3. Then on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, they welcome a Jacksonville State team that has hosted the last two CUSA Championship Games. The road schedule could present some challenges in trips to WKU and Kennesaw State. But getting the Flames and Gamecocks in Newark could be a game-changer for a program that displayed such stark discrepancies in home and road performance last season. If Delaware continues its home dominance and captures one of those road wins over WKU or Kennesaw State, the path to the CUSA Championship Game becomes remarkably clearer.