Last Tuesday marked the official additions of the Delaware Blue Hens and Missouri State Bears to Conference USA, coinciding with the beginning of July.

Both programs had been slated to join the league for more than a year. The Herald reported Missouri State’s admission on May 10, 2024, and Delaware’s on Nov. 27, 2023.

Delaware’s move to C-USA elevates the Blue Hens from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The promotion begins a new chapter for a program that won the 2003 FCS national title and produced 2013 Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.

In 2024, Delaware went 6-2 in the Coastal Athletic Association and finished 9-2 overall. Despite a 9-point performance against Richmond in October, the Blue Hens’ offense delivered across the season, scoring 40 or more points in 6 of their 11 games. Their two losses came after allowing 28 and 38 points to Richmond and Villanova, respectively.

WKU visits Delaware on Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. in Newark.

Missouri State, also promoted to the FBS with its move to C-USA, finished 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Bears defeated WKU’s in-state rival, Murray State, 59-31 on Nov. 9.

WKU faces Missouri State on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. in Springfield.

Sports Editor Nathan Mueller can be reached at [email protected]