NEWARK, Del. — The University of Delaware has accepted an invitation to join Conference USA as a full-league member effective July 1, 2025, as both organizations announced jointly on Tuesday.

"UD ranks among the nation's leading public research institutions and is recognized nationally for delivering exceptional professional outcomes for our students," University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis said. "Joining Conference USA will present opportunities to not only broaden exposure of our athletics programs, but also enhance awareness and visibility of our excellent academic offerings, our ground-breaking research initiatives and our enduring impact on our community and the world."

The Blue Hens will compete in Conference USA in baseball, men's and women's basketball, cross country, football, men's and women's golf, women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis, track & field, and volleyball. More information will become available in the coming months about where the other seven programs will compete in the future.

"The opportunity to join Conference USA is a very proud moment for our entire university," Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. "With this step forward, we will continue to offer an incredible student-athlete experience and elevate the visibility of all that is remarkable about UD. We couldn't be more excited for the entire state of Delaware and how this will bring the 302 together."

All UD varsity programs will remain in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) through the 2024-2025 season, with all sports except football maintaining eligibility to compete for conference championships and NCAA postseason play.

Per NCAA rules, football will not be eligible for a conference title or the FCS playoffs once the transition process begins at the conclusion of this season. In the 2024 season, football will have an FCS schedule that will be announced in the coming months. In 2025, football will compete in Conference USA, and will be eligible for a Conference USA regular season championship. In 2026, football will be eligible to compete in the Conference USA Championship game and a bowl game.

"Thanks to our recently opened Whitney Athletic Center and improvements to Delaware Stadium and other facilities, we are confident that we have the infrastructure in place at UD to compete with the very best in college football and simultaneously witness the growth of our other intercollegiate programs in the department," Rawak said. "UD Athletics continues to ascend, and Blue Hen football is prepared to take the next step and lead the way."

The University continues to have a strong commitment to Title IX and gender equity. With the move to FBS football and the additional scholarships it requires, Delaware will begin to sponsor another women's varsity sport, which will be announced at a later date.

Delaware has posted its two best LEARFIELD Directors' Cup finishes since 1998 over the past two seasons, ranking 104th and 114th, respectively, with the 2021-22 ranking leading the CAA.

Last season alone, Delaware had five conference championships, a pair of NCAA victories, and two individual NCAA qualifiers. Other notable national accolades include regularly ranked football and men's lacrosse programs, and doubles pair in women's tennis. Nine Blue Hens garnered All-American honors in 2022-23, with six national player of the week awards.

Historically, the Blue & Gold have shown competitive excellence in all walks of athletics. The Hens boast an impressive 529 All-Americans, 137 conference titles, and 10 national championships in the University's storied history.

Conference USA is an NCAA Division I conference championing success in college athletics through dedicated leadership, dynamic partnership, and diverse membership. Founded in 1995 and based in Dallas, CUSA is home to nine schools: FIU, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP, and WKU. Kennesaw State joins the league in 2024 and Delaware begins competition in 2025.

"Adding the University of Delaware is a tremendous opportunity for Conference USA as we strategically position ourselves for continued success," Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod said. "We are excited to add the state's flagship university with its rich history in athletics and academics and look forward to our partnership with President Dennis Assanis, Director of Athletics Chrissi Rawak, and their leadership group."

The University of Delaware's academic programs are among the nation's best and its research classification places the University in the top 3% of all U.S. universities and colleges. Announced in September, UD ranks No. 76 among national universities and No. 36 nationally among public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Best Colleges rankings. In addition, the 2024 edition of Best Graduate Schools, U.S. News and World Report has ranked 22 University of Delaware graduate programs among the best in the nation including 10 in the top 50.  UD Is also a top-50 university in the U.S. for veterans and active-duty military.

"This is a very exciting time for the University of Delaware," Board of Trustees Chair Terri L. Kelly said. "President Assanis and Chrissi Rawak have our full support as they guide our Blue Hens into this new chapter for UD Athletics."

UD's outstanding academic reputation also translates to UD Athletics and UD student-athletes who complement their athletic success with strong academic performances. In the 2022-23 academic year, Blue Hens compiled a cumulative 3.286 grade-point average—the highest in department history, excluding academic terms impacted by COVID-19. This marked the ninth-consecutive year and the 19th-straight semester in which UD student-athletes have posted a 3.00 GPA or better.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why is moving to Conference USA a good decision for the University of Delaware?
Moving to Conference USA will allow our student-athletes to compete at a higher level. Research indicates that competing at the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) level provides considerable benefits to the institution as a whole, including increased national exposure, increased fundraising opportunities, applications and enrollment benefits, and more. The University of Delaware has undergone a substantial feasibility and likelihood-of-success study to determine that this is the right time and the right next step for our university.

In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, as well as continuing conference realignment, the timing of a move to Conference USA and the FBS is right, and the University of Delaware is well prepared for this moment. 

Was the decision to move to Conference USA only about Football?  
While the desire to move to the FBS level was the impetus for the University of Delaware changing conferences, the decision to move conferences was made with consideration to the entire athletic department, each of our student-athletes and programs, and our University as a whole. We determined that moving to Conference USA is the right decision for the University of Delaware. 

Can UD still compete for CAA championships this season?
Yes, UD can still compete for CAA championships in all sports for the 2023-24 season. The CAA adjusted its bylaws, allowing all teams to compete for CAA championships through the duration of their membership in the conference, with the exception of football in the fall 2024 season because of the NCAA reclassification rules.

When will the University of Delaware officially make the move?
All of our programs will continue in the CAA through next academic year and every team besides football will be able to compete for championships. On July 1, 2025 we will fully enter Conference USA. 

How long will it take UD to fully transition to FBS?
UD will fully transition to FBS within 2 years. Next season, in fall 2024, we will compete in the FCS and in 2025 we will compete in Conference USA and are eligible for a regular season championship. In 2026, we can compete for a Conference USA Championship and we will be eligible to play in a bowl game. 

Did UD complete a feasibility study about moving to FBS?
Yes, UD completed a substantial feasibility and likelihood of success study, consulting with leaders in the college athletics landscape including CarrSports Consulting completing a feasibility study, EConsult Solutions Inc. completing an economic impact study, and Judy Sweet completing a Title IX and gender equity study. UD is confident that moving to the FBS is the right move for the University of Delaware and Delaware Athletics.

Will UD add a women's sport in order to meet Title IX compliance?
Yes, we are excited to add a varsity women's sport that will be announced in the coming week.

What media rights contract does Conference USA have and where will UD's games be broadcast?
With the start of the 2023-24 athletic season, CUSA launched multi-year agreements with ESPN and CBS Sports Network. The new agreement with CBSSN positions them with tier one selection status for CUSA football (18 games annually) and men's basketball (18 games annually) over the length of the partnership, while also televising the football championship, men's basketball semifinal and championship games, the women's basketball championship game, and baseball and softball championship games.

ESPN linear networks carry eight midweek football games per season via the October midweek scheduling. In addition, ESPN+ carries all additional regular season football games, while serving as the exclusive digital home for all of Conference USA's Olympic sports (soccer, volleyball, baseball, softball, etc.), including all CUSA tournament games aside from the title games for baseball and softball, which will air on CBS Sports Network. Consolidating all digital inventory with ESPN provides a much more streamlined process for CUSA fans under one banner. Over 450 live sporting events will be available and streaming on ESPN+.

ESPN linear networks broadcast a minimum of five regular season men's basketball games and one regular season women's basketball game on its linear networks, while holding digital rights to all additional women's regular season basketball games and all men's basketball regular season games beyond CBS Sports Network's selections.

Hasn't UD been a part of the CAA for a long time?
The University of Delaware has been a full member of the CAA—recently renamed the Coastal Athletic Association—since 2001. UD has proudly represented the conference during that time.

Does Conference USA sponsor all UD sports?  
No, Conference USA does not currently sponsor field hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, rowing, men's soccer, and men's and women's swimming & diving. 

What is the plan for the sports Conference USA does not currently sponsor?
Just as we were relentless in finding an opportunity with Conference USA, we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of a conference for each of our programs not sponsored by Conference USA. 
We are currently looking at options for each of these sport programs, which may include remaining in the CAA as an affiliate member, or joining other conferences as an affiliate member. Affiliates are not uncommon in college athletics. We are committed to providing high-quality and championship-caliber experiences for all of our student-athletes who represent the University of Delaware. We have invested into every one of our varsity programs and, whatever the next steps look like, our commitment to resourcing all of our teams to win will not change. 

What is the difference between FBS and FCS?
The Football Bowl Subdivision, or FBS, is named for its series of postseason bowl games. Beginning in 2014, FBS replaced its one-game championship with a four-team playoff. That field will expand to 12 teams in 2024–25. The Football Championship Subdivision, or FCS, declares a national champion through a 24 team bracket playoff system.

When can UD compete for FBS bowl eligibility?
UD can compete in a bowl game in the 2026 season, as the NCAA requires two years of transition to become a full FBS member. 

Will UD play future games that have been previously scheduled?
We will be working on our schedule for future seasons. We are looking forward to scheduling exciting home games with other FBS teams at Delaware Stadium, as well as great road trips for our fans. We will work through each scheduled game with the respective institution and share more information once it's available. 

Will UD have to pay a CAA exit fee or an entry fee upon joining the new conference?
Yes, there is an exit fee associated with leaving the CAA, an entry fee associated with joining Conference USA and a NCAA reclassification fee for moving to FBS football. The cost associated with all fees is $6 million, and will be fundraised from external sources. We did factor this into our financial feasibility study, and no university subsidy will be provided for these fees.

What will this mean for ticket prices?
Over the past seven years, we have worked hard to add value to the gameday experience and provide seating options at a variety of price points. Our new video board, updated concessions areas, premium seats, and club spaces are all examples of investments that have been made to improve our fans' experiences. We evaluate our ticket prices annually based on the amenities we provide and our desire to keep our games affordable for everyone to attend.

What does this mean for athletics revenue generation?
Athletics revenues will increase as a result of this move, through a combination of conference media revenue distribution, guarantee games, sponsorships, and financial support from our donors and fans. 

Are there facility needs as a result of this proposed move?
There are no requirements from a facility standpoint to reclassify to FBS.