Checking In On The Newest Members Of Conference USA

College Football, specifically at the FBS level, is going to look different from last season. Two programs are moving up from the FCS level, both set to become members of Conference USA – the Delaware Blue Hens and Missouri State Bears.

The FIU Panthers are set to take on BOTH teams this season. Their first CUSA matchup at home is against Delaware, and they have a midweek matchup on the road against Missouri State.

Both members join Conference USA with success at the FCS level and plenty of history. So, ahead of time, get to know the two programs bringing the member total of CUSA up to 12… for now.

The Delaware Blue Hens

The University of Delaware opened its doors in 1743, making it older than the United States. Their football program is equally old, beginning in 1889. The team name stems from the Revolutionary War. Captain Jonathan Caldwell of the Delaware regiment owned a farm, was fond of cockfighting, and brought along Blue Hens to battle.

They’re located in the city of Newark, right on the northwestern tip of the state, while Dover (the state capital) is closer to central Delaware. It’s geographically in between Baltimore, Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Delaware has been a member of the CAA – Coastal Athletic Association – since 2007. FIU faithful should be familiar with that FCS conference, as it’s also home to former opponents like Bryant and Monmouth.

(most) Game times and TV are set! Can't come soon enough 🙌

📰: https://t.co/pIzSEQqf6P pic.twitter.com/VpR00cr6YP

— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB) May 29, 2025

Last season was great for the Blue Hens. They recorded a 9-2 record, going 7-0 at home and 6-2 in conference play. They could have qualified for a spot in the FCS playoffs, but they were barred from competing in it because of the move to CUSA.

If you’re looking for notable alumni from Delaware, former US president Joe Biden is a pretty big one. But for football specifically, look no further than Joe Flacco. The Super Bowl XLVII MVP for the Baltimore Ravens spent three seasons with the Blue Hens.

The Panthers will welcome Delaware to Pitbull Stadium on Saturday, September 20th at 6pm. The game can be seen on an ESPN platform to be announced during the season.

The Missouri State Bears

Missouri State University was founded in 1905 and was formerly called Southwest Missouri State College. Their football program began four years later in 1909. The flag of Missouri features a pair of Bears in the center, hence the team name.

You can find Missouri State in the city of Springfield. Like their former name would suggest, it’s in the southwest corner of the state, while Kansas City is in the northwest of Missouri, while St. Louis is in the east. Route 66, Bass Pro Shops, and O’Reilly Auto Parts all began in Springfield.

The Bears have been members of the Missouri Valley Football Conference since 1985. This is a powerhouse conference in FCS, featuring all four schools in North Dakota and South Dakota, including the defending FCS champion North Dakota State Bison.

𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 📺

MoState Football will be featured on national TV 5⃣ times in 2025! 🐻

Full list of game times ➡️ https://t.co/flYRPYA6AH #OutHitOutHustle | #ProveIt pic.twitter.com/ro5VCauDd3

— Missouri State Football (@MoStateFootball) May 29, 2025

Just like Delaware, Missouri State is joining Conference USA on a high note, They posted a 6-4 record in 2024, including a 6-2 record in conference play. However, also like Delaware, they were ineligible to compete in the FCS playoffs because of the move to CUSA. And yes, they lost by a score of 59-21 to the Bison.

Missouri State has produced award-winning actors over the decades, including John Goodman and Kathleen Turner. The Bears don’t have notable football alumni like Delaware, but have produced NFL talent nonetheless. That includes offensive lineman David Arkin, who played for the Miami Dolphins in 2013.

FIU will take a trip to Springfield to face the Bears on Wednesday, October 29th at 8pm. The game can be seen on CBS Sports Network.

What Else Is Going On In FBS?

Now, this isn’t the season that the West Coast is set to change forever, with the Pac-12 being “reborn” and the Mountain West, MAC, and CUSA set to be pillaged. That’s next year, so stay tuned. And no, the Panthers aren’t likely to move anytime soon.

Aside from the Delaware and Missouri State additions, the only other change to the FBS landscape in 2025 is UMass no longer being an independent program, joining the MAC full time.

That leaves Notre Dame and UConn as the two remaining independent FBS programs. FIU plays the Huskies on October 4th at 3:30pm in East Hartford, Connecticut.