Game Day: Delaware
10/1/2026 4:37:00 PM | Football
Liberty (3-1, 0-0 CUSA) kicks off its fourth season of CUSA play on Friday, traveling to Delaware (2-2, 0-0 CUSA) for the first time.
Broadcast Information:
TV: CBS Sports Network
Game Day Information:
Location: Newark, Del.
Stadium: Delaware Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
"4 Downs" with Delaware
#1 Liberty will visit Delaware Stadium for the first time on Friday. The host Flames topped Delaware 59-30 on Nov. 1, 2025 in the teams' first-ever gridiron meeting. That contest marks Liberty's most recent CUSA victory, as the Flames lost four straight conference games to close out the 2025 season. Liberty is 1-1 when opening CUSA play on the road.
#2 Liberty and Delaware have both recorded victories over Coastal Carolina this season. The Fightin' Blue Hens defeated the Chanticleers 22-14 on Sept. 19, five days before Liberty notched a 34-17 triumph at Coastal Carolina. Two of the Flames' three victories this season have come after Liberty trailed at halftime. The Flames have outscored opponents 66-14 during the second half thus far in 2026. Last season, Liberty was outscored 207-161 after halftime.
#3 Liberty has only allowed one opposing QB to throw for 300 yards since the start of 2024 (Delaware's Nick Minicucci in 2025). The Flames rank No. 6 nationally this season for passing efficiency defense (96.55) and No. 13 for passing yards allowed (152.5). Offensively, Liberty QB Deshawn Purdie sits No. 3 in the nation for passing yards per completion (16.57).
#4 The Flames have held opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter of four straight games to begin the season for the first time in program history. Friday marks the first of Liberty's four scheduled CBS Sports Network appearances this season. The Flames are 14-6 all-time when appearing on the network.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...
CUSA Success
Despite losing its last four CUSA games last season, Liberty is 26-9 all-time against Conference USA members (at time of meeting).
Each of Liberty's last four games last season saw the deciding points scored within the last minute of regulation or overtime. In total, 50 percent of CUSA games were decided by one score during 2025.
Liberty is 17-8 versus CUSA teams since joining the league in 2023. The Flames went 8-0 in conference play during their first year in CUSA and got off to a 3-0 CUSA start in 2024 before losing to Kennesaw State.
First State
Liberty has posted a 11-5 record all-time against teams from Delaware, including 5-3 at home and 6-2 when playing in the First State.
The Flames are 1-0 against Delaware, with the first meeting being a 59-30 Liberty home win over the Blue Hens last season.
Liberty's eight previous games inside Delaware were all at Delaware State. The Flames' last visit to the First State came Sept. 23, 2000, a 42-25 Delaware State win over Liberty.
Vs. Bowl Teams
Delaware played in a bowl game in its first year of FBS play last season. The Blue Hens beat Louisiana 20-13 in the 68 Ventures Bowl. Delaware is one out of seven teams on Liberty's schedule who competed in bowl games last season.
James Madison - College Football Playoff (L to Oregon)
Coastal Carolina - Independence Bowl (L to LA Tech)
Delaware - 68 Ventures Bowl (Beat Louisiana)
Kennesaw State - Myrtle Beach Bowl (L to WMU)
FIU - First Responder Bowl (L to UTSA)
WKU - New Orleans Bowl (Beat Southern Miss)
Missouri State - Xbox Bowl (L to Arkansas State)
Room to Breathe
After playing six straight games decided by seven or fewer points, Liberty scored 31 points in a row during its 51-15 victory over Ball State on Sept. 19.
The Flames then defeated Coastal Carolina, 34-17, last Thursday. Liberty has posted 20+-point scoring runs in each of the last two games.
The last time Liberty won consecutive games by 17 points or more was Nov. 4-18, 2023, when the Flames posted three straight wins of more than 17 points.
Broadcast Information:
TV: CBS Sports Network
- Broadcast team: Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play) and Emory Hunt (analyst)
- Broadcast team: Alan York (play-by-play), Jason Porter (analyst) and Nick Pierce (sidelines)
Game Day Information:
Location: Newark, Del.
Stadium: Delaware Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Game Notes
- Parking
- More Game Day Central links
"4 Downs" with Delaware
#1 Liberty will visit Delaware Stadium for the first time on Friday. The host Flames topped Delaware 59-30 on Nov. 1, 2025 in the teams' first-ever gridiron meeting. That contest marks Liberty's most recent CUSA victory, as the Flames lost four straight conference games to close out the 2025 season. Liberty is 1-1 when opening CUSA play on the road.
#2 Liberty and Delaware have both recorded victories over Coastal Carolina this season. The Fightin' Blue Hens defeated the Chanticleers 22-14 on Sept. 19, five days before Liberty notched a 34-17 triumph at Coastal Carolina. Two of the Flames' three victories this season have come after Liberty trailed at halftime. The Flames have outscored opponents 66-14 during the second half thus far in 2026. Last season, Liberty was outscored 207-161 after halftime.
#3 Liberty has only allowed one opposing QB to throw for 300 yards since the start of 2024 (Delaware's Nick Minicucci in 2025). The Flames rank No. 6 nationally this season for passing efficiency defense (96.55) and No. 13 for passing yards allowed (152.5). Offensively, Liberty QB Deshawn Purdie sits No. 3 in the nation for passing yards per completion (16.57).
#4 The Flames have held opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter of four straight games to begin the season for the first time in program history. Friday marks the first of Liberty's four scheduled CBS Sports Network appearances this season. The Flames are 14-6 all-time when appearing on the network.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...
- Give the Flames their first four-game winning streak since Liberty opened the 2024 season with five consecutive victories (Aug. 31-Oct. 8, 2024).
- Make the Flames 3-1 all-time in CUSA openers and 13-7 all-time in conference openers.
- Boost the Flames' all-time record against CUSA foes (at time of meeting) to 27-9, including an 18-8 mark since Liberty joined the conference in 2023.
- Improve the Flames' record in October contests to 8-2 under Jamey Chadwell.
- Push the Flames' all-time record when playing on Friday to 3-6, including a 3-2 mark at the FBS level.
- Give the Flames a 7-2 record when playing in the state of Delaware.
- Snap Delaware's five-game home winning streak and deal the Fightin' Blue Hens only their second home defeat since the start of the 2024 season. Delaware entered Friday with a 15-1 record in its last 16 home outings.
CUSA Success
Despite losing its last four CUSA games last season, Liberty is 26-9 all-time against Conference USA members (at time of meeting).
Each of Liberty's last four games last season saw the deciding points scored within the last minute of regulation or overtime. In total, 50 percent of CUSA games were decided by one score during 2025.
Liberty is 17-8 versus CUSA teams since joining the league in 2023. The Flames went 8-0 in conference play during their first year in CUSA and got off to a 3-0 CUSA start in 2024 before losing to Kennesaw State.
First State
Liberty has posted a 11-5 record all-time against teams from Delaware, including 5-3 at home and 6-2 when playing in the First State.
The Flames are 1-0 against Delaware, with the first meeting being a 59-30 Liberty home win over the Blue Hens last season.
Liberty's eight previous games inside Delaware were all at Delaware State. The Flames' last visit to the First State came Sept. 23, 2000, a 42-25 Delaware State win over Liberty.
Vs. Bowl Teams
Delaware played in a bowl game in its first year of FBS play last season. The Blue Hens beat Louisiana 20-13 in the 68 Ventures Bowl. Delaware is one out of seven teams on Liberty's schedule who competed in bowl games last season.
James Madison - College Football Playoff (L to Oregon)
Coastal Carolina - Independence Bowl (L to LA Tech)
Delaware - 68 Ventures Bowl (Beat Louisiana)
Kennesaw State - Myrtle Beach Bowl (L to WMU)
FIU - First Responder Bowl (L to UTSA)
WKU - New Orleans Bowl (Beat Southern Miss)
Missouri State - Xbox Bowl (L to Arkansas State)
Room to Breathe
After playing six straight games decided by seven or fewer points, Liberty scored 31 points in a row during its 51-15 victory over Ball State on Sept. 19.
The Flames then defeated Coastal Carolina, 34-17, last Thursday. Liberty has posted 20+-point scoring runs in each of the last two games.
The last time Liberty won consecutive games by 17 points or more was Nov. 4-18, 2023, when the Flames posted three straight wins of more than 17 points.
Players Mentioned
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