The FCS to FBS transition isn’t supposed to be easy. Even in an era where the transfer portal grants these programs additional assistance and resources, many newcomers struggle out of the gate before finding their footing. Not Delaware or Missouri State.
Wednesday night Weekday CUSA showcased both of the FBS’s 2025 newcomers on a national stage, and both earned hard-fought victories to improve to 4-3 on the season — although both are ineligible for the Conference USA Championship Game:
- Delaware (4-3, 2-2 CUSA) 31, Middle Tennessee (1-6, 0-3 CUSA) 28
- Missouri State (4-3, 2-1 CUSA) 24, New Mexico State (3-4, 1-3 CUSA) 17
Now let’s review
what went down Wednesday night on the gridiron:
Delaware completes successful blackout
Newark, DE was the college football capital of Wednesday night, bringing a strong midweek crowd exceeding 14,000 for Fightin’ Blue Hens football. Delaware enlivened the atmosphere with new blackout uniforms, complete with white wings of victory on the helmet. The Dollar Dog Night promotion certainly brought in some fans looking for a glizzy centric dinner, but the ultimate feast was Delaware’s passing game vs. Middle Tennessee’s defense.
Quarterback Nick Minicucci threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, guiding the Hens to a 17-point second quarter after trailing 14-7 after the opening frame. Minicucci connected on two touchdowns to leading receiver Kyre Duplessis and twice to fellow receiver Sean Wilson, while evenly distributing the ball to a bulk of receivers. Both teams committed a pair of turnovers in a somewhat sloppy game, but the score was closer than the game indicated. Middle Tennessee never possessed the ball with a chance to lead in the second half, as Nick Vattiato delivered his third and final touchdown pass with 1:03 remaining. Then Delaware scooped up the onside kick to improve its record to 4-3.
Missouri State seals it in overtime
For the second-straight night, the latter Weekday CUSA matchup was decided in overtime fashion. New Mexico State and Missouri State made it past 12:30 a.m. on the East Coast in their showdown in Las Cruces before a victor was decided.
Last week, New Mexico State ended regulation on a missed tying field goal, nearly forcing overtime against Liberty. This week, the Aggies lined up on the opposite side of a clutch field goal attempt to conclude regulation. Missouri State kicker Yousef Obied attempted to win it from 50 yards out but his kick sailed right of the uprights.
In overtime, Missouri State wasted no time in reaching the end zone as Jacob Clark found Ronnel Johnson for a 7-yard touchdown on the fourth play. One snap later, it was over. New Mexico State quarterback Logan Fife was picked off by Dylan Dixson on a savvy one-handed snag, securing the Bears’ second CUSA win in three tries.
The game was filled with turnovers. Fife threw four interceptions including the costly overtime pick, and Dixson’s overtime winner wasn’t Missouri State’s only highlight-reel worthy takeaway. Thomas Anderson grabbed one interception around the receiver’s helmet in the late second quarter, preventing the Aggies from breaking a 7-7 tie.
Clark — in his first game back from an injury suffered Sept. 27 — threw two interceptions but offset his mistakes with 283 passing yards and three touchdowns in a triumphant return. Shomari Lawrence added 97 rushing yards and Johnson contributed 99 in the receiving game to allow the Bears to move to 4-3 on the season. The first-year FBS team is now 3-1 on the road, taking down Marshall, Middle Tennessee, and New Mexico State all in one-score thrillers.
