2024 Delaware vs Richmond

Time To Talk About Delaware Football And 5 More Must-Watch Games In Week 8

Time To Talk About Delaware Football And 5 More Must-Watch Games In Week 8

Persona non grata, Delaware Football may be the best team in the FCS. The Blue Hens play Richmond this week, so it's time address the FBS in the room.

Oct 17, 2024 by Joe Harrington
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Contrary to popular belief, the University of Delaware Athletics Department has fielded an 11-man, Division I FCS football team in 2024. 

Delaware won't next year, but the school did this year. And that's the problem when talking about the soon-to-be Division I FBS football program in 2025. 

By all accounts, the Blue Hens are one of the best FCS teams in the nation this season. But you wouldn't know that if your football-consuming brain follows just the rankings. 

Delaware is ineligible for all things postseason and conference championships this year via a somewhat unfair system that makes teams elevating divisions ineligible for postseason play. And it won't just be for this year. The transition rule will keep Delaware from postseason play next season.  

But the Blue Hens still can finish undefeated. And they still can finish with the CAA's best record. So far, they're 6-0 and 3-0 in CAA play. Who can stop them?

No. 15 Richmond Football will try.

Assuming in a normal year the Blue Hens would be ranked in the top 10 and possibly as high as No.5 Villanova (5-1 overall) is, this matchup arguably is the most consequential in all of FCS this week, outside of the mega showdown between No. 1 South Dakota State and No. 2 North Dakota State on Oct. 19. 

Richmond is 4-2 overall and 2-0 in CAA play. The Spiders have won four straight games since starting 0-2. They're coming off a bye week and are hosting a team they're unlikely to play in conference - perhaps ever.

True, Delaware can't make the playoffs and is being treated like the team doesn't exist by the FCS rankings. But the Blue Hens will be playing in one of the best games of the weekend against one of the best FCS teams in the nation. 

It's a must-watch game, and it's streaming on FloFootball and the FloSports app. 

Here are five more just like it across the FCS and Division II football landscapes that will streaming on our platforms.  

Why To Watch Rhode Island Vs. UNH Football

  • Records:
    • No. 17 Rhode Island: 5-1
    • No 19 New Hampshire: 4-2
  • 1 p.m. on Oct. 19
  • Stream link 

Read all about this matchup and learn about Phil Collins' "Back to the Future" and Rhode Island's playoff odyssey.  

Why To Watch Dayton Vs. Butler Football

A Nice Midwestern Showdown Between Two Teams Eyeing The Playoffs

Butler Football is off to its best start in years at 5-1, but the Bulldogs are reeling from a 27-17 loss to Drake in PFL play on Oct. 12. 

Now back at home, where the Bulldogs haven't lost, they try to get their playoff train back on track. Butler hasn't made the playoffs since 2013. 

Meanwhile, the 5-1 Flyers haven't been to the playoffs since 2015. A win here would help either team possibly end a postseason drought. 

99 Years Of History Between Dayton And Butler Football

About two hours of pristine American farmland separates these two schools, and they have played each other for 99 years. The first game was in 1925, but the two have only met 48 times, with Dayton owning a 33-14-1 record. 

Butler's win in 2023 was the its first over the Flyers since 2013. 

Why To Watch Stony Brook Vs. Towson Football

  • Records:
    • Stony Brook: 4-2
    • Towson: 3-3
  • 1 p.m. on Oct. 19
  • Stream link 

Towson Football Is The Mick Foley Of The CAA. Is Stony Brook Ready?

OK, the author of this article has been known to watch some professional wrestling in his life. And one thing every wrestling documentary on the late 1990s seems to touch on is how wrestlers needed to prove they were ready for the belt by facing some variation of Mick Foley (Mankind, Cactus Jack and Dude Love). 

Foley was, and is, a legendary professional wrestler who lost a lot but always made it entertaining and was one of the biggest stars of the era. 

Towson is the Mick Foley of CAA football. 

The Tigers (3-3, 1-1) have given every good team in the CAA a tough game the last two years. Sometimes, they even win. 

This has been a breakout season for Stony Brook. 

The Seawolves are 4-2 overall, and their only FCS loss was to No. 5 Villanova, 42-24. A trip to Towson is their test to see if they're ready to make the playoffs. 

Towson is a fun, tough team that nearly beat Villanova, played North Dakota State earlier this year and lost to No. 16 William & Mary by just a touchdown. 

If Towson wins, it would make sense, just like any Mick Foley match from 1996-2000. But if Stony Brook wins, it would be a huge moment for the Seawolves, just like it was for The Rock (ever heard of him?).

Why To Watch Grand Valley State Vs. Saginaw Valley Football

  • Records:
    • No. 2 GVSU: 6-0
    • Saginaw Valley 5-1
  • 3 p.m. on Oct. 19
  • Stream link 

Anchor Bone Classic Prep For GVSU Football

What a warmup for Anchor-Bone Classic week for GVSU, mainly because Saginaw Valley doesn't see itself as being a warmup. The Cardinals, at 5-1, have the confidence that they can beat the Lakers. 

GVSU can't be caught looking ahead, or the Lakers could lose this game. Ferris State has its own challenge with Michigan Tech.

Can Saginaw Valley Be The Team In The GLIAC To Beat Either GVSU Or Ferris State?

The last year few seasons, Davenport Football filled the role as the challenger to GVSU and Ferris State at the top of the GLIAC, but it's been hard for a third team to get in the mix for a GLIAC title. 

If Saginaw Valley beats GVSU, the Cardinals will have securely established themselves as not just GLIAC contenders, but a NCAA Division II championship contenders. 

Why To Watch West Alabama Vs. Delta State Football

  • Records:
    • West Alabama: 5-0
    • Delta State: 4-2
  • 5 p.m. on Oct. 19
  • Stream link 

West Alabama Football Is The Division II Championship Contender On Which People Are Sleeping

Can West Alabama win it all this December? Looks like it. 

While FBS action in the state of Alabama is in a Vanderbilt-sized crisis, the Tigers could be looking at an undefeated season if they get past Delta State. Remember that the Tigers' game against powerhouse Valdosta State was canceled. 

After Delta State, the schedule for UWA doesn't feature any ranked teams. 

Delta State Football Is A Cornered, Hungry Team That Needs This Win

Delta State doesn't lose a lot, but an upset loss to Wingate last month and 40-28 loss on Oct. 12 to West Florida has Delta State unranked and 4-2. A win over the No. 10 team in the country gets this hungry team back on track. 

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