It’s midweek football from Conference USA, once again featuring the Delaware Blue Hens. This time, they will host the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, who are coming off a bye after a tough loss to Missouri State two weeks ago. As for Delaware, head coach Ryan Carty and quarterback Nick Minicucci will look to bounce-back after their disappointing loss to Jacksonville State last week. The Delaware vs. Middle Tennessee game could have a variety of outcomes, and that’s why we’re here to preview the 2025 matchup.
Delaware Blue Hens vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders: Matchup History and Excerpts
The history between the Blue Hens and Blue Raiders is brief, but very one-sided. Currently, Delaware leads the all-time series at 2-0 with a 113:10 point differential. Middle Tennessee will look to change that in Week 9.
Speaking to the media this week, Delaware head coach Ryan Carty knows his team has to perform better than they did last week against Jacksonville State. Coach Carty talked about limiting turnovers while creating some of their own, and being able to adjust better on both sides of the ball.
“I think they have a nice scheme on both sides of the ball. On defense, they’re very sound. They’re gap-fitters. They are going to be in the right spot [and] are very good stopping the run.”
After struggling against Jax State last week, Delaware will look to change that.
For Middle Tennessee head coach Derek Mason has talked about getting his team back on track. The Blue Raiders are coming off of a bye week, and he will look to pull off the upset in Delaware. I was also able to ask Coach Mason how he plans on getting the offense to force Delaware’s defense to react to them, and he gave an interesting answer which can be viewed in the video below.
At today’s press conference, I asked Middle Tennessee head coach Derek Mason how he’s preparing for Delaware’s tough defense, and how to make the Blue Hens adjust to their offense, instead of the other way around.@MT_FB | #BoroBuiltMiddleMade pic.twitter.com/bdZG0KhHJY
— Thomas Christopher (@TommyCFB) October 20, 2025
Delaware vs. Middle Tennessee 2025 Preview: Keys to the Game
Key Players for Delaware
A big key for Delaware in this game will be their running back room. Jo Silver and Viron Ellison have been suitable players. However, they need to provide more explosiveness for the offense. Neither player is gaining much yardage after initial contact, and have posted subpar breakaway percentages on their runs. While Silver has had a 70-yard rush this season, the team needs more explosiveness on that end instead of relying completely on Nick Minicucci and the passing attack to dig them out of holes and into ball games. Delaware has had few games where they’ve held the lead throughout most of the contest. That needs to change in Week 9.
On defense, a key player for Delaware will be interior lineman Keyshawn Hunter. He’s one of the top players on the unit in creating pressure, with 10 on the season. Against Middle Tennessee, Hunter will be important in a number of ways.
Delaware will need Hunter (and the rest of the defensive line) to clog the running lanes against MTSU. Blue Raiders running back Jekail Middlebrook is one of the best players in the country at yards after contact per attempt in the league at 4.78. That means not only does Delaware have to clog rushing lanes, they need to make sure they can bring the ball carrier down, too. As pass rushers, Hunter and company need to start turning pressures into sacks. MTSU has the fifth-worst pass-blocking unit in the nation. Now is the time for Delaware to succeed on that end.
Key Players for Middle Tennessee
On offense, the team’s biggest key player is running back Jekail Middlebrook. As mentioned, the running back is one of the best in the country at yards after contact. However, he’s also college football’s best pass-blocking running back. That’s important, because the line in front of him is fifth-worst in the country. Not only will Middle Tennessee need Middlebrook to help prop up the offense, but he will need to help prop up his quarterback in the process. If Middlebrook struggles in either facet, it could be a long day for the Blue Raiders.
For the Blue Raiders defense, Damonte Smith will be pivotal for MTSU. The interior defensive lineman has amassed 18 total pressures this year, converting three into sacks. With Delaware struggling to run the ball effectively, Smith will be a key cog in making sure that remains the case in Week 9. On top of that, forcing direct pressure within the interior gaps could give Nick Minicucci fits, leading to sacks or potential turnovers. There’s few ways MTSU can pull off the upset; but if they want to play spoiler, Smith will need to be key.
2025 Game Preview: How Delaware wins vs. Middle Tennessee in Week 9
For Delaware to win this contest, they need to limit turnovers. Turnovers cost them against Western Kentucky, and it did so against Jacksonville State. While this is a “get right” game for Delaware in a sense, they could easily see themselves led astray but not playing fundamentally sound football.
One way to do that is to lessen the attempts to put the ball in harm’s way. Delaware has struggled to run the ball and have relied on the defense and passing attack to set the tone. While head coach Ryan Carty has a pass-first mentality, running the ball effectively will be key. Yards per carry don’t matter as much as converting on short-yardage situations to move the sticks. If they can keep these drives moving with the help of their rushing attack, they can likely win.
Finally, their playmakers need to step up. While we’ve seen spurts of Delaware taking over games, their star players have not been consistent. Against a 1-5 opponent, opportunities are there to get back in their groove for the final stretch of the season.
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