Delaware State Hornets 2026: the season story
Delaware State is 6-4 and rated No. 232 of 266 in the Cheap Seats Index, from this season's games only: Power 229th, Résumé 182nd, schedule 243rd toughest. Next: at Howard.
Scouting report
Why it matters. The Team Index weighs how well a team plays and what it has beaten equally, so the gap between the two ranks shows which one is carrying it. Delaware State is No. 232 of 266 in the Team Index and 5th of 6 in the MEAC. Power, how well it plays, ranks 229th of 266; Résumé, what it has beaten, ranks 182nd of 266.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Single-game ratings separate a team that wins comfortably every week from one that keeps escaping. Delaware State loses its games by 1.9 points on average, 66th of 128 in margin among FCS teams. It has not played a team in our top 25 yet.
How they win
Why it matters. Offense and defense are rated separately, adjusted for every opponent, so a team that wins with its defense looks different from one that wins shootouts. Its offense rates 103rd of 128 in FCS (6th in the MEAC) and its defense 75th of 128 (4th in the conference).
Drive by drive
Why it matters. Counting points per possession instead of per game takes tempo out of the picture: a slow team is not punished for having fewer drives. Delaware State scores 1.97 points per drive (the FCS average is 2.16), 76th of 128. Its defense allows 2.18, 55th of 128.
Under the hood
Why it matters. Expected points per play captures what the scoreboard misses: a 9-yard gain on 3rd and 8 is worth far more than the same 9 yards on 3rd and 15. Adjusted for its opponents, the offense adds -0.12 expected points per play (104th of 128) and stays on schedule on 34% of snaps (113th of 128). The defense allows +0.09 per play, 40th of 128.
When it matters
Why it matters. Most close games turn on a handful of third downs and red-zone trips, so this is where good teams separate. Delaware State converts 34% of its third downs and scores touchdowns on 59% of red-zone trips (FCS average 60%), 76th of 128.
Special teams
Why it matters. Special teams swing field position and decide a few close games every season, and almost none of it shows up in a box score. Its special teams as a whole rank 31st of 128, worth +1.41 points a game against an average unit. The best unit is kick returns, 8th of 128.
Tendencies
Why it matters. How a team calls its plays by down and distance is what opposing coaches study all week. Delaware State throws on 47% of early downs; the FCS average is 45%.
How they play
Why it matters. Pace changes how many chances both teams get, and the line of scrimmage decides whether the quarterback has time and the runners have room. It runs 63.9 plays a game (FCS average 64.4). Its quarterbacks are sacked on 8.4% of dropbacks, 110th of 128, and 30% of its runs are stopped at or behind the line, 128th of 128.
Who they have played
Why it matters. The same numbers mean more against good teams; splitting them by opponent shows whether a team holds up when the schedule gets hard. Delaware State's schedule ranks 243rd of 266 in strength, 4th toughest of 6 in the MEAC.
Record versus reality
Why it matters. Teams that win a lot of coin-flip games rarely keep doing it, so the gap between expected and actual wins is worth watching. Delaware State has 6 wins against 4.6 expected from its play and schedule, and is 3-1 in one-score games.
Rise and fall
Why it matters. How a team is playing now often says more about its next game than its full-season average. Delaware State was 232nd in Power after week 2 and is 229th now; its best was 223rd after week 3.
What is ahead
Why it matters. The schedule left matters as much as the games played; simulating it shows how much is still in reach. Across 10,000 simulated seasons Delaware State averages 6.6 wins and almost never wins the MEAC.
Top players and teams like them
Why it matters. Teams with similar profiles tend to play similar games, which makes them a useful way to read a matchup or a season. The highest-ranked player on the roster is Carl Nesmith, 97th of 930 linebackers. The closest match in style and strength is Georgetown.
