Overview
- Delaware lost 33-30 to Middle Tennessee State after yielding the lead on a 10-play, 93-yard drive that ended with Roman Gagliano’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Neo Clifton.
- The deciding sequence began when Delaware failed to score from the MTSU 26 with a 30-26 lead and 9:50 remaining, a possession that ended in a punt after a sack and an incomplete pass.
- Freshman Tyler Bell made his first career start and set a Delaware freshman record with 306 passing yards and two touchdowns, but he was sacked five times and threw the interception that stalled the final drive.
- Starter Nick Minicucci remains sidelined with a knee injury and is listed week-to-week, a development that forced Delaware to start a true freshman and sharpen questions about quarterback continuity.
- Coach Ryan Carty acknowledged preparation and discipline problems after Delaware was penalized 101 yards on 15 infractions, including a 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty on Carty that moved the ball to the UD 14 before MTSU’s go-ahead score.