Route 1 Rivalry between Delaware and DelState to get national TV treatment on ESPN
DOVER, Del. (BVM) — The spring football season has brought a myriad of new opportunities for FCS football programs across the country, including for Delaware鈥檚 two biggest institutions — the University of Delaware and Delaware State University. Taking advantage of the unique schedule, the two in-state schools already made a historic decision by having the Hornets host the Blue Hens for the first time in program history in the team鈥檚 鈥淩oute 1 Rivalry鈥� game on April 10. That game also received a significant boost from broadcasters as well.
On March 25, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, the Hornets鈥� athletic conference, that the game would be nationally televised by ESPN on its ESPN2 channel. The game was originally scheduled to be shown live on ESPN3 and via tape delay on ESPNU, but will now jump to the live broadcast on one of the sports-entertainment giant鈥檚 biggest media platforms.
Delaware vs. Football Game to be Televised on ESPN2
— Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (@MEACSports)
According to a press release by , ESPN2 is considered the second outlet for ESPN’s mainstream sports coverage and is available to approximately 90 million television households in the United States. The game will allow the two Delaware-based school鈥檚 to duke it out in front of what will likely be the two teams鈥� largest audience of the season. , the game will mark the first time since the 2010 FCS National Championship Game that the Blue Hens will appear on one of ESPN鈥檚 main channels.
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The trip to Dover on April 10 will air nationally on ESPN2 馃摵
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— Delaware Football (@Delaware_FB)
The game will feature what is the premiere sports rivalry in the state of Delaware. Known as the 鈥淩oute 1 Rivalry,鈥� the two football teams have gone toe-to-toe on nine previous occasions beginning with their historic first contest in the 2007 NCAA Division I-AA playoffs at Delaware Stadium in Newark. The Blue Hens have hosted and been victorious on each occasion, going a perfect 9-0. Now, with the change of scenery, Hornets players will look to put an end to the streak when the Blue Hens come into Alumni Stadium.
Currently in the shortened spring season, the Blue Hens are ranked with a perfect 3-0 record and an impressive win over No. 18 University of Rhode Island on March 27. The Hornets, on the other hand, sit at 1-1 after falling in their last game to South Carolina State on March 13. Both teams are projected to play one more game before meeting on April 10 with the Blue Hens scheduled to host the University of Albany on April 3 and the Hornets set to visit Howard University in Washington, D.C. on the same day.
When these two teams meet however, records can be thrown out the window. With the increased media attention surrounding the matchup and a new environment playing host to the rivalry, the competition is expected to be fierce. For Delaware football fans, regardless of the outcome, having their state鈥檚 two Division I football teams playing each other on a national broadcast is a win in itself.
The game will be on ESPN 2 at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday, April 10.
