Delaware Blue Hens vs Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Final — October 27, 2026
DELOffense2026 regular season to dateWKU
DELDefenseWKUDELRecent formWKUDELHome and roadseason to dateWKUDELLast 10 gamesWKURest & travelrest and travel
DELRest & travelWKUAbout these numbers
2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (138 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.
Last five results this season, oldest to newest. Records are season to date, with home and road splits. Against-the-spread (ATS) and over–under records use the consensus closing line.
Margin of each of the last 7 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
The pre-game matchup
Delaware (2-4) visited Western Kentucky (2-4) on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 PM ET.
Delaware has the 74th-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 94th-ranked defense (ranks among the 138 teams with play-by-play data). Meanwhile, Western Kentucky has the 130th-ranked offense and the 77th-ranked defense. When Delaware has the ball, a 74th-ranked offense (+0.045 EPA per play) meets a 77th-ranked defense (+0.094 allowed); when Western Kentucky has it, a 130th-ranked offense (−0.137) meets a 94th-ranked defense (+0.140 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the Delaware offense is at 44.0% (99th) and the Western Kentucky offense at 42.5% (114th). Delaware scores 26.0 points per game (65th) and allows 32.0 (109th); Western Kentucky scores 16.2 (126th) and allows 34.5 (118th).
Delaware is 3-4 and 4-3 against the spread; its last game was a 61-38 win over Missouri State. Western Kentucky is 3-4 and 4-3 against the spread; its last game was a 16-3 win over Sam Houston.
Western Kentucky closed as a 2.5-point favorite at home against Delaware. The spread opened with Delaware favored by 2.5. The total closed at 55.5, down from 59.5 at the open. After removing the vig, the closing moneyline (Delaware +110, Western Kentucky -134) prices Delaware at 45% and Western Kentucky at 55%.
Written from the numbers available before kickoff.
Result
Final score and result vs the closing line
Delaware Blue Hens 35, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 21
Delaware Blue Hens won by 14.
- Against the closing spread (Western Kentucky Hilltoppers -2.5): Delaware Blue Hens covered.
- Combined score 56 vs the closing total of 55.5: Over.
- Delaware Blue Hens closed at +110 on the moneyline (a 45% no-vig market-implied chance).
The official play, graded
The official play on this game, at the price it was sent, graded against the final score.
Every official play is logged and graded, wins and losses alike. Full track record.
Market
Closing line and line movement
Delaware -2.5 (-107)
Delaware +2.5 (-110)
Western Kentucky +111 45%
Western Kentucky -134 55%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. Open = first line after both teams' previous games; Close = consensus at kickoff. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Members
G&W Line
G&W’s own number for this game, next to the market. Analytics
Matchup
Players to watch
- Attempts132
- Completion %59.8%162nd
- Passing yards1,063194th
- Yards per attempt8.169th
- TD–INT10–4
- Rushing yards331141st
- Season line71 carries, 331 yds, 2 TD
- Receiving yards40880th
- Season line31 catches, 408 yds, 3 TD
- Tackles46123rd
- Attempts128
- Completion %52.3%246th
- Passing yards663246th
- Yards per attempt5.2259th
- TD–INT5–2
- Rushing yards346128th
- Season line82 carries, 346 yds, 4 TD
- Receiving yards36999th
- Season line41 catches, 369 yds, 1 TD
- Tackles5632nd
Season passing totals from public box scores, captured before kickoff. Ranks among the 264 quarterbacks with at least 60 attempts. Rushing, receiving and tackle leaders: season totals captured October 25, 5:34 a.m. ET; ranks among FBS players.
Success by situation
| Situation | Delaware | Western Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Early-down success rateDelaware offense vs Western Kentucky defense | 43.3%68th | 45.8%108th |
| Early-down success rateWestern Kentucky offense vs Delaware defense | 50.5%135th | 38.3%126th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateDelaware offense vs Western Kentucky defense | 32.8%113th | 34.4%25th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateWestern Kentucky offense vs Delaware defense | 40.0%64th | 41.7%57th |
| Explosive play rateDelaware offense vs Western Kentucky defense | 8.5%25th | 9.5%130th |
| Explosive play rateWestern Kentucky offense vs Delaware defense | 7.0%78th | 6.2%90th |
| Pass rateshare of plays that are passes or sacks | 56.2%18th-highest | 52.8%47th-highest |
On 3rd down Delaware converts 32.8% (113th) against a Western Kentucky defense allowing 34.4% (25th).
On 3rd down Western Kentucky converts 41.7% (57th) against a Delaware defense allowing 40.0% (64th).
2026 regular season before kickoff, from play-by-play with garbage time removed; ranks among the 138 teams in the play-by-play data (defense: 1st = allows the least). Success = a play that gains expected points.
Coaching staff
| Staff | Delaware | Western Kentucky |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Ryan Carty | Tyson Helton |
| Tenureat this school | 5th season | 8th season |
| Record at schoolthis season included, as of the date below | 36–21 | 61–39 |
| Career recordas an FBS head coach | 10–10 | 61–39 |
| Offensive coordinator | Terence Archer | Joe Bernardi / Bodie Reeder |
| Defensive coordinator | Manny Rojas | Davis Merritt |
Staff list as of October 27, 6:50 a.m. ET.
Head-to-head
The teams have met 1 time since 2021: Delaware won 0 and Western Kentucky 1.
| Date | Score | Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2025 | Western Kentucky 27, Delaware 24 Western Kentucky won |
Meetings since 2021, most recent first. Line and total are the consensus closing numbers where line history is available.
Teams
Delaware Blue Hens
- Delaware Blue Hens team stats
- Missouri State Bears 38, Delaware Blue Hens 61 (Oct 20)
- Delaware Blue Hens 30, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 33 (Oct 13)
- Liberty Flames 30, Delaware Blue Hens 14 (Oct 2)
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
- Western Kentucky Hilltoppers team stats
- Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 16, Sam Houston State Bearkats 3 (Oct 14)
- Missouri State Bears 13, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 34 (Oct 8)
- Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 13, New Mexico State Aggies 34 (Oct 1)
Gridiron & Wine graded a pick on this game: see the archived pick.
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