Here's how FBS newcomer Delaware prepared for EA Sports College Football 26

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This is a safe space, right? Okay. Let me admit something to you guys.

When I finally got my copy of EA Sports College Football 26, I fired up my first Dynasty, starting as the offensive coordinator for my alma mater, Ohio State.

My plan is usually to take that first year to get a hang of how recruiting works, how the gameplay might have shifted and get a few reps before I try to take the Akron job or something in the offseason.

In real life, Ohio State opens the season against Texas. But who wants to start their digital coaching career against a good team? Not this guy. I’m not here to overcome adversity. I’m here to set video game records.

So I tweaked my schedule, and replaced Texas with a road game against Clemson later in the season. I needed a new season opener. And what better way to start the season off right than to schedule another team with winged helmets? Surely I would work off some frustrations by hanging 62 on the Delaware Blue Hens, right? This is their first year in FBS. They can’t be that good.

I usually simulate on defense when I’m playing as an offensive coordinator. The Blue Hens marched right down the field and scored on their first possession. Okay, that’s fine. Akron scored first against Ohio State last year. It happens.

But then on the second play from scrimmage, I fumbled at the 26. Then Zach Marker suddenly morphed into a cross between Joe Flacco and Joe Montana. I was staring down a 21-3 deficit before the first quarter ended.

Did I eventually come back to win, mostly by spamming jump balls to Jeremiah Smith? Yes. Do I want to share a screenshot of the final score? No, no, I do not. That’s not important.

What is important is that the Delaware Blue Hens are in the college football video game for the first time as an FBS member.

Delaware Interim athletic director Jordan Skolnick politely laughed when I told him about my first battle with the Blue Hens. He wasn’t surprised, because he’s seen fans all over the country get connected with Delaware athletics in a new way, thanks to the video game.

“When I first got here, people used to tell me about how Delaware was a sleeping giant, which I knew was supposed to be a compliment. But then it started to frustrate me, because we want the world to understand how special this place is. We want people to know about us.”

One way that happens? The video game. So Skolnick and his colleagues wanted to make sure they were prepared for this moment.

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