HAMPTON, Va. (Aug. 27, 2025) ... Hampton University opens its 124th season of football on Aug. 30 when the Pirates travel to Mississippi to take on Jackson State.

The Pirates have played 1,090 games in their history but have faced Jackson State just three times. Hampton won the all three with the last coming on Aug. 31, 2008 with a 17-13 victory over the Tigers in Orlando, Fla. at the Citrus Bowl.

The Pirates are coming off a 5-7 season in the ultra-competitive Coastal Athletic Association. The CAA sent four teams to the FCS Playoffs in 2024 including Pirate opponents Richmond, Villanova, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Six of Hampton's 12 games went down to the wire and were decided by seven or fewer points. In 2024, the Pirates lost just two games by more than seven points.

Leading the offense will be running back Ja'Quan Snipes. Snipes started the final five games of the season after injuries thinned the offensive backfield. He led the Pirates in rushing with 531 yards and six TDs.

Defensive back Will Hicks had 48 tackles in 2024, leading the returnees. Hampton boasted the CAA's top-ranked defense yielding 317.7 yards per game. The Pirates led the CAA in pass defense (167.8 yards per game) and 149.8 yards on the ground.

Although the Pirates ended the season with a four-game losing streak, Hampton was a team to be reckoned with. Six of the team's 12 games in 2024 went down to the wire and were decided by seven or fewer points. Lady Luck was not on Hampton's side as the Pirates were 1-5 in close games a season ago.

Jackson State finished the 2024 campaign with a 12-2 mark, 8-0 in the SWAC. The Tigers finished the season on a 10-game winning streak and were 6-0 at home. Jackson State did not participate in the NCAA FCS Playoffs but played in the Celebration Bowl, downing MEAC foe South Carolina State 28-7. Jackson State was ranked 18th in the final FCS Poll of the year.

The game will pit the SWAC's top offensive unit from a year ago against Hampton's No.-1 ranked defense in the CAA.

Jackson State topped the league in scoring (36.4) and rushing (213.7) while placing second in total offense (403.0) in 2024.

Hampton's stalwart defense was first in the CAA in passing defense (167.8) and total defense (317.7).

The Pirate offense will be anchored by running back Ja'Quan Snipes. Overcoming injuries, Snipes became the focal point of the Hampton offense in the season's final stretch. Snipes led the Pirates in rushing in 2024 with 531 yards with six scores.  

The rebuilt defensive unit is led by redshirt-sophomore defensive back Will Hicks, who had 48 tackles and sophomore linebacker Michael Matthews-Canty, who had 34 stops a season ago.

Hampton will open its home slate on September 6 for Alumni Day hosting Elizabeth City State at 6 p.m. inside Armstrong Stadium.