Saturday, October 3
Washington, D.C.
3:00 PM
Hampton University
vs
Howard
Photo by: Katie Gilmore
Pirates Face Bison for the 101st Time
10.1.26 | Football
HAMPTON, Va. (October 1, 2026) … Howard turned the tables on the Pirates last year with a 34-7 win, snapping an eight-game Hampton winning streak over the Bison.
Following a 31-24 win over Alabama A&M to start the year, the Bison's ultra-tough schedule has led to defeats to Richmond, Rutgers and Indiana. As a result, the Bison rank last or next-to-last in virtually every MEAC category. James Eden (25.0 ypg) and Travis Kearny (20.0 ypg) lead the team in rushing while quarterback Ja'Shawn Scroggins 45 percent of his passes for 126.3 ypg through the air.
Defensive back Caleb Gallop leads the Bison with 6.0 tpg and one tackle for loss and linebacker Aidan Foster 6.3 tpg with a forced fumble.
Howard's 12-game 2026 schedule lists just four games at Greene Stadium this season. The Bison played two games on campus in 2025.
Having lost starting quarterback Jalen Woods and breakout running back Amari Pryear to injury, first-year Pirates coach Van Malone has had to revamp the offensive backfield.
Woods started the first three games and passed for 290 yards and three TDs. Injured in the opening minutes of the Norfolk State game, Pryear's 214 rushing yards leads the team and is the only Pirate to rush for more than 100 yards this season.
Mobile quarterback Tre'Von Taylor has picked up the slack completing 23 of 40 passes for 259 yards and a score while rushing for 35 yards against Campbell a week ago. Running backs
Donovan Shepard and Gracen Goldsmith filling the void.
Defensive back Cam Sturdifen lead the Pirates with 8.4 tpg with two forced fumble and two fumble recoveries to lead the defense. Safety Quae Willis averages 6.4 tpg.
- The game is billed as the Battle of the Real HU for obvious reason. However, Hampton was founded in 1868 as Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute and changed to Hampton Institute
in 1930 before becoming Hampton University in 1984. Both are private, non-denominational colleges.
- Hampton's oldest rival, the Hampton-Howard series dates back to 1908. The Pirates hold a 55-44-1 margin in the series.
- Hampton has beaten Howard more than any other opponent (55) --- and lost to the Bison more often, too (44).
- Howard won the 2025 meeting by a 34-7 score, snapping an eight-game Hampton winning streak. The Pirates have won 22 of the last 27 match-ups between the two teams.
- It will mark the fourth straight year the game has been played at Washington, D.C.'s Audi Field. Hampton is the home team.
- The game pits two first-year head coaches. Pirate mentor Van Malone came to Hampton after seven years as the assistant head coach at Kansas State. Howard's Ted White, a former Bison quarterback, was an offensive analyst at Maryland in 2025.
- The game marks the final non-conference contest for the Pirates.
- Howard and Hampton share one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in HBCU sports. Howard fielded its first team 128 years ago and with Hampton following 124 years ago. Hampton has the fourth winningest HBCU program (600-472-36) and Howard ranks eighth with an overall mark of 533-515-40.
Following a 31-24 win over Alabama A&M to start the year, the Bison's ultra-tough schedule has led to defeats to Richmond, Rutgers and Indiana. As a result, the Bison rank last or next-to-last in virtually every MEAC category. James Eden (25.0 ypg) and Travis Kearny (20.0 ypg) lead the team in rushing while quarterback Ja'Shawn Scroggins 45 percent of his passes for 126.3 ypg through the air.
Defensive back Caleb Gallop leads the Bison with 6.0 tpg and one tackle for loss and linebacker Aidan Foster 6.3 tpg with a forced fumble.
Howard's 12-game 2026 schedule lists just four games at Greene Stadium this season. The Bison played two games on campus in 2025.
Having lost starting quarterback Jalen Woods and breakout running back Amari Pryear to injury, first-year Pirates coach Van Malone has had to revamp the offensive backfield.
Woods started the first three games and passed for 290 yards and three TDs. Injured in the opening minutes of the Norfolk State game, Pryear's 214 rushing yards leads the team and is the only Pirate to rush for more than 100 yards this season.
Mobile quarterback Tre'Von Taylor has picked up the slack completing 23 of 40 passes for 259 yards and a score while rushing for 35 yards against Campbell a week ago. Running backs
Donovan Shepard and Gracen Goldsmith filling the void.
Defensive back Cam Sturdifen lead the Pirates with 8.4 tpg with two forced fumble and two fumble recoveries to lead the defense. Safety Quae Willis averages 6.4 tpg.
- The game is billed as the Battle of the Real HU for obvious reason. However, Hampton was founded in 1868 as Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute and changed to Hampton Institute
in 1930 before becoming Hampton University in 1984. Both are private, non-denominational colleges.
- Hampton's oldest rival, the Hampton-Howard series dates back to 1908. The Pirates hold a 55-44-1 margin in the series.
- Hampton has beaten Howard more than any other opponent (55) --- and lost to the Bison more often, too (44).
- Howard won the 2025 meeting by a 34-7 score, snapping an eight-game Hampton winning streak. The Pirates have won 22 of the last 27 match-ups between the two teams.
- It will mark the fourth straight year the game has been played at Washington, D.C.'s Audi Field. Hampton is the home team.
- The game pits two first-year head coaches. Pirate mentor Van Malone came to Hampton after seven years as the assistant head coach at Kansas State. Howard's Ted White, a former Bison quarterback, was an offensive analyst at Maryland in 2025.
- The game marks the final non-conference contest for the Pirates.
- Howard and Hampton share one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in HBCU sports. Howard fielded its first team 128 years ago and with Hampton following 124 years ago. Hampton has the fourth winningest HBCU program (600-472-36) and Howard ranks eighth with an overall mark of 533-515-40.
Players Mentioned
RB
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RB
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RB
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DB
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QB
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QB
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Thursday, September 17
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