HAMPTON, Va. (Jan. 29, 2026) – Hampton University and the University of Virginia have agreed to a future football matchup at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va., on Sept. 15, 2029, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Anthony D. Henderson, Sr. announced today. The game will mark the first-ever football meeting between the two programs.
 
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Hampton University football and our entire campus community," said Henderson, Sr. "Any time you can line up against an in‑state FBS program on a stage like Scott Stadium, it elevates your student‑athlete experience, showcases your brand, and energizes your alumni and supporters. We are intentional about building schedules that keep Hampton visible across the Commonwealth, and we believe these in‑state matchups are important for our program, our fans, and the young men who chose to represent Pirate Nation."
 
The matchup with Virginia adds to an ambitious slate of future nonconference games for Hampton football. The Pirates will face their first‑ever Power 4 opponent this fall when they travel to play Maryland on Sept. 5. Hampton is also scheduled to play at Georgia Tech on Oct. 9, 2027, and will visit FBS member Old Dominion on Sept. 16, 2028, giving the program a series of showcase opportunities against FBS competition.
 
The 2026 season will be the first at Hampton for head football coach Van Malone. A proven builder of culture with 23 years of experience in the collegiate ranks, including 18 seasons at the Power 4 level, Malone came to Hampton after serving as assistant head coach at Kansas State. His background at multiple major-conference programs positions him to lead the Pirates into this elevated era of competition.
 
Virginia is coming off a standout 2025 campaign in which the Cavaliers finished 11-3 overall and 7-1 in ACC play. Virginia capped the season with a victory over Missouri in the 2025 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and finished 16th in the final Associated Press poll, adding further profile to the future matchup with Hampton.
 
Although Hampton and Virginia are separated by just 151 miles, the two universities have never met on the gridiron. The men's basketball programs played in Charlottesville during the 2025-26 season, and the schools have met three times in women's basketball, in addition to competing in various other sports over the years. The 2029 football game at Scott Stadium will extend that history of competition into a new sport and provide another marquee platform for Hampton University, its student-athletes, and Pirate Nation.