HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University Director of Athletics Eugene Marshall, Jr. and Head Football Coach Robert Prunty announce the 2020 football schedule on Tuesday afternoon. As of today, Hampton has seven home games and three matchups with Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) along with a six-game Big South Conference schedule.
“We greatly appreciate the patience of Pirate Nation and are happy to announce our schedule,” said Marshall. “With Homecoming now set for October 3, we are looking forward to seeing 20,000 strong for Homecoming 2020. We will be announcing an additional game at a later date.”
The Pirates will open the 2020 season on September 5 with a rematch against Virginia Union University. The Panthers knocked off Hampton last season and will return to Hampton after a 7-3 season in 2019 for a 6 pm kickoff.
Week two will have the Pirates venturing down Interstate 64 to Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium to tangle with the Monarchs of Old Dominion University on September 12. These teams last met in the 2016 season opener with Old Dominion winning 54-21.
Hampton hits the home field on September 19 for the annual “Battle of the Real HU” when they face the Bison of Howard University at 6 pm. This game will also serve as Greek Day and a rematch of the 2019 Chicago Football Classic won by Hampton 41-20.
The month of October kicks off with Homecoming 2020 on October 3. Hampton will take on first-time opponent Fort Valley State Wildcats at 2 pm as they celebrate Homecoming against a Wildcat squad that was 6-4 in 2019.
Big South Conference action will kick-off and finish the schedule starting with a pair of home games against Gardner-Webb University on October 10 and Campbell University on October 17. Both games will be 2 pm kickoffs and are rematches of a pair of close Pirate losses in 2019.
After a bye week on October 24, the Pirates will have a two-game swing against the Big South Conference members that qualified and advanced in the 2019 NCAA Championships. First, up will be a trip south to take on Kennesaw State University on October 31 in Kennesaw, Georgia. After that will be a home game against conference champion Monmouth University on November 7 at 1 pm. That game will serve as Corporate Partner’s Day.
Hampton will conclude its road schedule with another southern trip, to North Alabama for a matchup with the Lions on November 14. These teams renewed a past series this season with the Pirates taking a wild 40-34 victory on October 5.