HAMPTON, Va. (Oct. 24, 2025) … Hampton will celebrate its 95th Homecoming on Oct. 25 when the Pirates host nationally-ranked Monmouth at 2 p.m. inside Armstrong Stadium.

Many activities will take place on campus leading up to the game. But the game --- along with the tailgating, rekindling old friendships and recalling the good old days --- will be the focal point.

Homecoming has been a staple since 1928. The Pirates hosted Virginia Union that year and whitewashed the Panthers 25-0. Hampton has a 57-36-2 (.611) record at Homecoming winning seven of the last 10 events.

In last year's Homecoming contest, the Pirates bested Elon 41-21 to the delight of 6,027 fans in the stands and thousands more tailgating in the surrounding parking lots.

Monmouth is among the favorites to win the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) crown this year. In a vote of the league's coaches, the Hawks were picked to finish second and earned four first-place votes.

Monmouth comes into the game sporting a 6-1 overall mark, 3-0 in league play. They currently have a four-game winning streak and are in the top 10 in both national polls.

The Game
Hampton (2-6, 0-4) celebrates Homecoming on Oct. 25 when the Pirates host nationally-ranked Monmouth (6-1, 3-0).

Last week, the Hawks toppled Stony Brook 49-21 for its fourth straight win. Hampton fell 56-14 at No. 14-ranked Villanova.

The Pirates have lost 19 straight games to nationally-ranked teams dating back to the 2015 season. On Nov. 14, 2014, Hampton beat No. 20-ranked Bethune-Cookman 40-35. 

After managing just one yard rushing in the first half against Villanova, Hampton broke loose for 175 yards in the second half led by back-up QB Earl Woods III with 102 yards on the ground.
Villanova scored seven TDs on six first half possessions to lead 49-0 at halftime. The Pirates turned the tables in the second half, outscoring the Wildcats 14-7.

Hampton ranks second in the CAA in rushing with 183.4 ypg. The Pirates have ranked first or second in each year they have been a CAA member.

On defense, linebacker Harold O'Neal III ranks fifth in the league with 9.3 tackles per game. Teammate Michael Matthews-Cany is 20th in the CAA with 6.4 stops per contest.

The Hawks lead the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in scoring by a large margin. Monmouth averages 45.3 points per game nearly 15 more than any other CAA team. They have scored more than 40 points in every game except against FBS foe Charlotte losing 43-25.

Monmouth's Rodney Nelson leads the CAA in rushing with 143.6 ypg with nine touchdowns.

Derek Robinson leads the CAA in passing with 354.6 ypg with 27 touchdown passes.

The Pirates in October
The Pirates are 126-85-4 (.597) in games played in the month of October. Hampton is 1-2 in games played in October 2025 registering a 41-34 win over Norfolk State on Oct. 4 in the annual Battle of the Bay match-up and suffering losses at home to Campbell (38-21) and on the road Villanova (56-14).

This Date in Pirate History
Hampton has a 6-1 (.833) worksheet in Oct. 25 games. In 1947, Hampton beat Virginia State 16-13 in the first game on this date. In 2014, the Pirates whitewashed Delaware State 23-0 on the road. The lone loss was in 2008 when South Carolina State posted a 35-13 win in Orangeburg, S.C.

HU to Play FBS Teams in '26, '27, '28
Director of Athletics Anthony D. Henderson Sr. announced that Hampton will play at Maryland (Sept. 5, 2026) and at Georgia Tech (Oct. 9, 2027), marking Hampton's first-ever games against Power 4 competition. In addition, the Pirates will play Sun Belt Conference member Old Dominion (Sept. 16, 2028).