Beyond the Yard: Feature Story

By Kelvin Childs

September is time for the classics!

The Howard Bison men’s football team is in back-to-back classics this month. The reigning MEAC Champions first take on the Morehouse College Tigers at the HBCU NY Classic on Saturday, Sept. 14. Then they come home to Washington, D.C., to play the Hampton University Pirates on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Howard’s matchup with Morehouse at the third annual HBCU NY Classic is a rematch from the inaugural event in 2022 in which the Bison stampeded the Tigers, 30-0.

Adding to the excitement, halftime will feature a battle of the bands between Howard’s “Showtime” Marching Band and the Morehouse “House of Funk” Marching Band. And Howard’s Cheer Team will be there to dazzle the crowd.

“We are thrilled to host the HBCUNY Classic once again at MetLife Stadium. This game not only celebrates the rich athletic traditions of Morehouse and Howard University but also underscores the importance of HBCUs in higher education. It’s an opportunity for alumni, students and fans to come together in the spirit of camaraderie and competition,” said Albert Williams, president and CEO of Sports Eleven05 LLC, in a media release. Sports Eleven05 is the producer of the Classic.

The game is the crown jewel of a five-day celebration of HBCUs and HBCU culture.

The HBCU NY Classic is at 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, at MetLife Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey. Get your tickets at HBCUNY Football Classic and cheer on our players from Section #139!

The following week, the Truth and Service Classic pits Howard against longtime rival Hampton in “the Battle of the real HU.” The game is at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. A free ticket to the game is included with a Bison season ticket package. Or get individual game tickets here: Truth and Service Classic

Let’s see lots of Bison Blue at both games!