On Sept. 20, Howard and Hampton Universities faced off in their annual HU vs HU football game. But this wasn’t just any match — it was a battle for the title of The Real HU.
With a final score of 34–7, Howard claimed its first victory of the season, and students went wild. Decked out in school gear, they filled the stands with energy, pride, and excitement, going absolutely insane as their team dominated the field.
Freshman Riley Charles was one of many students who felt the excitement building before kickoff.
“Going into the game, I had a lot of faith— A lot of hope,” Charles said. “I was at the pep rally, and I saw them [Howard students] carrying that casket for Hampton and I had a lot of hope that we would win because otherwise, it would really be embarrassing”
Lyric Saulsberry, a sophomore at Howard, wasn’t able to attend the game, but she shared, “From what I saw on social media, there were a lot of mixed emotions among students about who would win. Some thought Howard might lose again, but others stayed supportive of the team no matter what.”
Howard hadn’t won a game since 2014 and with the stakes high, this would be the year they claim official rights as being The Real HU. Not only did it matter to the players, but to the students, alumni and the whole school alike.
“It really made me feel proud just because we won,” freshman Aryana Dyson shared. “We haven’t won in the last 10 years and it just made me feel really proud of my school as I am class of 2029 and we got to win our first game.”
For decades, the debate over The Real HU title sparked a heated—but friendly—rivalry between Howard and Hampton, but this year’s game had other plans. Not only did Howard want to claim the title, but they wanted to prove themselves by winning a game after nearly eleven years.
With pride on the line, students showed out. Howard’s tailgates were packed, chants echoed across the stadium, and school colors flooded the crowd. It wasn’t just about football — it was about identity.
“It just made me feel so proud to be a Bison,” shared Makayla Truitt, a sophomore at Howard. “I love being a Bison whether we win or lose, but knowing that we can win makes me feel ten times more confident in my school.”
From the moment the first whistle blew, Howard came to dominate. The offense wasted no time, scoring early and often. The defense held strong, shutting down Hampton’s chances throughout the game.
The crowd roared with every touchdown, interception, and celebration dance on the field. Howard didn’t just win — they crushed the competition.
“We are the original…We are the first ones to do it. We cannot be imitated— because we are The Howard University.” said Truitt
Check out Her Campus at Howard’s coverage at the game on our TikTok.