The commonwealth of Virginia has long been an underrated hotbed for college football, and that includes the Hampton Pirates. As an FCS program with mediocre results lately, cheap Hampton football tickets have been available in abundance in recent years. But the Pirates have been playing college football for over a century and have had plenty of shining moments over the years. Plus, after moving to the Big South in 2019, the Pirates are moving up in the world and appear to have a bright future, so it won’t be long until there is once again a huge demand for last-minute Hampton football tickets.

Always a Rival

Hampton has two bitter rivals that highlight the team’s schedule every year. The first one is with Norfolk State, which is called the Battle of the Bay, as the two schools are separated by the James River, which empties into the Chesapeake Bay. After struggling during the early days of the rivalry, the Hamptons have dominated Norfolk State since the 1990s, making the all-time series close to even. Hampton also enjoys a longstanding rivalry with Howard. This rivalry dates back to 1908 and is a huge game for both schools every year, as both HBCUs that are considered members of the Black Ivy League. It’s also a rivalry that the Pirates have owned for most of the 21st century.

A New Journey

In 2019, Hampton football began a new journey when it left the MEAC and joined the Big South Conference. It was not an easy move for the Pirates, who experienced only sporadic success in the MEAC, winning just five conference titles since joining the league in 1995. However, the move to the Big South will help raise the profile of Hampton football. It will give the Pirates a chance to reach another level of success and become a trailblazer for HBCUs.