NEW HAVEN, Conn. (October 10, 2025) – Howard University football team squares off against Sacred Heart University (SHU) in a nonconference matchup at Campus Field (3,334) Saturday (Oct. 10). Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
 
GAME INFO
 
GAME 6
PARTICIPANTS: Howard University (Bison) at Sacred Heart University (Pioneers)
DATE: Saturday, October 11, 2025
TIME: 1 p.m.
LOCATION: Campus Field (3,334) in Fairfield, Conn.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
WATCH: Fans can watch on ESPN+. Freddie Coleman will handle the play by play and Randy Brochu will be the color commentary.
 
LISTEN: Bison Nation can also listen to the action on WHBC with Trevin A. Jones (play-by-play), Nathaniel Henry (color), Amir Walker (color) and Sareyah Rudd (sideline).
 
LIVE STATS: Live stats will be provided throughout the game.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Howard (3-2) is coming off a 13-12 loss at the University of Richmond that snapped a two-game win streak. Howard was led by sophomore running back Anthony Reagan Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.), who rushed for a career-high 129 yards and a TD, redshirt freshman running back Billy Roberson (9 carries for 48 yards) and graduate wide receiver Breylin Smith (team-high 4 receptions).
 
It was the Buffalo Soldier defense that stood out, led by Judah McJimpsey (4 total tackles), All-American candidate defensive lineman Noah Miles (4 total tackles & a sack) and Zuri Watson (3 total tackles, an INT & a pass breakup).
 
SEASON RECAPS
 
HOWARD
 
On Aug. 30, the Bison opened the season with a 10-9 win over Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens, Fla., followed by a 55-7 loss at Temple (Sept. 6) before defeating Morehouse, 38-10 (Sept. 13), and Hampton, 34-7 (Sept. 20), and then dropping the decision at Richmond, 13-12 (Sept. 27).
 
SACRED HEART
 
SHU (4-2) had its three-game win streak ended with a 42-35 overtime loss at Central Connecticut State University Saturday (Oct. 4). The Pioneers opened the season with back-to-back losses to Stonehill (7-12) and Lehigh (10-28) before rallying for wins over Norfolk State (31-28) and Delaware State (35-31).
 
THE SERIES
 
This is the third meeting between Howard and SHU. In the first meeting, the Bison prevailed 22-17 (Oct. 2, 2021).  The two met against a year ago and Howard won, 21-14 (Oct. 12, 2024). Both games were played at Greene Stadium. This will be first time that the two have met in Connecticut.
 
THE COACHES
 
Howard is coached by Larry Scott (USF, '00), who is in his fifth full season, and SHU is coached by Matt Nofri (Keene State '93), who is in his 14^th season at the helm.
 
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
 
COACH SCOTT
 
"Sacred Heart is a great bunch. They are a high-energy group that plays four quarters. We have to be focused, execute, locked in and be physical."
 
COACH NOFRI
 
""Our goal this week is to start fast and finish strong. We do not want to dig ourselves into a hole early. I have full confidence in our team to compete hard for all four quarters — and we have consistently done that."
 
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
 
SCOUTING THE BISON
 
On offense, the Bison will rely on the talents of Tyriq Starks (63-of-108 for 669 yards & 4 TDs; 116 yards rushing & 2 TDs).
 
The run game is powered by the duo of sophomore running backs Reagan (37 carries for 226 yards & 3 TDs) and Travis Kerney (53 carries for 238 yards & 2 TDs).
 
The passing game will be bolstered by junior wide receiver Zaden Jackson (9 receptions for 107 yards & a TD), graduate wide receiver Andre Cooper II (6 receptions for 95 yards) and sophomore tight end KD Mosley (8 receptions for 90 yards & 2 TDs).
 
The offensive line is anchored by senior all-conference guard Tim Artis Jr. (Charlotte, N.C.).
 
The nationally ranked Buffalo Soldier defense is led by Miles (19 total tackles, 5.5 TFLs & 3.0 sacks), redshirt junior defensive lineman CJ Wesley (15 total tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, a FF & a FR), senior linebacker Cam Dyson (17 total tackles), redshirt defensive back Kedrick Green (21 total tackles & a TFL) and sophomore linebacker Ja'Quavion Smith (22 total tackles, 4.0 TFLs, 3 pass breakups, 2.0 sacks & 2 FFs).
 
The special teams are paced by freshman punter Liam Allen IV (almost 40 yards per punt, including two 50+ and five inside the 20-yard) and freshman punt return specialist Antonio Hunter (almost 10 yards per punt return). Howard has blocked two kicks this season.
 
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
 
The Pioneers are led by their young first-year signal caller Jack Snider (81-of-114 for 895 yards & 4 TDs; 62 carries for 277 yards & 4 TDs), freshman running back Mitchell Summers (91 carries for 395 yards & 3 TDs), senior running back Trey Eberhart (41 carries for 227 yards & 2 TDs), graduate wide receiver Paytton Rhoades (19 receptions for 224 yards & a TD), Kevin McClean (24 receptions for 269 yards) and sophomore wide receiver Jason Palmieri (14 receptions for 176 yards & 3 TDs).
 
Defensively, SHU is led junior defensive back Damion Jacobs (26 total tackles, 3.0 TFLs, a sack & a FF), senior linebacker Nick Verbitsky (27 total tackles, 3.0 TFLs & a sack) and junior linebacker Kyle Hall (29 total tackles, 2.0 TFLs & an INT).
 
The Pioneers' special teams are solid with senior punter Michael Sbutioni, who averages almost 44 yards per punt, including a long 63-yard punt, seven 50+ punts and nine inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
 
Graduate kicker Matt Kling is 6-of-8 on field goals this season, including a 32-yard field goal.
 
CONFERENCE RANKINGS
 
Howard leads the MEAC in defensive scoring (18.8), total defense (276.2 yards allowed), pass defense (129.6 yards allowed per game), opponent first downs (15.0) and Red Zone defense.
 
Individually, Starks ranks fifth in total offense…Kerney ranks seventh in rushing…Reagan is third in all-purpose yards and eighth in rushing…Defensively, Smith ranks seventh in tackles for a loss…Watson ranks third in passes defended…Wesley ninth in sacks.
 
NATIONAL STATS
 
HOWARD
 
Howard ranks fifth in the FCS in passing yards, eighth in total defense, tied for 12^th in least fumbles lost, 15^th in scoring defense, 19^th in scoring defense and tied for 21^st in total defense.
 
SACRED HEART
 
Sacred Heart is third in third-down conversion defense.
 
GAME NOTES
 
BISON HOOVES
 
This will be Howard's seventh game on the road…The Bison did play at Audi Field in D.C., but has yet to play at Greene Stadium this season…Howard has played in four different professional stadiums: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Aug. 30); Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia (Sept. 6); MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (Sept. 13) and Audi Field in D.C. (Sept. 20)…13 different receivers have caught at least one pass in the Howard equal opportunity passing offense…Following this game, the Bison will continue their challenging road schedule, this time in Nashville, Tenn., against Tennessee State (Oct. 18) before finally playing in the confines of Greene Stadium versus Morgan State for homecoming and the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) opener (Oct. 25).
 
PIONEER NOTES
 
Howard is the third MEAC opponent that SHU has faced this season, recording wins over Norfolk State and Delaware State…The Pioneers are 2-0 at home this season…The SHU offense has averaged over 33 points in its last three games…SHU has had trouble stopping the run with opponents averaging 6.0 yards per carry on the season…It has allowed almost 34 points in the past three games…This is SHU's final year as an independent program before joining CAA Football in 2026.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Bison will continue its road swing when they travel to Nashville, Tenn. to take on the Tigers of Tennessee State (TSU) Saturday (Oct. 18). It will be homecoming for TSU.
 
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website www.hubison.com.