WASHINGTON (August 29, 2025) – Howard University football team opens its 2025 campaign Saturday (Aug. 30) against long-time rival Florida A&M (FAMU) at the 2025 Orange Blossom Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (ET) at Hard Rock Stadium.
 
GAME INFO
 
EVENT: Orange Blossom Classic
PARTICIPANTS: Howard Bison vs. Florida A&M Rattlers
DATE: Saturday, August 30, 2025
LOCATION: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
TIME: 4 p.m. (ET)
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Saturday's showdown will be carried on nationally televised ESPNU. If it is scripted, both institutions will be represented in the broadcast booth. Tiffany Greene-Berry will be doing play-by-play and Jay "Sky" Walker on color commentary. Greene-Berry is a FAMU alum and Walker is a Howard alum.
 
Bison fans can catch all the action on the Howard Sports Radio Network. Amir Walker and Nathaniel Henry will provide all the action.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
SERIES RECORD
 
The first meeting between the two institutions started in 1933 with the Rattlers winning the inaugural game, 9-6. FAMU holds a 29-11 advantage with the last meeting taking place in 2023.  The two have split the past six meetings.
 
HOWARD
 
Howard comes into the game following a 4-8 season (1-4 MEAC) after being national HBCU runner ups in 2023. The Bison are picked fifth in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Preseason Poll.
 
FAMU
 
FAMU (0-0, 0-0 SWAC) is coming off a 7-5 season overall (5-3 SWAC East) behind 2024 HBCU National Champions Jackson State. The Rattlers are picked second in the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) East behind Jackson State.
 
THE COACHES
 
Howard is coached by Larry Scott (South Florida, '00), who is his fifth year at the helm. The Rattlers are coached by James Colzie, III (Florida State, '97), who is in his second full season.
 
Both coaches are Florida natives.
 
KEY PLAYERS
 
HOWARD
 
Howard will be led on offense by Eden James (2024: 97 carries for 422 yards & 3 TDs; 23 receptions for 146 yards), Ja'Shawn Scroggins (2024: 14 carries for 446 yards & 3 TDs; 123-of-231 for 1,262 yards & 9 TDs) and Breylin Smith (2024: 17 receptions for 195 yards & a TD). Veteran Tim Artis Jr. (Cornelius, N.C.), a preseason MEAC First-Team selection, will anchor the offensive line.
 
Defensively, the Bison are led by All-American candidate Noah Miles (2024: 35 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss & 8 sacks), Derrick Brown Jr. (2024: 33 tackles & 2 forced fumbles), Ishaun Abdul-Ali (2024: 29 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, a blocked kick, a forced fumble & a fumble recovery), Cam Dyson (2024: 35 tackles & 2 forced fumbles), Judah McJimpsey (2024: 30 tackles & 4.5 tackles for loss) and Reggie Reed Jr. (2024: 27 tackles).
 
On special teams, Anthony Reagan Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.) averaged almost 23 yards per kick return.
 
FLORIDA A&M
 
Offensively, the Rattlers will rely on a balanced running attack, led by the duo of Thad Franklin (2024: 686 yards & 5 TDs) and Bo Summerset (2024: 503 yards & 2 TDs).
 
The receiving corps is led by redshirt sophomore wideout Goldie Lawrence (2024: 21 receptions) and redshirt junior wideout A'Ceon Cobb (2024: 12 receptions for 250 yards & 4 TDs).
 
All-SWAC selections redshirt senior offensive lineman Ashton Grable and Charles Davis provide the blocking for the balanced attack.
 
Defensively, FAMU is led up front by All America candidates Davion Westmoreland and James Gardner. Nay'Ron Jenkins (2024: 73 tackles & 3 sacks), James Ash (2024: 44 tackles), Jameel Sanders (2024: 41 tackles) and TJ Huggins (2024: 7 pass breakups & 3 INTs) round out the stout Rattlers' unit.
 
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
 
Howard head coach Larry Scott
 
"They are well coached, fast and physical. They know how to win."
 
Florida A&M head coach James Colzie, III.
 
"We are excited to play a very good Howard football team this Saturday."
 
CONFERENCE ACCOLADES
 
HOWARD
 
Abdul-Ali (Charlotte, N.C.), Artis, James (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and Miles (Tampa, Fla.) were all named to the preseason MEAC First Team. Reagan (Woodbury, N.J.) and Scroggins (Las Vegas) were named to the preseason MEAC Second Team.
 
FAMU
 
Davis, Franklin, Grable, Huggins, Jenkins and Westmoreland were named to the preseason All-SWAC First Team. Gardner and Sanders were selected to the preseason All-SWAC Second Team.
 
NATIONAL RECOGNITION
 
HOWARD
 
James was named to the prestigious Black College Football Player of the Year Watch List and Miles was selected to the HBCU+ FCS National Player of the Year Watch List. Both, James and Miles, were named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000 List.
 
FAMU
 
Franklin, Huggins, Jenkins and Westmoreland are all on the Black College Football Player of the Year Watch List.
 
SCOUTING REPORT
 
BISON HOOVES
 
The Bison boasts 18 players from the Sunshine State...Projected starting quarterback is FAU grad transfer Tyriq Starks (Carol City, Fla.), who played his prep ball at Miami Carol High School...Offensive lineman Cesar Reyes (Tampa, Fla.) is a FAMU transfer facing his former team...Former standout running back Harvey "Silk" Reed, a recent inductee into the MEAC Hall of Fame, will serve as honorary captain for Howard...Reed is a native of Miami and played his prep at Miami Southridge High School…Two current members of the Bison team are sons of former Howard players: Glen Vinson III (Upper Marlboro, Md.), son of former offensive lineman Glen Vinson, and Rufus Ferguson II (Tampa, Fla.), son of the former Howard running back Rhadi Ferguson.
 
NEXT UP
 
Howard travels to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, to take on the Owls of Temple University Saturday (Sept. 6) at 1 p.m. FAMU plays in-state rival FAU (Florida Atlantic) Saturday (Sept. 6).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.