WASHINGTON (January 13, 2026) — Howard University softball announced its 2026 schedule Tuesday morning, featuring a demanding nonconference slate with marquee Power Four matchups and a full Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schedule as the reigning conference champions. The Bison will compete across eight states this season while spending much of the early portion of the season on the road.
Howard opens the season at the Campbell Stampede, beginning Feb. 6 against Florida A&M, followed by matchups with Tennessee Tech (Feb. 7) and host Campbell (Feb. 8).
The Bison return to the HBCU Collegiate Invitational in Covington, Ga., starting Feb. 13, where they face Alabama A&M. The next day (Feb. 14), Howard continues tournament play against Southern and Texas Southern before closing the weekend against North Carolina A&T State and Alcorn State Sunday (Feb. 15). The Bison look to remain undefeated against both Alabama A&M and Alcorn State.
Howard heads to Baton Rouge, La., for the LSU Purple & Gold Challenge, opening against Louisiana (Feb. 20), followed by first-ever meetings with Michigan State (Feb. 21) and LSU (Feb. 22).
Next, the Bison travel west for the Arizona Hillenbrand Invitational in Tucson, Ariz., beginning Feb. 27 against Long Beach State before taking on Minnesota later that day and Arizona (Feb. 28). The Bison finish out the business trip with a rematch against the Gophers (March 1).
Howard gets in its last nonconference game before conference play at the Marshall March Madness tournament, facing Akron (March 7) and Canisius later that day and host Marshall (March 8).
MEAC play opens at home as Howard hosts Maryland Eastern Shore (March 13–14). The Bison then travel to Delaware State (March 21–22), a rematch following Howard's 9–8 victory last season, its first against the Hornets since 2022.
Howard returns home to face South Carolina State (March 28–29) before heading to North Carolina Central (April 3–4). The Bison continue conference play on the road at Morgan State (April 11–12), then step outside MEAC action with a matchup at Maryland (April 15).
Howard returns to The District to host Coppin State (April 18–19), followed by a road contest at George Mason (April 22). HU hosts Norfolk State (April 25), followed by Senior Day (April 26), as the Bison host the Spartans in their final conference series. The regular season concludes with a nonconference home matchup against Georgetown (April 29).
The MEAC Softball Championship will take place May 6–9 in Norfolk, Va., as Howard looks to defend its conference title.
Howard enters the 2026 campaign as the defending MEAC Tournament and Regular Season champions, following a historic 2025 season in which the Bison led the conference in batting average, runs, hits, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and fielding percentage. The stats led to the program's first overall regular season champion title, boasting a 14-game win streak and 19 conference wins - the most in program history. The program also saw a school-record 11 Bison earn MEAC postseason honors, including Rookie of the Year Lauryn Jones (Denton, Texas), who returns this season.
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.
