From 30–26 to Redemption: Scott’s Howard Bison Target FAMU

Source: Hubison.com

By Llerraj Esuod

       The score still hangs in the air like humidity: 30–26.

That was the final tally on the LED display in Atlanta on December 16, 2023, when Florida A&M University (FAMU) edged Howard University (HU) at a neutral-site showdown. For the Bison, it was a game that slipped away late—a loss that has lived in the weight room, film sessions, and locker room ever since.

Now, the Bison step onto a different stage: the 2025 Orange Blossom Classic (OBC) in Miami, facing the same rival. This time, they are determined to redefine what D.C. stands for: District Champions, not another missed opportunity in Dade County.

“This isn’t just a matchup,” Head Coach Larry Scott said. “It’s a celebration of who we are and what we’ve built. But we know what’s at stake when two of the biggest programs, Howard and FAMU, play in Miami with the country watching. That’s a powerful moment. We embrace the responsibility.”

The Foundation of the 2025 Bison

Each season begins with change, but Scott sees it as renewal rather than disruption.

“Every football team develops its identity,” he reflected. “We bring in new faces each year. You have to stay adaptable, but our expectations never change.”

This year’s Bison are built on experienced leadership and young talent. With strong Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) representation, they want more than a win over FAMU.

They want a symbolic victory for Howard—a statement that echoes beyond the field.

Back to Scott’s Backyard

For Scott, a Florida native, returning home carries weight. He knows the pressure of representing Howard in a sea of FAMU supporters.

“Showcasing the Howard brand here? That’s special,” he said. “We’re taking two of the best Historically Black College and University (HBCU) programs in college sports into a football-crazed state, against a successful opponent.”

The Bison stampede comes naturally. What matters is finishing.

Lessons from the Loss

That defeat in Atlanta hinged on execution under pressure. Howard led 16–10 at halftime after striking early and adding points in the second quarter. In the fourth, they pushed ahead 26–24 with momentum. But Florida A&M answered with a late scoring run, seizing control and closing the door. Howard’s rally came too late.

Scott doesn’t dwell on it in public, but the memory fuels every drill.

“This is more than football. It’s legacy and accountability,” he said. “Our standards don’t change, but our approach adapts to our players.”

For Howard, adaptation—not repetition—defines the mission.

More Than NIL

Today’s game is about more than Xs and Os. Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) has reshaped college football, but Scott is clear about his program’s foundation.

“NIL is more than football,” he explained. “It represents academic opportunity, the value of a Howard degree, and character in life. Our players know classroom work and growth come first.”

Discipline off the field, he insists, translates into resilience on it.

Tradition and Stakes

“As an HBCU alum, and especially a Howard alum, annual events like the Orange Blossom Classic are vital to Black college sports,” said Devin McMillan of War Room Sports. “They remind future athletes and students that HBCUs carry legacies just as significant as any big-name school.”

Executive Athletic Director Kery Davis added: “This is about proving Howard belongs in every national conversation about excellence, and doing it on one of the biggest stages our community has.”

Off the Field

When the stands fill and the cameras come on, FAMU will be waiting for a collision from the opening whistle.

Scott insists the game’s meaning extends further.

“When my players leave Howard, I want them to say it was fair, honest, and they were held to standards,” he said. “That they were supported—mentally, physically, spiritually. We build men. Not just football players.”

And men remember.  

They remember 30–26.  

They remember the celebration that belonged to someone else.  

They remember the sting of watching a crown slip away.

“This is our moment to seize. Our moment to show Black excellence, unboxed and undeniable. We know what’s at stake. We’re ready,” Scott said.

Ready to claim what they’ve never had: an OBC victory.