Howard University didn't just have a good year in 2025-26. It had the kind of year that redefines what's possible for an HBCU athletic department.
The Bison captured 10 conference championships across six different sports, a feat described as unmatched among mid-major programs nationwide. The performance earned Howard the "Program of the Year" honor at the 2026 HBCU Sports Awards, where the university led all institutions with 20 nominations.
The Championship Breakdown
• Basketball: Both the men's and women's teams won MEAC regular-season and tournament championships, earning automatic NCAA Tournament bids. The men's team made history with Howard's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory, defeating UMBC in the first round.
• Swimming and Diving: The men's team won a Northeast Conference (NEC) title, while the women's team captured the first NEC championship in program history.
• Golf: The men's team secured its third consecutive NEC title. The women's team won its first-ever NEC championship.
• Track and Field/Cross Country: The women's cross country team won the MEAC title, and the women's indoor and outdoor track and field teams also claimed conference crowns.
• Softball: The team captured its second consecutive MEAC championship.
Beyond the Titles
Howard also received the MEAC Mary McLeod Bethune Women's All-Sports Award for the fifth consecutive year and the MEAC Graduation Success Rate Award. Coaches David Oliver (Track and Field) and Sam Puryear (Golf) earned conference-wide recognition.
The university's strategic hiring has been a factor — bringing on NBA veteran John Wall as president of basketball operations signaled a willingness to think differently about program building.
A Blueprint
Analysts have called Howard's season "a blueprint" for how HBCU and mid-major programs can compete at the highest level by balancing tradition with modern athletic demands. With deep investment across multiple sports rather than just football, Howard has shown a model that other institutions are studying.
*Reported by the Urban City Podcast Sports newsroom — urbancitypodcastsports.com. Verified across the 2025-26 season.*