This was Hampton's final season as a member of the MEAC. On November 16, 2017, the school announced they would become a full member of the Big South Conference in 2018.[2] Due to scheduling reasons, they were to remain in the MEAC for football in 2018.[3] However, the MEAC refused to allow Hampton to remain in the conference, with no MEAC schools agreeing to play them, forcing the Pirates to become an FCS independent for 2018 before joining the Big South in 2019.
On November 20, 2017, head coach Connell Maynor resigned to become the head coach at Alabama A&M.[4] He finished at Hampton with a four-year record of 20–25.
^"HAMPTON TO CELEBRATE 150TH YEAR WITH RELEASE OF 2017 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE". Hampton University Athletics. February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
^"Hampton to leave MEAC for Big South".
^"Conference quarrel: MEAC responds to Hampton's claims of conference punishing Pirates for leaving". February 21, 2018.