# HBCU Coaches Debate Money Games After Early Losses

> HBCU coaches split on whether to play Power Four teams for money or player development
- Title: HBCU Coaches Debate Money Games After Early Losses | Shortify
- Summary: HBCU coaches split on whether to play Power Four teams for money or player development Three HBCU football coaches discuss financial gaps and the value of…
- Keywords: hbcu, prairie view a&m, florida a&m, southern university, power four, fbs, hbcu football, college football, money games, guarantee games, fcs, nfl
- Source: HBCU Legends On SI — https://si.com/college/hbcu/football/hbcu-football-coaches-debate-money-games
- Published: 2026-09-16T11:42:54+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: hbcu, prairie view a&m, florida a&m, southern university, power four, fbs, hbcu football, college football, money games, guarantee games, fcs, nfl
## Early Losses Highlight Financial Divide
Prairie View A&M lost 44-3 to Baylor and Florida A&M lost 77-7 to Miami in early-season games.

> I don’t get a check for playing Baylor
## Jackson Questions Guarantee Games
Tremaine Jackson refuses to schedule Power Four games for money, saying HBCUs lack donor support.

> That’s not how Tremaine Jackson gets paid
## Jackson's Financial View
Jackson says HBCU fundraising falls short of FBS schools' donor contributions.

> Our alums don’t donate the money those schools donate
## Gray Accepts Games for Money
Quinn Gray accepts Power Four games but says HBCUs need more resources to compete.

> The check. Unfortunately, as it relates to just being brutally honest
## Faulk's Realities
Marshall Faulk acknowledges Southern's financial limits and player safety concerns.

> We don’t have the bodies, we don’t have the funds
## Player Health Priority
Faulk cut the fourth quarter to eight minutes to protect players from injury.

> Hey man you got to know when to say uncle
## Southern's Development Focus
Faulk says Southern is still building team chemistry and needs time to compete.

> We’re not a team yet
## Financial Gaps Challenge
HBCU coaches point to financial disparities as a key obstacle in competing with FBS programs.

> We don’t have the budget to compete against them
## Jackson's Roster Vision
Jackson hopes HBCUs will one day build a $20 million roster like FBS teams.

> Hopefully man we’re sitting in a situation where we can get a $20 million roster
## Gray's Player Recruitment
Gray says financial constraints make it hard to keep and recruit players.

> FAMU lost five offensive linemen over the summer because they couldn’t offer extra pay
## Faulk's Game Analysis
Faulk called Houston's win a 'preseason crash dummy test' for their preparation.

> That was a kind of a preseason crash dummy test for Houston to work on all their good plays
## Southern's Next Games
Southern will play Louisiana Christian and Jackson State after their losses.

> We’re gonna get better
## Jackson's Coaching Stance
Jackson says the head coach bears responsibility for game outcomes and player development.

> Tremaine Jackson is the only one at the university that has something to lose by playing the game
## Faulk's Future Focus
Faulk sees Southern's 79-yard touchdown pass as a sign of future potential.

> That play is part of our future
## HBCU Financial Realities
HBCUs face significant financial gaps compared to FBS programs despite similar goals.

> We don’t have the budget to compete against them
## Coaches' Divergent Views
Jackson and Gray disagree on whether to prioritize money or player development in scheduling games.

> We don’t value college football the same way those people do
## Key takeaway

Three HBCU football coaches discuss financial gaps and the value of playing FBS teams after early-season losses