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Football teams

HBCUs Lose Big in Guaranteed Games, but Gain a Necessary Revenue Stream

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Howard University's football team, a perennial powerhouse in the MEAC, lost its first two games of the season by embarrassing margins, including a 76-0 thrashing at the hands of Boston College. While the losses are painful, the university and other HBCUs have come to rely on these "guaranteed games" as a necessary source of revenue. In fact, last year's college football season-openers cost Big Ten teams a total of $12.9 million, according to ESPN. For schools like Howard, which have an athletic budget of around $4-5 million, these games can provide a vital lifeline.

Key Takeaways:

  • Guaranteed games, where HBCUs and lower-division schools play against larger-budgeted teams for a fee, have become a necessary revenue stream for many HBCUs, with some collecting $500,000 to $1 million per game.
  • The practice is not new, with Solomon Brannan, former head coach of Morris Brown College's football team, noting that larger-budgeted schools have been shelling out large sums for years.
  • The revenue generated from these games often goes to the entire athletic department, rather than directly benefitting the football players.
  • Players like Ghafona Iduwe, a defensive end for Howard, see the games as an opportunity to test their mettle and showcase their talents, despite the risks of injuries.
  • Injuries are a significant risk for smaller-budgeted schools, with Howard reportedly having six players injured in its first two games.
  • Players like Devon Gales, who suffered several fractured vertebrae in his neck during a game against Georgia, face long-term consequences for their injuries.

Statistics:

  • Last year's college football season-openers cost Big Ten teams a total of $12.9 million (ESPN).
  • Guaranteed games on average cost smaller-budgeted schools $750,000 per game.
  • Southern University collected a $650,000 check to play the University of Georgia in Athens.
  • The average athletic budget for HBCUs is around $4-5 million (Lut Williams).
  • The Big Ten Conference has an athletic budget of over $100 million.

Sources:

  • ESPN
  • Robert Eubanks/District Chronicles
  • Solomon Brannan, former head coach of Morris Brown College's football team
  • Lut Williams, long-time observer of Black college sports and publisher and editor of Black College Sports Page
  • Jack Fleck, Howard University punter
  • Ghafona Iduwe, Howard University defensive end

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