Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe had a message for HBCUs on the latest edition of Nightcap with FAMU Ambassador and All-Pro wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.
While recapping Florida A&M’s 59-6 loss to Miami, Sharpe spoke about how HBCUs should not take less than $1 million to play Power Four teams.
“HBCUs, when these Power Five schools ask you to come, don’t y’all take less than a million dollars, and y’all make them pay for your travel,” he said.
Sharpe further suggested that a charter flight with the full team could cost $200,000, and a hotel for a night could cost $50,000, which would eat the athletic budget.
He also referenced Northern Illinois, who is set to receive $1.4 million following their upset win over Notre Dame.
Florida A&M received $700,000 to play Miami, which tied for the second-highest payout for an FCS school against a Power Four program (North Dakota State and Weber State also received $700,000 to play Colorado and Washington, respectively).
Elsewhere, Alabama A&M got $525,000 to play Auburn, Prairie View A&M will get $500,000 to play Michigan State, North Carolina Central will claim $430,000 when they play North Carolina, and North Carolina A&T got $325,000 to play Wake Forest.
Last season, Tennessee State was the only FCS institution to be paid $1 million to play a FBS team in its historic matchup against Notre Dame.
The most an FCS program was paid to play a Power Four opponent last season was Youngstown State, who received $800,000 playing against Ohio State.
