In September 2026, when Hampton University’s football team takes the field against the Maryland Terrapins, it won’t just be a first-time meeting between the programs; it will mark a shift in how legacy HBCUs position themselves in the business of college football.
This game, and the matchups with Georgia Tech and Old Dominion to follow, are more than milestones for the record books. They are strategic moves in a new era where visibility, NIL opportunities, and financial sustainability are as essential as wins and losses. That kickoff will echo far beyond SECU Stadium, not just in celebration of history, but as a reminder that in today’s game, the ends really do justify the means.
The new business reality for HBCU football
Not long ago, the conversation was predictable.
Every time an HBCU football team lined up against a Power 4 or Power 5 opponent, the same chorus rang out:
“Why are we doing this?”
“It’s just a money game.”
“It’s going to hurt our players.”
That was the script. And for some, it still is. But here’s the truth: every game in college football is a money game. Every kickoff, every contract, every matchup is tied to a financial benefit for someone. And in 2025, with the realities of NIL, athlete rights, and the free-flowing transfer portal, the economic stakes for HBCU programs aren’t just important, they’re existential. When the survival of your program is on the line, the purity test doesn’t pay the bills.
Every game is a ‘money game’ whether fans admit it or not
Hampton’s decision to step onto these bigger stages isn’t just about chasing headlines. Yes, the spotlight matters. But more than that, it’s about the hard math of keeping a program competitive in a business where the players — rightfully — expect to be compensated. If the means to that end is a six- or seven-figure payout from playing Maryland or Georgia Tech, then so be it.
That’s the part many fans don’t want to confront. If you demand a quality product on the field, you have to accept the price tag that comes with it. You can’t expect HBCUs to put out championship-level teams without giving those programs the means to recruit, retain, and support the athletes who make it happen. And in this new era, that means paying athletes through NIL opportunities, competitive facilities, and resources that rival the schools we’re lining up against. The ends, keeping your program alive and thriving, justify whatever means get you there within the rules.
Money games used to be viewed through a narrow lens: a lopsided score, a check in the mail, and a return to “business as usual.” That lens is outdated. Today, the business is the game. When Hampton faces Maryland in 2026, or when Grambling travels to play Ohio State this fall, those matchups will come with the kind of payouts and exposure that can fund more than just a bus ride home. They can help build infrastructure, fuel NIL deals, and keep rosters intact in an era when talent can leave with a few clicks in the transfer portal.
Fans must accept the cost of a quality product
Will there be blowouts? Probably. But if the outcome is better facilities, stronger recruiting, and the ability to keep your best players from transferring, those lopsided scores become calculated sacrifices. That’s what it looks like when you play the long game.
HBCU athletics has always been about pride, culture, and community. Now it also has to be about sustainability. If we want our programs to thrive, not just survive, then games like Hampton’s upcoming Power 4 matchups aren’t optional. They’re strategic moves in a game where the scoreboard is measured in dollars as much as points. And in that game, more often than not, the ends really do justify the means.