Florida A&M Made $760,000 to Lose by 70 Points to Miami

Florida A&M faced a significant challenge when it hosted No. 7 Miami in a Thursday night football game, resulting in a 77-7 defeat that netted the Rattlers $760,000. The payment breaks down to $720,000 for the athletics program and $40,000 for the band, the Marching 100. This loss came after a difficult week, with FAMU previously falling to South Carolina State 31-13 on Sunday.

The game was part of a trend where lower-tier programs face Power conference opponents, earning high payouts known as "money games" or "guarantee games." Florida A&M's second game in a two-game series was the second instance of such a payout, following a $700,000 win in 2024. Notable payouts in Week 1 included UMass upsetting Rutgers for $1.55 million, as well as Idaho State, Tarleton State, and The Citadel securing wins against higher-ranked opponents.

Despite the substantial loss, the Hurricanes have now won their first two games by a combined 122-point margin. FAMU's head coach, Quinn Gray, had a moment to address Miami's coach, Mario Cristobal, after the game, but it appeared to be a silent one.