3 reasons so-called ‘cupcake games’ are good for college football

3. Cupcake games offer paychecks to keep sports alive at smaller schools

For smaller athletic departments, the infusion of a seven-figure payday is nothing to scoff about. And the beauty of college football is that it allows for smaller schools to stay afloat. Of course, this is by ostensibly serving as fodder for bigger programs. But in the current structure of college football, these games provide the income that allows operations to keep going for athletic departments.

Over the past decade, the price of scheduling cupcake games has increased dramatically for Power Five programs. FCS teams can command in the high six figures for a game against an FBS powerhouse. For many schools in the Group of Five, just one paycheck game can help cover the expenses for the rest of the season.

For many programs, the chance to play the local powerhouse can sometimes cost less in terms of travel than facing many conference opponents on the road. The fan base also gets a chance to travel and dream of big opportunities. And getting the payout that comes with scheduling such games helps many athletic departments to balance their books each year.

In essence, cupcake games are one of the few redistributive measures in college football that help support lower divisions and smaller programs. Getting rid of these contests would accelerate the demise of programs at many schools.