HSU, Howard Payne football in pricey scheduling bind

The price to get to the top of the college football landscape is growing for schools like Hardin-Simmons and Howard Payne.

The pair, who compete in Division III of the NCAA, are both competing for a spot in the 32-team playoffs.

But, money is becoming an issue.

"Regardless of what we look at, there's no inexpensive option right now," said HSU athletic director Dr. John Neese.

The Cowboys had to schedule three non-conference games this year to fill out a 10-game regular season.

Two of those three were on the road -- one in Wisconsin and the other in Massachusetts. Those require flying by plane, which has become increasingly expensive.

Howard Payne's season opener was in Oregon against George Fox University. The two schools played in 2018 as well, but the cost to get there has jumped.

"When we chartered a flight in 2018, from when he chartered it this year, it had increased $60,000," said HPU athletic director Hunter Sims. He said getting a charter flight for about 150 people now costs around $200,000.

Of the 32 spots in the Div. III football playoffs, 27 are reserved for conference champions. That leaves only 5 for at-large bids.

It's thought to give yourself the best chance at an at-large bid, a team must play other Div. III schools in non-conference instead of NAIA or Div. II teams.

There are very few Div. III teams nearby for Big Country teams to schedule. HSU has also had the distinction of being quite successful over the past eight years, which has led to fewer teams wanting to play them.

Therefore making long flights to play schools, some of whom are in similar situations, has become necessary.

"Is it something everybody wants to do? Probably not," said Neese. "But it's something we need to do, and we want to do for our athletes."

Football programs and universities are now faced with the dilemma of needing to raise more money from donors, commit more funds to the athletic budget, or potentially play a season where they knowingly have little to no chance of making the playoffs.

When asked if this is sustainable, Sims was blunt.

"My director answer to that is it's going to have to be.

"We're going to have to find a way, not that we have any other option."