Tune in live on 8-11-26 at 8:30pm et.
The NFL just wrapped up its 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions, but can we take the Hall of Fame seriously anymore?
With legends like Henry Lawrence, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson and Eli Manning still on the outside looking in, Strike Season Podcast asks the uncomfortable question: What exactly are the standards for the Pro Football Hall of Fame? The 2026 class included Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig.
Then we shift to one of the biggest conversations happening in HBCU football right now.
Marshall Faulk went on The Rich Eisen Show—and HBCU social media went into a frenzy.
As the new head coach at Southern University, Faulk was blunt about the realities of modern college football. His goal isn’t simply to compete financially with the biggest FBS programs. He’s preparing his players to reach the “money game” of FBS football and the Power Four/Power Five level.
And that raises a much bigger question:
Are HBCU fans and alumni ready to embrace the new reality of college football—or are we still operating with a defeatist mindset?
Prairie View A&M head coach Bubba McDowell has talked about the importance of being invested in the business of college football, while former Grambling State head coach Mickey Joseph argued that Power programs should compensate HBCUs for players they develop who eventually move on to FBS programs.
So what’s the answer?
Should HBCUs fight to keep their best players?
Should they become development pipelines for the next level?
Can the transfer portal and NIL actually become opportunities for HBCUs instead of threats?
And most importantly—when are HBCU fans going to stop looking at player movement as surrender and start looking at it as part of the new business of college football?
Then we turn our attention to the 2026 Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kick-Off.
Alabama A&M vs. Howard.
The Bulldogs and Bison meet August 29 at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, with the MEAC vs. SWAC spotlight on one of the biggest early-season HBCU football matchups.
Can Alabama A&M beat Howard?
What will decide this game? Which team has the advantage? And what does this matchup say about the current balance of power between the MEAC and SWAC?
We’re breaking it all down on this edition of Strike Season Podcast
🔥 NFL Hall of Fame debate
🔥 Henry Lawrence & Billy “White Shoes” Johnson
🔥 Eli Manning’s Hall of Fame case
🔥 Marshall Faulk’s controversial HBCU comments
🔥 HBCU football and the transfer portal
🔥 NIL and the new college football economy
🔥 Should FBS programs pay HBCUs for developed talent?
🔥 HBCUs as development pipelines
🔥 Alabama A&M vs. Howard MEAC/SWAC Challenge preview
🔥 The future of HBCU football
This is Strike Season. Where HBCU football gets the conversation it deserves.
#StrikeSeason #HBCUFootball #HBCUSports #MarshallFaulk #SouthernUniversity #HallOfFame #NFLHallOfFame #HenryLawrence #BillyWhiteShoesJohnson #EliManning #AlabamaAM #HowardUniversity #MEAC #SWAC #MEACSWACChallenge #NIL #TransferPortal #CollegeFootball #FBS #PowerFour
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