UAB football coach Trent Dilfer spoke on the radio in Birmingham, Alabama, on Tuesday, highlighting the financial struggles the Blazers face in competing against other teams in the American Athletic Conference.

During his discussion on WJOX-FM, Dilfer pointed out that there are two specific teams that can lure away UAB players by offering them contracts worth double or triple what they could earn at UAB, effectively pushing them into backup roles on those teams.

While Dilfer chose not to name these teams during his talk, Tulane’s coach Jon Sumrall took a different route by commenting on Dilfer’s remarks on social media.

Through his X (formerly Twitter) account, Sumrall shared a clip of Dilfer’s interview and tagged Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield and South Florida coach Alex Golesh. He added eye and wink emojis, indicating that his message had a playful edge.

This exchange highlights the evolving landscape of college football, where financial discussions and player recruitment resemble a high-stakes free agency market.

Moreover, this social media exchange sheds light on the growing divide in college football between those programs that have ample resources and those that struggle financially. As the professional elements of college sports become more pronounced, differences within non-power conferences are also becoming apparent, particularly in relation to financial spending.

Memphis is benefiting from substantial NIL support thanks to an initiative from FedEx, which pledged $5 million annually to the university’s athletic department. Similarly, the Fowler Ave Collective associated with USF aims to raise $3.5 million for the upcoming year. Tulane’s athletic department recently announced it secured a record $3.6 million in fiscal year 2024, with plans to surpass the $4 million mark this year.

“When you have members in our conference who have a few players earning more than our total payroll,” Dilfer remarked on Tuesday, “you need to offer them something unique to demonstrate their value.”

Dilfer, age 52, is coming off a challenging second season with UAB and is facing heightened criticism due to the team’s 3-9 record and diminishing fan attendance. Since his appointment, he has a record of 7-17, following two years of coaching high school football at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.

Memphis has successfully recruited at least two former UAB players from the transfer portal this winter—defensive back Chris Bracy and linebacker Everett Roussaw. Tulane also secured a commitment from Derrick Shepard Jr., a former UAB defensive lineman, last month. In contrast, USF has yet to acquire any players from UAB through the transfer portal this offseason. According to 247 Sports, UAB has seen 29 players enter the transfer portal this offseason.

Memphis achieved a notable milestone with 11 wins for only the second time in its history under coach Silverfield but has not reached the AAC championship game. Tulane fell short against Army in the AAC championship during Sumrall’s inaugural season. Meanwhile, USF finished the season with a record of 7-6 and won a bowl game for the second consecutive year under Golesh.

This shift occurs amidst preparations from all schools for potential revenue-sharing implementations due to a federal judge’s preliminary approval of the House vs. NCAA settlement last October. This settlement could enable schools to pay their athletes up to $22 annually, with a final approval hearing set for April 7.