.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame final weekend break on a last-second field goal to scratch college regulation football's 1st significant distress of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a succeed they'll be commemorating for many years ahead. For the Battling Irish, it's a season-crusher. To lose the home opener to a small university coming from a significantly substandard conference was a discomfort for Notre Dame.Especially considering that they paid out NIU $1.4 million to perform it.This beams a light on some of the longest and most expensive practices in university soccer: guarantee activities. They're likewise called "money games," "paycheck video games," or even, as I as if to contact all of them, "purchase full weeks." A costly (and also high-risk) traditionFor decades, in the 1st few weeks of the season, primary college soccer organizations have paid smaller colleges to come to play them in their house.In Week 1 alone, greater than $35 thousand was devoted around at the very least 55 assurance games, depending on to Face Office Athletics. Alabama composed the biggest check to its opponent, Western Kentucky, for a massive $1.9 million. WKU lost that video game 63-- 0, however they probably hit the count on the bus trip home and also probably won't reconsider it.In Week 2, 3 schools-- Western side Michigan, Center Tennessee, and Utah Condition-- acquired payouts bigger than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They lost by a combined score of 156-- 3, yet they took home a total amount of $4.85 thousand in the process.It's generally a good deal for each staffs. The tiny colleges acquire a salary, the large schools get one more home game to milk gameday profits. The small university gets to play on the huge phase and obtain nationwide exposure, the huge one gets a cupcake on the timetable to begin the year in a sport with no preseason. Thus all's effectively and also good until the minimal crew makes a decision to reveal out and take the distress.