.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend on a last-second basket to scratch university regulation football's initial huge distress of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a succeed they'll be actually celebrating for several years to follow. For the Dealing with Irish, it's a season-crusher. To drop the home opener to a little university from a significantly inferior conference was a shame for Notre Dame.Especially due to the fact that they spent NIU $1.4 thousand to do it.This beams a light on among the lengthiest and also most pricey traditions in university football: promise games. They are actually likewise phoned "cash video games," "paycheck activities," or even, as I such as to phone all of them, "get weeks." A costly (and dangerous) traditionFor many years, in the first handful of full weeks of the season, primary college soccer companies have actually paid out smaller universities ahead to play them in their house.In Full week 1 alone, much more than $35 thousand was spent all over a minimum of 55 warranty video games, depending on to Front end Workplace Athletics. Alabama created the greatest examination to its opponent, Western side Kentucky, for an immense $1.9 million. WKU shed that activity 63-- 0, yet they perhaps struck the bank on the bus ride home as well as most likely won't reconsider it.In Week 2, three universities-- Western side Michigan, Middle Tennessee, and also Utah Condition-- got payouts larger than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They shed by a bundled credit rating of 156-- 3, but they took home a total of $4.85 million in the process.It's commonly a deal for both crews. The small colleges receive an income, the large colleges get yet another home activity to milk gameday revenue. The tiny school comes to use the big stage and obtain nationwide direct exposure, the big one obtains a cupcake on the routine to start the year in a sporting activity without preseason. So all's well and excellent till the lower group determines to present out and take the distress.