.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame final weekend on a last-second field goal to scratch university soccer's initial big upset of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a succeed they'll be actually commemorating for years to find. For the Fighting Irish, it's a season-crusher. To lose the home opener to a little university coming from a vastly poor event was a shame for Notre Dame.Especially considering that they paid NIU $1.4 million to accomplish it.This beams a light on some of the longest and very most pricey customs in college football: promise activities. They are actually likewise gotten in touch with "cash games," "salary video games," or, as I just like to phone all of them, "buy full weeks." A costly (and risky) traditionFor many years, in the 1st couple of weeks of the period, significant college soccer establishments have spent much smaller universities to follow to play all of them in their house.In Full week 1 alone, much more than $35 thousand was spent all over at the very least 55 promise games, according to Front end Office Athletics. Alabama created the greatest examination to its enemy, Western Kentucky, for a whopping $1.9 thousand. WKU lost that video game 63-- 0, but they probably attacked the trust the bus experience home and also very likely won't hesitate about it.In Full week 2, 3 colleges-- Western Michigan, Center Tennessee, and Utah Condition-- received payments greater than NIU's $1.4 million. They shed by a mixed rating of 156-- 3, but they take away an overall of $4.85 million in the process.It's generally a good deal for each staffs. The small schools obtain a salary, the big colleges receive yet another home game to milk gameday earnings. The little college gets to play on the huge stage as well as obtain nationwide visibility, the major one acquires a dish on the schedule to begin the year in a sporting activity without any preseason. So all's effectively and also great till the smaller team determines to show out and also draw the trouble.