.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend on a last-second field goal to notch university football's initial large distress of 2024. For the Huskies, it is actually a succeed they'll be celebrating for many years to follow. For the Combating Irish, it's a season-crusher. To shed the home opener to a little institution from a greatly substandard event was a humiliation for Notre Dame.Especially considering that they paid NIU $1.4 million to accomplish it.This sparkles a light on some of the longest and very most expensive customs in university football: guarantee activities. They are actually also called "funds games," "salary activities," or, as I like to phone all of them, "acquire weeks." A costly (as well as high-risk) traditionFor many years, in the very first few weeks of the season, significant college football companies have spent much smaller institutions to find to play them in their house.In Week 1 alone, much more than $35 million was spent throughout at least 55 promise games, according to Face Office Athletics. Alabama wrote the greatest examination to its opponent, Western Kentucky, for a whopping $1.9 million. WKU dropped that video game 63-- 0, however they probably attacked the count on the bus experience home as well as probably will not hesitate about it.In Week 2, three colleges-- Western side Michigan, Center Tennessee, and also Utah State-- received payments larger than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They dropped by a bundled score of 156-- 3, yet they took home an overall of $4.85 million in the process.It's typically a deal for both teams. The tiny schools receive a salary, the big colleges obtain another home game to milk gameday income. The tiny institution gets to use the large stage and also get national direct exposure, the major one obtains a dish on the timetable to start the year in a sport with no preseason. Therefore all's well and really good until the smaller group chooses to present out and also take the trouble.