.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame final weekend on a last-second basket to mark university soccer's first big distress of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a succeed they'll be actually celebrating for a long times to find. For the Combating Irish, it's a season-crusher. To lose the home opener to a small college from a vastly inferior event was a shame for Notre Dame.Especially given that they spent NIU $1.4 thousand to perform it.This sparkles a light on some of the lengthiest and most pricey practices in university football: promise games. They are actually additionally gotten in touch with "amount of money games," "paycheck activities," or even, as I just like to contact them, "get full weeks." An expensive (as well as unsafe) traditionFor decades, in the 1st couple of weeks of the time, major college soccer companies have actually paid for much smaller institutions ahead to play them in their house.In Full week 1 alone, greater than $35 thousand was actually spent all over a minimum of 55 promise video games, depending on to Front end Office Athletics. Alabama wrote the largest inspection to its own enemy, Western side Kentucky, for an immense $1.9 thousand. WKU shed that video game 63-- 0, but they possibly struck the bank on the bus trip home and likely won't think twice about it.In Full week 2, three institutions-- Western side Michigan, Center Tennessee, and also Utah State-- acquired payouts much bigger than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They lost through a mixed score of 156-- 3, yet they take away a total amount of $4.85 thousand in the process.It's generally a good deal for both teams. The small colleges get a salary, the huge colleges receive an additional home game to milk gameday profits. The tiny institution comes to use the large stage and receive national direct exposure, the large one obtains a cupcake on the timetable to start the year in a sporting activity without any preseason. Thus all's well and excellent until the minimal crew decides to reveal out and also draw the trouble.