.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend break on a last-second field goal to scratch university soccer's very first significant upset of 2024. For the Huskies, it is actually a win they'll be celebrating for many years to come. For the Combating Irish, it's a season-crusher. To lose the home opener to a little university from a significantly inferior association was actually an awkwardness for Notre Dame.Especially considering that they paid NIU $1.4 thousand to accomplish it.This beams a lighting on one of the lengthiest and also very most pricey traditions in university football: assurance games. They are actually additionally gotten in touch with "cash games," "paycheck activities," or even, as I as if to call all of them, "acquire weeks." An expensive (and risky) traditionFor many years, in the 1st couple of weeks of the period, major college volleyball establishments have paid out smaller colleges ahead to play them in their house.In Week 1 alone, more than $35 thousand was actually devoted around at the very least 55 assurance games, depending on to Front end Workplace Athletics. Alabama created the biggest check to its opponent, Western Kentucky, for an immense $1.9 thousand. WKU lost that game 63-- 0, but they most likely attacked the count on the bus experience home as well as most likely won't hesitate about it.In Full week 2, 3 schools-- Western side Michigan, Middle Tennessee, as well as Utah Condition-- obtained payments bigger than NIU's $1.4 million. They dropped by a bundled credit rating of 156-- 3, however they took home a total amount of $4.85 thousand in the process.It's usually a deal for both teams. The tiny colleges get a payday, the major universities get an additional home video game to milk gameday earnings. The tiny university reaches play on the significant phase and also receive nationwide exposure, the major one gets a dish on the schedule to begin the year in a sport without preseason. So all's well and really good till the lower team makes a decision to present out as well as take the upset.