.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend break on a last-second basket to mark university soccer's very first major trouble of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a gain they'll be actually commemorating for several years to find. For the Fighting Irish, it's a season-crusher. To drop the home opener to a tiny institution from a vastly substandard event was an embarrassment for Notre Dame.Especially considering that they paid out NIU $1.4 thousand to carry out it.This shines a light on among the lengthiest as well as very most pricey traditions in college football: assurance games. They're likewise called "money video games," "salary games," or, as I like to phone them, "buy full weeks." A pricey (and high-risk) traditionFor decades, in the very first couple of full weeks of the time, primary college football establishments have actually spent smaller sized schools ahead to play them in their house.In Week 1 alone, much more than $35 thousand was actually devoted throughout at the very least 55 assurance video games, depending on to Face Office Athletics. Alabama wrote the most significant check to its own challenger, Western side Kentucky, for an enormous $1.9 million. WKU lost that game 63-- 0, but they probably hit the trust the bus ride home and also probably will not hesitate about it.In Week 2, three universities-- Western side Michigan, Center Tennessee, as well as Utah State-- received payments much bigger than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They dropped through a combined credit rating of 156-- 3, however they took home a total of $4.85 thousand in the process.It's commonly a good deal for each crews. The tiny institutions get an income, the huge schools acquire one more home video game to dairy gameday income. The tiny institution gets to play on the big phase and also acquire national exposure, the major one obtains a dish on the timetable to start the year in a sport without preseason. So all's effectively as well as great up until the lesser staff decides to show out and also draw the distress.