.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend on a last-second field goal to mark college soccer's very first big distress of 2024. For the Huskies, it is actually a gain they'll be celebrating for years to find. For the Fighting Irish, it is actually a season-crusher. To lose the home opener to a tiny university from a vastly substandard association was a discomfort for Notre Dame.Especially due to the fact that they paid out NIU $1.4 million to do it.This shines a lighting on among the longest as well as very most pricey customs in university football: assurance activities. They're additionally phoned "cash games," "payday games," or even, as I like to contact them, "purchase full weeks." A pricey (as well as high-risk) traditionFor years, in the first couple of full weeks of the period, major college football establishments have actually paid out smaller sized schools to come to play them in their house.In Full week 1 alone, more than $35 million was actually invested across at the very least 55 assurance activities, depending on to Face Workplace Sports. Alabama composed the largest check to its own enemy, Western side Kentucky, for an enormous $1.9 million. WKU lost that video game 63-- 0, but they perhaps hit the count on the bus adventure home and very likely will not think twice about it.In Full week 2, three colleges-- Western side Michigan, Center Tennessee, and also Utah Condition-- got payouts larger than NIU's $1.4 million. They lost through a combined rating of 156-- 3, however they took home a total of $4.85 million in the process.It's normally a deal for both staffs. The tiny institutions acquire an income, the big colleges receive another home activity to milk gameday earnings. The tiny school reaches use the huge stage as well as acquire national direct exposure, the major one gets a cupcake on the routine to start the year in a sport without preseason. Therefore all's well and also good until the lesser group chooses to present out and draw the upset.