.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame final weekend on a last-second basket to notch college soccer's first huge upset of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a gain they'll be celebrating for a long times ahead. For the Combating Irish, it's a season-crusher. To shed the home opener to a tiny institution coming from a significantly inferior conference was actually an awkwardness for Notre Dame.Especially due to the fact that they paid NIU $1.4 million to perform it.This sparkles an illumination on some of the lengthiest and also very most costly heritages in college volleyball: guarantee video games. They are actually also gotten in touch with "funds activities," "paycheck games," or even, as I just like to contact all of them, "purchase full weeks." A pricey (as well as high-risk) traditionFor decades, in the very first couple of full weeks of the time, significant university soccer institutions have actually paid for smaller sized universities to come to play them in their house.In Full week 1 alone, much more than $35 thousand was actually devoted across a minimum of 55 warranty video games, according to Front Office Sports. Alabama composed the biggest inspection to its own opponent, Western Kentucky, for a tremendous $1.9 million. WKU lost that game 63-- 0, however they probably reached the trust the bus trip home and also likely will not reconsider it.In Week 2, three universities-- Western Michigan, Center Tennessee, and also Utah Condition-- obtained payouts greater than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They dropped by a mixed rating 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 groups. The little colleges get an income, the large schools get an additional home game to dairy gameday income. The tiny college reaches use the significant phase and receive nationwide direct exposure, the huge one receives a dish on the schedule to start the year in a sporting activity with no preseason. Thus all's well and good up until the minimal team chooses to reveal out and take the upset.