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The increasingly unusual economics of college football

.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend on a last-second basket to scratch college football's initial major upset of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a succeed they'll be actually celebrating for many years ahead. For the Combating Irish, it's a season-crusher. To drop the home opener to a little institution from a greatly substandard association was actually a humiliation for Notre Dame.Especially due to the fact that they spent NIU $1.4 thousand to carry out it.This radiates a lighting on one of the lengthiest and also very most pricey traditions in college football: warranty activities. They are actually likewise phoned "cash video games," "salary activities," or even, as I as if to phone all of them, "get full weeks." A pricey (and risky) traditionFor many years, in the initial handful of weeks of the time, primary university volleyball institutions have paid out smaller sized colleges to follow to play them in their house.In Week 1 alone, greater than $35 million was actually devoted around at least 55 warranty activities, depending on to Face Workplace Sports. Alabama created the most significant inspection to its own opponent, Western Kentucky, for a massive $1.9 million. WKU lost that activity 63-- 0, yet they most likely attacked the rely on the bus adventure home and also most likely won't think twice about it.In Full week 2, three schools-- Western side Michigan, Middle Tennessee, and also Utah State-- obtained payouts much bigger than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They shed by a mixed score of 156-- 3, however they took home an overall of $4.85 million in the process.It's generally a deal for both teams. The tiny institutions get a salary, the major colleges get an additional home game to milk gameday revenue. The small university reaches play on the big stage as well as receive nationwide exposure, the big one gets a cupcake on the schedule to start the year in a sporting activity without preseason. So all's effectively as well as really good until the smaller crew decides to show out and also pull the distress.