.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame final weekend break on a last-second field goal to mark university football's first major trouble of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a succeed they'll be celebrating for years ahead. For the Fighting Irish, it is actually a season-crusher. To shed the home opener to a small university coming from a significantly inferior association was actually an embarrassment for Notre Dame.Especially given that they paid for NIU $1.4 million to do it.This beams a lighting on among the longest as well as very most expensive heritages in university volleyball: warranty games. They're additionally called "funds video games," "paycheck activities," or, as I just like to contact all of them, "purchase full weeks." A pricey (and high-risk) traditionFor years, in the very first few weeks of the period, significant college volleyball organizations have paid out smaller sized universities ahead to play them in their house.In Full week 1 alone, much more than $35 million was spent across at the very least 55 assurance games, according to Front end Office Athletics. Alabama created the largest check to its own enemy, Western Kentucky, for an immense $1.9 million. WKU lost that activity 63-- 0, but they most likely hit the bank on the bus ride home and probably won't hesitate about it.In Full week 2, 3 colleges-- Western Michigan, Middle Tennessee, and Utah Condition-- obtained payments much bigger than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They dropped by a combined score of 156-- 3, yet they took home an overall of $4.85 thousand in the process.It's usually a bargain for each teams. The small colleges acquire a salary, the significant universities obtain yet another home game to milk gameday profits. The tiny university comes to play on the major stage as well as obtain national visibility, the big one receives a dish on the timetable to begin the year in a sporting activity without preseason. So all's properly and good until the lower team decides to show out and take the upset.