.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend on a last-second basket to scratch university football's very first significant trouble of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a gain they'll be actually celebrating for many years to follow. For the Fighting Irish, it is actually a season-crusher. To drop the home opener to a small institution coming from a significantly poor association was actually an embarrassment for Notre Dame.Especially considering that they paid out NIU $1.4 million to accomplish it.This sparkles a light on some of the lengthiest and most pricey practices in university volleyball: assurance games. They are actually additionally gotten in touch with "amount of money video games," "salary activities," or, as I like to call them, "purchase full weeks." An expensive (and unsafe) traditionFor decades, in the first few full weeks of the season, primary college football organizations have actually spent smaller sized schools ahead to play all of them in their house.In Week 1 alone, much more than $35 thousand was devoted around at least 55 warranty video games, according to Front Office Athletics. Alabama composed the biggest inspection to its own enemy, Western side Kentucky, for a tremendous $1.9 million. WKU lost that game 63-- 0, yet they perhaps struck the bank on the bus adventure home and very likely won't reconsider it.In Week 2, three universities-- Western Michigan, Center Tennessee, as well as Utah State-- received payments larger than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They lost through a combined rating of 156-- 3, however they took home a total amount of $4.85 thousand in the process.It's normally a good deal for both teams. The tiny schools receive an income, the major schools obtain another home game to dairy gameday revenue. The tiny school gets to play on the major phase and acquire national visibility, the big one receives a dish on the schedule to begin the year in a sport without any preseason. So all's effectively and good till the minimal crew decides to reveal out and take the upset.