.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend break on a last-second basket to notch university soccer's 1st huge trouble of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a win they'll be commemorating for many years to come. For the Combating Irish, it is actually a season-crusher. To lose the home opener to a small college coming from a greatly poor event was actually a shame for Notre Dame.Especially due to the fact that they spent NIU $1.4 thousand to perform it.This shines an illumination on some of the longest and very most costly traditions in university soccer: guarantee video games. They're likewise phoned "amount of money video games," "salary games," or, as I like to call all of them, "buy full weeks." A costly (as well as high-risk) traditionFor decades, in the first few full weeks of the season, major university soccer organizations have spent smaller schools to find to play them in their house.In Full week 1 alone, more than $35 million was spent all over at least 55 warranty activities, according to Front Office Athletics. Alabama composed the greatest check to its opponent, Western side Kentucky, for an enormous $1.9 million. WKU dropped that game 63-- 0, yet they most likely struck the bank on the bus flight home and probably will not hesitate about it.In Week 2, three universities-- Western side Michigan, Center Tennessee, and Utah State-- obtained payments larger than NIU's $1.4 million. They lost through a bundled rating of 156-- 3, yet they take away a total amount of $4.85 million in the process.It's usually a good deal for both teams. The little universities receive an income, the large institutions get another home activity to milk gameday revenue. The little institution gets to use the huge phase and also receive nationwide direct exposure, the large one obtains a dish on the schedule to begin the year in a sport without preseason. Thus all's properly and also great up until the smaller group chooses to show out as well as pull the trouble.