.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame final weekend on a last-second field goal to scratch college regulation football's initial big upset of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a succeed they'll be celebrating for many years to come. For the Battling Irish, it's a season-crusher. To lose the home opener to a small university from a vastly substandard conference was a shame for Notre Dame.Especially because they spent NIU $1.4 thousand to carry out it.This beams a lighting on among the longest and most costly heritages in college volleyball: assurance video games. They are actually also phoned "amount of money activities," "salary video games," or even, as I like to contact them, "get full weeks." An expensive (as well as high-risk) traditionFor decades, in the initial few weeks of the season, primary college volleyball organizations have actually spent much smaller colleges to follow to play all of them in their house.In Week 1 alone, more than $35 thousand was spent across a minimum of 55 assurance games, according to Face Office Sports. Alabama wrote the greatest check to its own opponent, Western side Kentucky, for a monstrous $1.9 million. WKU lost that activity 63-- 0, but they most likely struck the trust the bus flight home and very likely won't hesitate about it.In Full week 2, three universities-- Western Michigan, Center Tennessee, as well as Utah State-- obtained payouts much bigger than NIU's $1.4 thousand. They dropped by a combined score of 156-- 3, but they take away a total of $4.85 thousand in the process.It's typically a deal for both teams. The little schools get a salary, the large universities obtain another home game to dairy gameday profits. The small institution gets to play on the big stage and also receive nationwide visibility, the huge one acquires a cupcake on the timetable to begin the year in a sporting activity with no preseason. Therefore all's effectively as well as great up until the smaller crew determines to reveal out as well as draw the upset.