.Northern Illinois stunned No. 5 Notre Dame last weekend break on a last-second field goal to mark college soccer's first huge trouble of 2024. For the Huskies, it's a succeed they'll be celebrating for a long times ahead. For the Dealing with Irish, it's a season-crusher. To drop the home opener to a small college coming from an extremely substandard event was a discomfort for Notre Dame.Especially due to the fact that they paid NIU $1.4 million to accomplish it.This beams a light on among the longest and most costly customs in university soccer: guarantee activities. They are actually additionally gotten in touch with "amount of money activities," "salary games," or, as I like to call all of them, "acquire weeks." An expensive (and also dangerous) traditionFor decades, in the first couple of full weeks of the time, major university soccer establishments have actually paid for smaller sized schools ahead to play all of them in their house.In Week 1 alone, more than $35 thousand was actually invested all over at the very least 55 warranty activities, depending on to Front end Office Sports. Alabama created the most significant inspection to its own rival, Western side Kentucky, for an immense $1.9 thousand. WKU shed that video game 63-- 0, yet they possibly hit the trust the bus adventure home and likely will not hesitate about it.In Week 2, three schools-- Western Michigan, Middle Tennessee, and Utah State-- obtained payouts bigger than NIU's $1.4 million. They shed through a mixed score of 156-- 3, but they take away an overall of $4.85 thousand in the process.It's typically a good deal for both crews. The little colleges obtain a salary, the big colleges receive another home video game to dairy gameday profits. The tiny institution reaches use the huge stage and get nationwide exposure, the major one acquires a cupcake on the timetable to start the year in a sport without any preseason. Therefore all's properly and excellent up until the lesser group makes a decision to present out and also take the distress.