What seemed like a formality for Notre Dame – a home game against a Mid-American Conference opponent following a momentous road win in the season opener against then-No. 20 Texas A&M last Saturday – was anything but.
Despite entering the game as a four-touchdown favorite, Notre Dame suffered a surprise 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. Kanon Woodill made a 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds left, and Mitch Jeter’s potentially game-winning 62-yard field goal for Notre Dame was blocked and recovered by the Huskies as time expired.
A week after Marcus Freeman’s team appeared to have a relatively clear path to the 12-team College Football Playoff, the Fighting Irish suddenly find themselves in a much more uncertain and daunting situation.
REQUIRED READING: Quick Recap: Highlights Northern Illinois shocks Notre Dame Football on Saturday
And the worst part of Saturday’s setback? Notre Dame paid seven figures for the loss. Here’s what you need to know about the Irish’s payout to Northern Illinois:
How much did Notre Dame pay Northern Illinois?
Notre Dame owes Northern Illinois $1.4 million for Saturday’s game, according to the terms of a contract obtained by the USA TODAY Network through a public records request.
The contract, signed in February 2019, obligates the Irish to pay the Huskies this amount no later than 60 days after the conclusion of the game.
It’s not the only “buy game” Notre Dame has this season. On September 21, it hosts Miami (Ohio), which it will pay $1.25 million under a contract signed in May 2021. The RedHawks are the reigning MAC champions and were tipped to win the league this season, putting them two spots ahead of Northern Illinois.
As surprising as the Huskies’ win was on Saturday, it is not the first time Notre Dame has paid more than a million dollars to lose at home to a Group of Five opponent.
In 2022, in Freeman’s second game as head coach, the Irish lost 26-21 to Marshall, whom they paid $1.25 million to travel to South Bend.
