How much did Notre Dame pay Northern Illinois? What the Irish owe the Huskies for the 16-14 upset

What seemed like a formality for Notre Dame — a home game against a Mid-American Conference opponent following a momentous season-opening win on the road against then-No. 20 Texas A&M last Saturday — turned out to be anything but that.

Despite entering the match as a four-touchdown favorite, Notre Dame was overwhelmed 16-14 by 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 by the Huskies and recovered as time expired.

A week after it looked like Marcus Freeman’s team had a relatively clear path to the 12-team College Football Playoff, the Fighting Irish suddenly find themselves in a much more uncertain and daunting position.

Required reading: Quick Recap: Highlights Northern Illinois shocks Notre Dame football on Saturday

Perhaps the worst part of Saturday’s setback? Notre Dame paid a seven-figure sum 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 a contract obtained by the USA TODAY Network through an open records request.

The contract signed in February 2019 stipulates that the Irish must pay the Huskies this amount no later than 60 days after the end of the game.

It’s not the only “buying game” Notre Dame has this season. On September 21, it hosts Miami (Ohio), which agreed to pay $1.25 million under a contract signed in May 2021. The RedHawks are the reigning MAC champions and were picked to win the league this season, two spots ahead of Northern Illinois.

As shocking as the Huskies’ victory was on Saturday, it isn’t the first time Notre Dame has spent more than $1 million on a home loss to a Group of Five opponent.

In 2022, in Freeman’s second game as head coach, the Irish lost 26-21 to Marshall, who paid $1.25 million to travel to South Bend.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How much did Notre Dame football pay NIU for Week 2 16-14 upset?