FCS Schools Got Paid $1M For FBS Upsets in Week 1

Three FCS teams upset superior and better-funded FBS opponents during Week 1 of the college football season—and got paid more than $1 million to do it.

As is typical early in college football seasons, tens of millions of dollars were exchanged on Labor Day Weekend with Power 4 and non-power conference teams paying smaller programs to come play in their home openers—often called “money games” or “guarantee games.” FCS (NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision) programs are easy targets, with most willing to play anywhere they can for some much-needed cash and often a bigger national spotlight they otherwise wouldn’t get. 

While Rutgers of the Big Ten has the biggest egg on its face for paying $1.55 million to UMass—only to lose 37-21 last Thursday night and snap the Mid-American Conference squad’s 16-game losing streak—three Group of 6 (non-power conferences) teams were victims in their own right on Saturday.

Idaho State 29, Utah State 17: $400,000

The Idaho State Bengals, who finished fifth in the Big Sky last season, got paid $400,000 to travel to Logan, Utah, to take down the Utah State Aggies in the program’s first game as a member of the re-tooled Pac-12. It was Idaho State’s first win over an FBS team since 2017, when they beat Nevada.

Tarleton State 20, Bowling Green 13: $360,000

Ranked No. 5 in the FCS coaches poll heading into the week, Tarleton (United Athletic Conference) received $360,000 to leave Texas and play their Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent in Ohio—and left with their second win over an FBS team in as many seasons after taking down Army last year.

Tarleton made the jump to Division I just six years ago, and the Texas school’s AD Steve Uryasz told Front Office Sports that they’re already looking to make another leap from the FCS to the FBS level.

Citadel 43, Charlotte 41: $305,000

Traveling from just a few hours away in Charleston, South Carolina, the Bulldogs (Southern Conference) needed three overtimes to outlast the 49ers (American Conference) in North Carolina. It marked the military college’s 10th overall victory over an FBS program.

Another Close Call

As the fallout continues from Michigan’s controversial win over Western Michigan, the Wolverines not only avoided what would have been a shocking defeat—but also a quite costly loss. Michigan paid their MAC opponent $1.5 million to play in the Big House Saturday night. 

It would have been the biggest upset for the Big Ten powerhouse since 2007, when Michigan paid Appalachian State (then an FCS team and now in the FBS as a member of the Sun Belt) $400,000 to lose 34-32 in Week 1 of that season.