What seemed like a formality for Notre Dame — a home game against a Mid-American Conference opponent, hot on the heels of a memorable season-opening win over then-No. 20 Texas A&M last Saturday — turned out to be anything but a formality.

Despite entering the game as a four-touchdown favorite, Notre Dame was upset by Northern Illinois 16-14 on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium. Cannon Woodill made a 35-yard field goal with 31 seconds left, and Mitch Jeter’s potential game-winning 62-yard field goal for Notre Dame was blocked and recovered by the Huskies as time expired.

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

REQUIRED READING: Instant Recap: Northern Illinois Shocks Notre Dame Football on Saturday Highlights

Perhaps 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 terms of a contract obtained by the USA TODAY Network through a public information request.

The agreement, signed in February 2019, requires the Irish to pay the Huskies the 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 Sept. 21, it hosts Miami (Ohio), which paid it $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, which puts them two spots ahead of Northern Illinois.

As shocking as the Huskies’ win Saturday was, it’s not the first time Notre Dame has paid more than $1 million to lose at home to a Group 5 opponent.

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How much did Notre Dame football pay NIU for the Week 2 upset of 2016-14?