Ball State is pocketing a cool $1.9 million just to show up and play Ohio State in Week 1 of the 2026 college football season. That’s a massive check for a single game, and it tells you everything you need to know about the insane money sloshing around the top of the college football world these days.
The Week 1 Money Grab Is Real
Florida State already shelled out $1.4 million to New Mexico State for a 34-17 win in Week 0. Think about that for a second. Back in 1964, their first meeting, which also happened to be the first game in the newly expanded Doak Campbell Stadium, definitely didn’t see seven-figure payouts. Now, that kind of cash is flying for the whole Labor Day weekend opener.
Come Thursday, September 3, UAB heads to Illinois for $1.125 million. This is a big switch for the Blazers, who’ve usually been cannon fodder for SEC teams, going 0-9 and getting outscored 346-123 in nine non-pandemic seasons. Interim coach Alex Mortensen from 2025 has gotta be hoping this first-ever trip to Big Ten country plays out differently.
Friday, September 4, brings UTEP to Oklahoma for $1.5 million. This is the second time in five seasons the Sooners open against the Miners, who snagged $1 million in their 45-13 loss back in 2022. OU has absolutely owned them, winning all five meetings this century by a combined 248-41. For context, UTEP’s biggest bag was $1.65 million for a trip to Nebraska in 2024, and they got $1.63 million for a loss in Austin last year.
Also on Friday, Toledo gets $1.3 million to visit Michigan State. This game kicks off the Pat Fitzgerald era in East Lansing, and it’s the fourth time in the last five years MSU has opened against a MAC team. Last year’s season opener versus Western Michigan came with a $1.5 million payout, which is the same amount Eastern Michigan will collect in Week 2. That means the Spartans are dishing out $3 million in the first two weeks alone. Wild!
Buckeyes and Wolverines Bring the Bank
Saturday, September 5, is where Ball State’s monster $1.9 million payday comes against the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s their first meeting ever. Ohio State is a ridiculous 32-0 against the MAC, and you just know that needle is gonna move to 34-0 after Ball State and Kent State (who also gets $1.9 million in Week 3) visit Columbus. Oh, and get this: the point spread for the Ball State game is a jaw-dropping 51 points! The Buckeyes’ MAC dates are sandwiched around a Week 2 headliner at No. 5 Texas.
Western Michigan also pockets $1.5 million for visiting Michigan. Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines won 31-10 when these teams met in 2021, and that payout was $1.4 million. Michigan has won all eight games against the Broncos and holds a 28-1 record against the MAC, with their only loss coming to Toledo in 2008. And guess what else? WMU isn’t even Michigan’s biggest payout this season; UTEP visits Ann Arbor in Week 3 for $1.9 million, making Michigan’s total for two non-powers a massive $3.4 million!
So yeah, Week 1 in 2026 is gonna be absolutely bonkers, not just for the action on the field, but for the sheer amount of cash flowing around. These guarantee games are setting the stage for some serious showdowns and even more serious bank accounts. Get ready!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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