Simply getting invited to play a high-profile school at its stadium is an honor for Group of Five programs. In addition to getting greater exposure, you get a nice paycheck just for showing up. Those incentives make it easier to absorb a likely loss, which probably will be a big one. However, USF might not get that luxury for playing Notre Dame over the next three years.
According to the series contract, obtained by the Tampa Bay Times after a public-records request, there is no financial guarantee for the Bulls. In fact, if this year’s contest, scheduled for Sept. 19 in South Bend, doesn’t get played, the remaining two games in this series will not be scheduled. If it goes on as scheduled, those games must have dates by Aug. 1, 2021. And to no one’s surprise, the cancelation provisions include the phrase “epidemic or pandemic”.
I have just received the contract for the @USFFootball-Notre Dame series. Section 5: "Neither party will owe the other party a guarantee payment for any Game."
— Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) September 2, 2020
Additionally, a good ol’ pandemic provision has been added to the cancellation terms @USFFootball @NDFootball pic.twitter.com/T5nolG3g2E
— Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) September 2, 2020
Despite this unusual arrangement, USF won’t be completely deprived of money for playing the Irish. It can purchase 300 tickets for this season’s game if it so chooses. And with the teams keeping their respective home ticket revenue, the Bulls should benefit nicely when this series has its lone game in Tampa.
Hey, in the times we’re living in, you can’t afford to be picky.