College football is largely about the Benjamins, baby.
The difference between the sport's haves and have-nots constitute millions of dollars. Mid-majors can still find success in this environment — Boise State, Tulane, James Madison and Liberty have made their mark in recent years. But the task proves a lot harder when a program's coffers run thin.
For sides experiencing financial precarity, buy games can offer a temporary reprieve. That was the case for Troy, which collected a glitzy game check ahead of its road clash with No. 8 Clemson on Sept. 6.
The Trojans struck fear into the Tigers in the ensuing fixture, recording a 16-3 halftime lead in front of raucous orange-clad concourses. Dabo Swinney's bunch pulled things closer in the second half. But it left a great many wondering just how much the Tigers offered their opponents to play against them.
Here's what you need to know.
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Clemson vs. Troy payout details
Each passing season brings a slew of “buy games,” fixtures in which college football’s most prominent programs shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars to low- and mid-major opponents. The gesture acts as a sweetener for these lower-profile teams — a bit of honey to help swallow the bitter pill of traveling to the nation’s loudest, star-studded stadiums.
Clemson’s clash with Troy is a recent example. The Tigers reportedly paid the Trojans $1.5 million to face off at Memorial Stadium. That’s comparable to what Notre Dame paid in its 2024 loss to a lower-tier opponent. Penn State shelled out a similar amount in its Week 1 matchup with Nevada in 2025, as did Michigan State when it faced Western Michigan.
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All told, that mark represents a pretty penny for Troy. The Trojans did themselves proud against Clemson, opening up a 16-point advantage against their heavily-favored opposition.
You can find a list of some of the most expensive buy games of the season below:
| Team | Opponent | Amount | Date |
| Michigan | New Mexico | $1.8 million | Sept. 13 |
| Georgia | Marshall | $1.7 million | Aug. 30 |
| Ole Miss | Georgia State | $1.6 million | Aug. 30 |
| Wisconsin | Miami (Ohio) | $1.6 million | Aug. 28 |
| Michigan State | Western Michigan | $1.5 million | Aug. 29 |
| Penn State | Nevada | $1.45 million | Aug. 30 |
| Indiana | Old Dominion | $1.3 million | Aug. 30 |