LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 16: Fans of the Nebraska Cornhuskers watch late game action against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Memorial Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)

Here's how much Nebraska paid to lose to a MAC team

That's one expensive "cupcake".

The so-called "cupcakes" in college football have been doing more than striking back in recent years.

Northern Illinois defeated Nebraska 21-17 on Saturday, marking Nebraska's first ever loss to a team from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). As has been tradition in these games in the past, Nebraska paid Illinois to play this game, and the Huskies are walking away with nearly a million dollars in addition to the road win.

$820,000. EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS! Considering that most teams pay for these games to get an easy win... it's really not a great investment for the athletic department when you lose.