UGA to pay nearly $1 million to play lesser Division I-A opponent

Such prices reflect the rapid rise in the paydays commanded by lower-tier Division I-A programs that are willing to play in a BCS-level opponent's stadium without demanding a return visit.

For Georgia, the economics make sense because an additional home date nets several million dollars. And for schools like North Texas, the paydays help fund their athletics programs.

"I know there are institutions paying more than $1 million for these games," Georgia athletics director Damon Evans said Monday. "That will drive the market and set the standard."

The teams willing to play for pay in such games "know we need them," Evans added. "They are in a very, very good position. The market is very competitive."

He estimated such games against I-A opponents cost around $500,000 five years ago. The rapid rise began when the NCAA expanded regular-season schedules from 11 games to 12 in 2006.

"I think [the cost of such games] will continue to increase," Evans said.

Aside from finances, the power programs see such games as breathers on otherwise demanding schedules.

"You buy these games, let's be candid, because you think they will be ... not as difficult a win," Evans said. "But we've seen that change some with parity in college football. If you go out and buy a game and lose, that's a double whammy."

North Texas, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, was 1-11 last season.

Georgia doesn't pay SEC schools or Georgia Tech for playing in Sanford Stadium, because those games are reciprocated when the Bulldogs go on the road. And in deals with other major-conference opponents that involve both home and road games, the finances are typically a wash: For example, Georgia will get $300,000 for going to Clemson in 2013 and pay the Tigers $300,000 for coming to Athens in 2014.

Georgia typically seeks at least two home games per year against opponents that won't require return games. Often, one will be scheduled against a Division I-AA opponent, which comes much cheaper. In 2011, for example, Georgia will pay I-AA Coastal Carolina $475,000, or $450,000 less than New Mexico State will get.

So why not schedule two games against I-AA opponents and save money?

Because the NCAA allows only one win per season over a I-AA opponent to count toward bowl eligibility.

That leaves the big-time football programs aggressively seeking opponents like North Texas.

"The thing we've stayed away from is, we have not hit the million-dollar mark [in buying such games]," Evans said. "975,000 looks better than a million."