A payout from a bowl game, at least a smaller game, is to cover the expenses that a participating team will incur from its participation in the bowl game, Williams said.

“That’s what those funds are for, to support the travel and expenses for games,” he said.

Larger bowl games, like the Rose Bowl, do produce revenue for the university and conference, Williams said. In the case of NIU, however, the goal of the payout is to break even.

Continue reading this story by clicking on part five.