Purdue is paying a premium rate to add home games to its non-conference schedule.

Late last week, Purdue was able to complete its non-conference schedule through the 2026 season by adding home games against Florida Atlantic (2022), Ball State (2025) and Miami (OH) (2027), but those contests come with a costly price tag.

According to Mike Carmin of the Journal & Courier, Purdue will shell out at least $1 million to each of the three opponents, and could go as high as $1.3 million. Those costs are in addition to another recently scheduled home game against Fresno State (2023), in which the athletic department will write a $1.3 million check for the Bulldogs to visit Ross-Ade Stadium.

“People know who needs games and magically the price … it’s just supply and demand. It’s basic economics,” Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski told the Journal & Courier. “We worked really hard to find people that are reasonable and in today’s world we’re happy to have Fresno State at a rate while daunting for sure, it’s not as bad as it could’ve been given the marketplace.”

Ross-Ade Stadium’s capacity is listed over 57,000, a middle-of-the road size in the B1G. But making a profit on those non-conference games with such a large chunk of change going to the opponent will be difficult for the Boilermakers.

With the increased need to add home games, though, the price tags for home games probably won’t be decreasing anytime soon. That goes for any big-time football program, not just Purdue.