I know MU has done this (although for much less money) and it's been a mistake, IMO. But paying that much money to avoid Fresno State?!? Good Lord.
From Rivals:
Kansas State paid a quarter-million dollars to avoid a game against
Fresno State. That's a Big 12 team paying $250,000 to cancel a home game against a WAC team. Of course, said WAC team whacked K-State 45-29 last year. In need of a replacement opponent, K-State offered $350,000 to Montana State, a Division I-AA program that went 6-5 in 2007. Meanwhile, Fresno State raised its level of competition by replacing Kansas State on its schedule with
Rutgers.