Alabama vs. Western Kentucky payout details: How much money did Hilltoppers make for 2024 football game?

College football is back and there is a full slate of Week 1 games on Saturday.

One of the sport's powerhouse programs will have a completely new look this season as Alabama ushers in a new era under head coach Kalen DeBoer.

DeBoer will try and fill the shoes of Crimson Tide all-time great head coach Nick Saban, who retired at the end of the 2023 season. He will look to carry the momentum from a national championship run as head coach at Washington, taking over a program led by Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Jalen Milroe.

No. 5-ranked Alabama will open its season against Western Kentucky, playing its first game under newly minted "Nick Saban Field" at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

How much did Alabama pay Western Kentucky to come to Tuscaloosa for a Week 1 matchup? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.

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Alabama vs. Western Kentucky payout details

Every year, juggernaut college football programs will pay low- or mid-major schools to open the new season at their home stadium.

Commonly referred to as "buy games," the smaller school will receive a decent chunk of change for taking on the challenge of playing one of the nation's best teams on the road.

Alabama's Week 1 matchup against Western Kentucky is an interesting case for a buy game, considering the Hilltoppers are now a member of Conference USA. That's not exactly a cakewalk, although the Crimson Tide being favored by 31.5 points suggests otherwise.

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Alabama will pay Western Kentucky a whopping $1.9 million to open its season at Bryant-Denny Stadium. That is tied with Auburn (vs. New Mexico) and Georgia (vs. UMass) for the most expensive buy game of the 2024 season , according to Action Network.

You can find a list of the most expensive buy games below.