... when someone breaches a contract, there is simply a damage they have to pay for the breach. It is not criminal. It is a dollars and cents decision if it makes sense to bail on the main terms of the contract and simply pay the penalty/damages. I am guessing contracts for CFB games is so streamlined that it is not even a "breach of contract" and that there are specific provisions that simply allow a team to back out for a buy out amount, so it is that team/school simply choosing that action rather than playing the game. Only good teams in good conferences can get away with doing that often, or more than necessary, as part of their unwritten business model though.