Tickets Rise for First Round of College Football Playoff

The College Football Playoff begins one week from today when No. 7 Notre Dame hosts No. 10 Indiana.

This year is the first time the postseason tournament will feature 12 teams – triple the four that it was previously. The new format includes the five highest-ranked conference champions and the seven highest-ranked teams remaining.

The four teams that will get a bye the first round and head straight to the quarterfinals (Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl) include Boise State, Arizona State, Oregon Ducks and Georgia Bulldogs.

Since the bracket was announced on Sunday, Dec. 8, ticket prices have varied based on matchups.

For Notre Dame and Indiana, the average ticket price to the game has increased by 44% since Dec. 4, when it was $390. On Dec. 12, after the teams were decided, the average ticket stood at $563.

That’s slightly more than where the Texas/Clemson game sits, at a ticket average of $526.

Another game that saw major increase in ticket price is in Columbus, Ohio, when the Ohio State Buckeyes host the Tennessee Volunteers. On Dec. 4, the potential matchup averaged $266 for a ticket. As of Dec. 12, the ticket has increased 42% to $378.

While most games have increased since before they were officially announced, one game has remained consistent. The Penn State Nittany Lions host the Southern Methodist Mustangs for the first round, and tickets have moved from $258 on Dec. 4 to $252 on Dec. 12.

The first round will end Dec. 31, with the quarterfinals starting Dec. 31. The National Championship will be played on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.