Saturday, July 11, 2026

Colorado Becomes College Football’s Most Expensive Ticket

  • Colorado’s average ticket price on the secondary market keeps surging amid a 2-0 start under Coach Prime.
  • The Buffs have knocked Ohio State off as the most expensive ticket in college football for the first time since 2021.
Colorado has passed Ohio State for college football's priciest ticket.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Demand for Colorado Buffaloes tickets continues to surge for the Deion Sanders-coached team. The average secondary market ticket price for Colorado home games is now $517, an 11% increase since last week’s win over Nebraska.

Data provided by TicketIQ shows that since Colorado’s Week 2 win to start 2-0, the Buffs have overtaken Ohio State for the highest average ticket in college football. The Buckeyes now rank second at $512 for home games, knocking them out of the top spot for the first time since the start of the 2021 season. 

Colorado secondary ticket prices are up 163% since before the start of this season, which began with the Buffs unranked before beating TCU and Nebraska to climb to No. 18 on the AP Poll. CU prices are up a whopping 327% since the beginning of last season’s ticket sales.

The Coach Prime effect continues Saturday as both ESPN and Fox Sports will host their pregame shows in Boulder for Colorado’s home game against Colorado State on ESPN. It marks the first time Fox Sports’ “Big Noon Kickoff” show will air from the site of a game the network isn’t broadcasting, while ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be in Boulder for the first time since 1996. TicketIQ shows CU-CSU tickets priced as low as $224 and as high as $783.

Colorado’s Oct. 13 game against Stanford is currently the hottest remaining home game with the lowest secondary resale price at $693, per TicketIQ. The next most-expensive is USC-Colorado at Folsom Field on Sept. 30, with tickets starting at $378.

Colorado sold $430,000 worth of tickets in just three days following its season-opening road win over TCU. The Buffaloes have the second-highest year-over-year ticket price increase (327%) in college football, according to TicketIQ, trailing only Tulane’s 548% yearly increase coming off their first AAC conference title and a Cotton Bowl win over USC.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

What the World Cup Means to Erling Haaland’s Tiny Hometown

The tournament’s breakout star is from a rural Norwegian town.

Why So Many Media Outlets Are Rushing Into Sports

Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media.
Mar 16, 2026; Dayton, OH, USA; Detailed view of the “NCAA” logo during the Howard Bison a practice session ahead of the first four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at University of Dayton Arena.

Judge Orders NCAA to Grandfather Athletes Into Eligibility Model

The ruling could grant another year of eligibility to thousands of athletes.
Aug 30, 2025; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Bucknell Bison tight end Charlie Kreinbucher (82) runs the ball against Air Force Falcons defensive back Roger Jones Jr. (5) in the first quarter at Falcon Stadium.

Criminal Case Against Former Bucknell Coach Could Set Precedent

A Bucknell football player died in 2024 after collapsing at practice.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

7/10/26 – World Cup Ratings Records, Seahawks Sale Narrows, Kawhi Trade Limbo

0:00

Featured Today

Pillow Fight Championship

How Obscure Sports Get Mainstream TV Deals

For niche sports, getting on TV often matters more than getting paid.
ATLANTA, GA - September 05: Georgia Lottery fireworks after the game against the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park on Friday, September 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
July 2, 2026

Inside the Spectacle and Science of MLB Fireworks

Postgame fireworks are lighting up baseball for America250.
Kansas City Chiefs
July 1, 2026

NFL Teams Push to Turn Futbol Fans Into Football Devotees

NFL teams are courting international soccer fans during their World Cup visits.
June 26, 2026

What We Saw Traveling the U.S. for the World Cup Group Stage

The knockout stage begins Sunday.
June 26, 2026

In an Era of $1,000 Tickets, $10 Watch Parties Bring Fans Together

Stadium watch parties now rival home-game experiences.

Is Big 12’s $20M Monster Jersey Patch Deal Too Cheap?

The deal, heralded as the first of its kind, drew criticism.
July 5, 2026

FBI Arrests Ex-College Hoops Player in Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Case

Kerr Kriisa played for Kentucky, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Arizona between 2020 and 2026.
Nov 25, 2016; Pullman, WA, USA; General view of the Pac-12 logo on the field before the game between the Washington Huskies and the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
July 6, 2026

New Pac-12 Only FBS Conference Not Hosting Media Days

The Pac-12 is expanding from two to eight teams this season.
Sponsored

Josh Childress: Why Now Is the Time for NBA Expansion

Josh Childress on why he invested in the Portland Thorns, the case for NBA expansion, and donating to Stanford NIL.
July 2, 2026

Pair of Merging D-II Schools Sue Conference That Kicked One Out

Ursuline College’s athletic recruiting and scheduling are being drastically impacted. 
June 28, 2026

College Sports Roster Spending Soars Beyond $20.5M Rev-Share Cap

The $20.5 million rev-share cap was a new floor for roster costs.
June 26, 2026

West Virginia AD: McAfee’s Value to School ‘Maybe Eight Figures’

The sports media star played at West Virginia nearly two decades ago.
Nov 22, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Beaver Stadium.
June 25, 2026

Court Hands NCAA, Conferences Win in Fight Over NIL Enforcement

Schools are still going above the revenue-sharing cap.