Thursday, August 20, 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

Deion Sanders takes in the second day of Cleveland Browns training camp, July 30, 2026, in Berea, Ohio.

Colorado’s ‘Prime Effect’ Is Wearing Off

Fewer national TV broadcasts loom for Colorado following a 3–9 season.

Teams, Brands Troll Jayden Daniels After LSU Controversy

Daniels sent a cease-and-desist letter after LSU gave away his No. 5.
First at FOS

Snapback Sports Gets Patch Deal With Sam Houston State, With Perks

It’s just the second patch deal secured by a Conference USA school.
Exclusive

Tarleton State Wants to Jump to the FBS

The Texans are having conversations about how to reach the next level.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

8/19/26 – Lakers Family Feud, NFL Eyes Overseas Team, Knicks Embarrass Nets

0:00

Featured Today

Trendy Golf Hat Divide Is More Than a Fashion Fight

As golf has gotten trendier, so has the sport’s style.
Joey Spallina of the Maryland Whipsnakes
August 6, 2026

How Eye Black Became ‘War Paint’ on the Field

“You’re going into battle, doing something you only do on game days.”
August 6, 2026

Tom Brady Explains His Aggressive Push Into Trading Cards

Brady talked to FOS about his eponymous card company.
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - April 23, 2026 Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav in action
August 5, 2026

India Is Stealing Cricket’s Throne From England and Australia

India’s insatiable appetite for cricket has shifted the traditional locus of power.
WPBL
July 30, 2026

Who’s Playing Women’s Professional Baseball?

Sixty players from 11 countries are descending on Illinois for six weeks.
Oct 6, 2025; Charlotte, NC, USA; SMU player Kyla Deck answers questions from the media at The Hilton Charlotte Uptown.

SMU Women’s Basketball Player Sues NCAA Over Transfer Restrictions

It could set a precedent for more challenges to NCAA transfer restrictions.
First at FOS
August 13, 2026

Illinois’s $30M Busey Bank Deal: Exec Road Trips, Player Job Pipeline

The jersey patch deal is part of an overall $30 million sponsorship.
August 13, 2026

Jayden Daniels Sets Off Firestorm at LSU Over Jersey Number

The Commanders quarterback sent LSU a cease-and-desist letter for using his NIL.
Sponsored

Saints Great Turns to Ownership

Marques Colston discusses his Champions Fund launch and finding success after football.
North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) drives to the basket Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the VCU Rams at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
August 12, 2026

Athletes Capitalizing As NCAA Fights to Overturn New Eligibility Ruling

An appeals court will consider whether to pause the initial ruling.
Mar 21, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
August 11, 2026

Desmond Bane Wants College Basketball to Add a Salary Cap

Bane is TCU’s chief basketball officer.
Inside NCAA Headquarters located in Indianapolis on Friday, March 10, 2023. Ncaa President Charlie Baker
August 11, 2026

NCAA Loses First Appeal of Class of 2022 Eligibility Injunction

The NCAA lost its first battle to get the ruling overturned.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) talks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 6, 2026.
August 7, 2026

College Sports Bill Faces Steep Hurdles Before August Recess

The Congressional Black Caucus said it would not support the bill.