Texas and Texas A&M are facing off for the first time since 2011 on Saturday night, and the matchup could go down as the most expensive game in college football history.
The in-state rivals, who haven’t played each other since Texas A&M left the Big 12 in 2012, are meeting in College Station with a trip to the SEC championship game on the line.
Texas A&M’s Kyle Field can pack in more than 100,000 fans, and ticket prices are reaching record levels on secondary markets. On Tuesday afternoon, the cheapest price for a single ticket on most major platforms was more than $500—with the price even higher for seats together.
The stakes are high—but different—for both teams. A victory means a date next weekend with Georgia in Atlanta, with the winner of that game earning a first-round bye in the first edition of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
For Texas (10–1), getting a chance to avenge October’s home loss to the Bulldogs, and earn a spot in the CFP quarterfinals, would no doubt be nice. But the Longhorns would likely still qualify for the Playoff bracket should they lose to the Aggies.
On the other side, Saturday’s game is likely a must-win for Texas A&M (8–3). A fourth loss would take them out of CFP consideration, so beating both Texas and Georgia is likely the Aggies’ only path into the postseason.
ABC will broadcast the primetime contest at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night, one of Disney’s many potential ratings-magnet games throughout the day, including Auburn-Alabama at 3:30 p.m. on ABC and South Carolina–Clemson at noon on ESPN.
Big Bucks to See ‘The Game,’ Too
The battle in Texas isn’t the only expensive game this weekend, though.
Get-in prices on the secondary market for Michigan–Ohio State are north of $200, as the Buckeyes look to seal their place in the Big Ten championship game. The Wolverines have won the previous three matchups, but they head into Saturday’s showdown in Columbus as three-touchdown underdogs.
