Another college football season reaches its crescendo with the arrival of bowl season — a packed month-long slate highlighted by the second year of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
With matchups set and tickets already moving quickly, early resale pricing provides a clear picture of where fan demand is strongest heading into December and January.
From high-stakes CFP showdowns to classic New Year’s bowls and regional rivalry matchups, here’s a data-driven look at how the marketplace is shaping up as fans secure seats for this year’s postseason.
National Championship Remains the Unquestioned Premier Ticket
The CFP National Championship once again leads all postseason events with a staggering $6,378 average ticket price for the January 19 finale at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
It’s the most expensive ticket of bowl season by a wide margin, reflecting both limited seating availability and the continued prestige of the title game despite the expanded playoff format.
Campus-Site First Round Games Are Driving Surging Interest
The introduction of on-campus first-round playoff games is proving to be one of the most impactful changes of the new CFP era.
Several home sites are showing demand levels typically reserved for semifinal weekends.
- Texas A&M vs. Miami – $1,521 average at Kyle Field is the hottest early-round ticket by far, driven by a massive home fan base and the novelty of hosting a playoff game.
- Oklahoma vs. Alabama – $762 average offers blue-blood appeal and delivers one of the premium first-round atmospheres.
- Ole Miss vs. Tulane – $571 average continues the SEC-region trend of strong pricing.
- Oregon vs. James Madison – $382 average sits lower than its SEC counterparts but still well above traditional bowl pricing.
Early takeaway: The SEC footprint currently leads all regions in first-round demand, and the campus-site format is clearly resonating with fans.
Quarterfinal and Semifinal Price Tiers Emerge Across New Year’s Six Bowls
The CFP’s neutral-site matchups show strong—but differentiated—demand patterns based on venue, tradition, and expected fan travel.
Top Tier
- Cotton Bowl (Ohio State vs. TBD) – $997 average
Continues to be one of the postseason’s strongest draws, boosted by Ohio State’s national fan base and AT&T Stadium’s marquee-event profile.
Upper-Mid Tier
- Peach Bowl Semifinal – $773 average
Atlanta remains one of the most reliable postseason markets, particularly for a semifinal. - Rose Bowl Quarterfinal – $748 average
Tradition, destination appeal, and a potential Alabama–Indiana matchup elevate prices.
Mid Tier
- Fiesta Bowl Semifinal – $656 average
- Orange Bowl Quarterfinal – $573 average
- Sugar Bowl Quarterfinal – $518 average
While all CFP games price well above the bowl-season average, the Southeast again appears strongest, with Atlanta, Miami, and New Orleans showing the most consistent demand.
Surprisingly High Demand at Fenway and Birmingham Bowls
Several non-CFP bowls are outperforming expectations thanks to unique venues or especially devoted fan bases.
- Fenway Bowl (Army vs. UConn) – $1,028 average
The highest non-CFP price of bowl season, fueled by the intimate MLB ballpark setting and strong Army fan support. - Birmingham Bowl (Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State) – $772 average
A regional matchup with passionate followings is generating major interest. - Citrus Bowl (Texas vs. Michigan) – $461 average
One of the most compelling non-playoff matchups on the calendar, pairing two powerhouse programs.
Where Fans Can Find the Best Values
For fans looking for affordable postseason football, several games come in well under $100 on average, making them ideal entry points:
- Independence Bowl – $69 average
- Sun Bowl – $62 average
- Arizona Bowl – $60 average
- 68 Ventures Bowl – $52 average
These contests offer some of the lowest price barriers of bowl season while still delivering unique venues and competitive matchups.
Overall Trends Heading Into Bowl Season
Early marketplace activity reveals several clear patterns:
- CFP games dominate demand, especially the National Championship and high-profile quarterfinals and semifinals.
- On-campus first-round games are a major success, driving some of the highest early-round ticket prices ever recorded.
- SEC-region venues continue to outperform across both CFP and non-CFP bowls.
- Traditional bowls with unique settings — like the Fenway Bowl — are capturing fan attention.
As the postseason approaches and matchups become fully finalized, expect pricing to shift dynamically.
Fans looking for the best deals can continue to take advantage of Ticket Club’s no-fee pricing model, which offers meaningful savings across every bowl and CFP game.
All average price data sourced from Ticket Club’s marketplace, reflecting prices as of early December.
College Football Playoff Games and Ticket Prices
| Date | Event | Venue | City | Avg. Price | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/19/2025 | CFP First Round: Oklahoma vs. Alabama | Memorial Stadium | Norman, OK | $762 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/20/2025 | CFP First Round: Texas A&M vs. Miami | Kyle Field | College Station, TX | $1,521 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/20/2025 | CFP First Round: Ole Miss vs. Tulane | Vaught-Hemingway Stadium | Oxford, MS | $571 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/20/2025 | CFP First Round: Oregon vs. James Madison | Autzen Stadium | Eugene, OR | $382 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/31/2025 | CFP Quarterfinal: Cotton Bowl | AT&T Stadium | Arlington, TX | $997 | Shop Tickets |
| 1/1/2026 | CFP Quarterfinal: Orange Bowl | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, FL | $573 | Shop Tickets |
| 1/1/2026 | CFP Quarterfinal: Rose Bowl | Rose Bowl Stadium | Pasadena, CA | $748 | Shop Tickets |
| 1/1/2026 | CFP Quarterfinal: Sugar Bowl | Caesars Superdome | New Orleans, LA | $518 | Shop Tickets |
| 1/8/2026 | CFP Semifinal: Fiesta Bowl | State Farm Stadium | Glendale, AZ | $656 | Shop Tickets |
| 1/9/2026 | CFP Semifinal: Peach Bowl | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, GA | $773 | Shop Tickets |
| 1/19/2026 | CFP National Championship | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, FL | $6,378 | Shop Tickets |
Bowl Game Tickets and Ticket Prices
| Date | Event | Venue | City | Avg. Price | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/13/2025 | Celebration Bowl: South Carolina State vs. Prairie View A&M | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, GA | $122 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/13/2025 | LA Bowl: Boise State vs. Washington | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA | $103 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/16/2025 | Salute to Veterans Bowl: Troy vs. Jacksonville State | Cramton Bowl | Montgomery, AL | $138 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/17/2025 | Cure Bowl: Old Dominion vs. South Florida | Camping World Stadium | Orlando, FL | $118 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/17/2025 | 68 Ventures Bowl: UL Lafayette vs. Delaware | Hancock Whitney Stadium | Mobile, AL | $52 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/18/2025 | Xbox Bowl: Missouri State vs. Arkansas State | Ford Center at The Star | Frisco, TX | $87 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/19/2025 | Myrtle Beach Bowl: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan | Brooks Stadium | Conway, SC | $79 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/19/2025 | Gasparilla Bowl: NC State vs. Memphis | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, FL | $133 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/22/2025 | Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Washington State vs. Utah State | Albertsons Stadium | Boise, ID | $87 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/23/2025 | Boca Raton Bowl: Louisville vs. Toledo | Flagler Credit Union Stadium | Boca Raton, FL | $99 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/23/2025 | New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss | Caesars Superdome | New Orleans, LA | $121 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/23/2025 | Frisco Bowl: UNLV vs. Ohio | Ford Center at The Star | Frisco, TX | $116 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/24/2025 | Hawai’i Bowl: California vs. Hawaii | Ching Athletics Complex | Honolulu, HI | $105 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/26/2025 | Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota | Chase Field | Phoenix, AZ | $166 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/26/2025 | First Responder Bowl: UTSA vs. FIU | Gerald J. Ford Stadium | Dallas, TX | $137 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/26/2025 | GameAbove Sports Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern | Ford Field | Detroit, MI | $102 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/27/2025 | Military Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium | Annapolis, MD | $125 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/27/2025 | Pinstripe Bowl: Penn State vs. Clemson | Yankee Stadium | Bronx, NY | $224 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/27/2025 | Fenway Bowl: Army vs. UConn | Fenway Park | Boston, MA | $1,028 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/27/2025 | Pop-Tarts Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. BYU | Camping World Stadium | Orlando, FL | $165 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/27/2025 | New Mexico Bowl: San Diego State vs. North Texas | University Stadium | Albuquerque, NM | $81 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/27/2025 | Gator Bowl: Virginia vs. Missouri | EverBank Stadium | Jacksonville, FL | $132 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/27/2025 | Arizona Bowl: Fresno State vs. Miami (OH) | Arizona Stadium | Tucson, AZ | $60 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/27/2025 | Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Houston | NRG Stadium | Houston, TX | $207 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/27/2025 | Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. Utah | Allegiant Stadium | Las Vegas, NV | $186 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/29/2025 | Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State | Protective Stadium | Birmingham, AL | $772 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/30/2025 | Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Coastal Carolina | Independence Stadium | Shreveport, LA | $69 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/30/2025 | Music City Bowl: Illinois vs. Tennessee | Nissan Stadium | Nashville, TN | $188 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/31/2025 | ReliaQuest Bowl: Vanderbilt vs. Iowa | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, FL | $196 | Shop Tickets |
| 12/31/2025 | Citrus Bowl: Texas vs. Michigan | Camping World Stadium | Orlando, FL | $461 | Shop Tickets |
| 1/2/2026 | Armed Forces Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State | Amon G. Carter Stadium | Fort Worth, TX | $140 | Shop Tickets |
| 1/2/2026 | Liberty Bowl: Navy vs. Cincinnati | Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium | Memphis, TN | $104 | Shop Tickets |
| 1/2/2026 | Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest | Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, NC | $222 | Shop Tickets |