A big BYU game is one thing. A ranked BYU-Notre Dame matchup with prices climbing into absurd territory is another.
With the Cougars undefeated and the buzz building around what could be a top-10 showdown, resale tickets are already stretching well beyond what most fans would call reasonable. On SeatGeek, the get-in price for a single ticket was sitting above $400, and the priciest listing on Wednesday was a jaw-dropping $26,417 for one seat.
For BYU fans, though, the sticker shock hasn’t shaken the loyalty.
“All my life, we grew up bleeding blue,” said Julie Kaio, a BYU fan from Cedar Hills.
Noah Cox, a freshman at BYU, said the atmosphere around Cougar football is a big part of the draw.
“BYU’s definitely known for having one of the best student sections in the country,” said Noah Cox, a freshman at BYU.
Cox, who came to Provo from Boise, is still getting used to what game days can feel like at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
“It’s electric, it’s super fun,” Cox said, adding he’d most recently been to their home game against Arizona.
For now, his attention is on Friday night’s matchup with Iowa State. But the bigger event is looming, and student tickets for the Notre Dame game are expected to be even harder to come by.
“You submit ticket claims each week on Tuesdays at 12 o’clock, and then later in the week, you find out whether you got a ticket or not,” said Cox.
That lottery-style setup is one thing. Paying hundreds on the resale market is another. Still, Cox said he’d be tempted.
“I’m excited,” said Cox. I think I’d pay $400 to go to the BYU-Notre Dame game.”
Kaio sounded a little more measured, but not exactly surprised by the numbers.
“Sure, if I had the money, why not?” Kaio said. “If I had an extra $400 I wasn’t worried about, I’d go and drop it.”
She added, “It’s the nature of sports, right?” Kaio continued. “You have two dynamic teams playing and … what tickets aren’t high these days?”
Even with prices like that, plenty of fans will probably choose the couch over the crowd.
“Unless someone wants to give me some tickets, I’ll probably be at home,” said Kaio.
Still, the confidence in the Cougars isn’t going anywhere.
“It’ll be a good game. We’re going to win and then we’ll slap the Utes,” Kaio said with a smile.
No. 8 BYU hosts Iowa State at LaVell Edwards Stadium this Friday at 8:15 p.m.
The Cougars then face No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday, Oct. 17, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m.
In Other News...
BYU Suddenly Faces A Brutal Offensive Problem At The Worst Time
BYUs backfield took a major hit at a moment when the schedule is only getting tougher. Running back LJ Martin is expected to miss four to six weeks after suffering a lower-body injury in the game against TCU, and that timetable puts him out of the mix for upcoming matchups against Iowa State and Notre Dame.
Kalani Sitake said Martin is not on crutches, which is at least a small bit of encouraging news, but the Cougars still have to plan for a stretch without one of their key offensive pieces. Losing a runner of that importance right before a demanding run of games adds another layer of pressure to an offense that now has to find answers quickly. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Suddenly Faces A Huge Offensive Test Without Its Top Playmaker
BYUs offense is about to be asked to answer a much bigger question than it has all season, and it comes at a time when the schedule is about to get heavier. Running back LJ Martin will be out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury suffered against TCU, a setback that immediately removes the Cougars most reliable downhill threat from the lineup. He has been a centerpiece of the attack, piling up 344 rushing yards and three touchdowns so far this season while carrying the rsum of the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
The timing makes the injury especially difficult for a BYU team that cannot afford to lose rhythm as it heads into a key stretch. Martin is already out for the Iowa State game and will also miss the nationally televised matchup with Notre Dame on Oct. 17, leaving the Cougars to adjust without the runner who has helped define their identity. For an offense trying to stay on track against better defenses, the next few weeks now look like a test of depth, creativity and how well the rest of the ground game can absorb the loss. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Heads Into Another Ranked Test With Its Biggest Weakness Exposed
UCF is heading into another difficult Big 12 stretch, with a trip to No. 18 Oklahoma State set to be the second straight game against a ranked opponent. The Knights have already had their depth tested, and the challenge only gets steeper on the road, where they are trying to shake an 11-game losing streak away from home.
Oklahoma State brings plenty of offensive firepower into the matchup, led by quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who has been a major reason for the Cowboys success and is viewed as a projected NFL draft pick. For UCF, the timing is tricky because injuries on defense have narrowed the margin for error, and this latest test offers little room to hide a weakness that has already been exposed. [Read more 🡒]