If you're looking to be in the building for the College Football Playoff National Championship between the University of Miami and Indiana University, brace yourself - ticket prices are soaring into four-figure territory, and they're not slowing down.
Upper-bowl seats were going for no less than $2,800 as of Wednesday night on Ticketmaster. That’s not a typo - and it's not just about the game. According to Rick Shefter, owner of A Great Place to Sit, this year's matchup is the perfect storm of demand, emotion, and logistics.
Why the Price Surge?
First off, this isn’t just a football game - it’s history in the making. Indiana’s appearance in the national title game has ignited a fanbase that’s been waiting decades for this moment.
IU’s alumni base is massive - 805,000 strong - and they’re showing up in force. That’s a lot of people with skin in the game, and they’re flooding Miami with calls for hotel rooms, tickets, and even restaurant recommendations.
Jack Seiler, chair of the 2026 Miami Host Committee for the CFP National Championship, has been fielding those calls personally. “I’ve had more calls out of Indiana than I can count,” he said. “It’s amazing.”
The Hoosiers haven’t been this close to football glory since before most fans were even born - and the last time they were in the national spotlight like this, the world was celebrating the end of World War II. That kind of drought creates a hunger that can’t be measured in dollars, though fans are certainly trying.
The Home-Field Advantage (in the Stands)
Then there’s the Miami side of the equation. For Hurricanes fans, this one’s in their backyard - Hard Rock Stadium is home turf.
That means no flights, no hotel bills, no rental cars. With travel costs off the table, fans can afford to splurge on tickets, and many are doing just that.
“Canes fans are in a unique spot,” Shefter said. “They don’t have to spend on travel, so they’re putting that money into being there in person.”
Caught Between Passion and Price
And then there are fans like Josh Olmstead, who find themselves split between two worlds. Born and raised a Hurricanes fan, Olmstead later attended Indiana, where he never missed a game as a student.
Now? He’s living a dream scenario - and trying to figure out how to afford it.
“Everything just feels like, well, that’s not going to happen, and that can’t happen… but it’s happening,” Olmstead said. “It’s just unbelievable.”
He’s trying to keep things budget-friendly - or at least he was. “My wife, bless her, is absolutely pushing me to up that budget,” he said with a laugh.
“She is my biggest supporter, which I love. But I think in general, as you see with the fans that are coming into town, the idea is just being part of this experience.”
That’s the heart of it. Whether it’s alumni making the trip from Bloomington or lifelong Canes fans staying local, this game is more than a championship - it’s a cultural moment. And for many, the chance to be there, to feel the energy, to be part of something that might not happen again for a long time, is worth every penny.
So yeah, the prices are steep. But for two fanbases that have waited a long time for this kind of shot, the demand makes perfect sense.