College Football Championship Ticket Prices Soar, Chambliss Battles NCAA, and Hoops Hit by Point-Shaving Scandal
If you’re planning to catch the College Football Playoff National Championship in person, you better have deep pockets - and maybe a second mortgage. Monday night’s showdown between Indiana and Miami isn’t just the biggest game of the season; it’s also shaping up to be one of the priciest tickets in college football history.
According to VividSeats, the average resale price for a ticket to the title game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens is a staggering $4,320. That’s not just a record for the College Football Playoff era - it’s the most expensive average ticket price since tracking began in 2009.
And it doesn’t stop at the gate. Parking on stadium grounds?
That’ll run you $747 - yes, just to park. There is a more “budget-friendly” option across the street for $280, but even that feels steep unless it comes with a shuttle and a catered tailgate.
The demand makes sense. This is a marquee matchup with massive stakes, set under the lights in one of the sport’s most electric atmospheres.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss Takes NCAA to Court Over Sixth Year Bid
While fans are shelling out thousands to watch the title game, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is fighting for the chance to even suit up next season.
Chambliss, who transferred to Ole Miss after a stint at Ferris State, had his request for a sixth year of eligibility denied by the NCAA on January 9. Now, he’s taking legal action. His legal team, led by attorney Tom Mars, has filed a lawsuit in Mississippi’s Lafayette County Chancery Court, seeking a permanent injunction that would allow him to return for the 2026 season under head coach Pete Golding.
At the heart of Chambliss’ case is his sophomore year at Ferris State - a season he says was derailed by serious respiratory issues, including complications linked to COVID-19 and chronic tonsillitis. Those health problems, he argues, kept him off the field entirely. However, the NCAA ruled that the documentation provided wasn’t sufficient to prove the medical hardship.
Backing Chambliss’ claims are statements from Ferris State head coach Tony Annese and Brett Knight, the school’s Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine. Both supported the quarterback’s account of his health struggles during that season.
This legal battle could become a landmark case in how the NCAA handles medical redshirts and eligibility waivers going forward - especially in a post-COVID landscape where long-term health effects are still being understood.
NCAA Basketball Hit Hard by Widespread Point-Shaving Scandal
As if eligibility battles weren’t enough, the NCAA is now facing a full-blown integrity crisis in college basketball.
A sweeping federal indictment out of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has revealed a point-shaving scandal involving over 39 players across 17 Division I programs. The schools named in the indictment include Abilene Christian, Alabama State, Buffalo, Coppin State, DePaul, Eastern Michigan, Fordham, Kennesaw State, La Salle, New Orleans, Nicholls State, North Carolina A&T, Northwestern State, Robert Morris, Saint Louis, Southern Mississippi, and Tulane.
The scheme allegedly involved players, former athletes, and professional gamblers working in concert to manipulate game outcomes for betting purposes. According to U.S. Attorney Metcalf, the operation represents a serious threat to the integrity of college sports.
“The stakes here are far higher than anything on a bet slip,” Metcalf said. “This is about the criminal corruption of collegiate athletics through an international conspiracy.”
The numbers are staggering: 29 games affected, 26 defendants, and 20 of them played during the 2023-24 and/or 2024-25 seasons. Among the five individuals labeled as “fixers” in the indictment is former NBA player Antonio Blakeney, who also played in the Chinese Basketball Association from 2019 to 2024. The scandal reportedly extended into international leagues as well, showing just how far-reaching the operation had become.
This is a major blow to the NCAA and raises serious questions about oversight in an era where legalized sports betting is more accessible than ever. With so many players and programs involved, the fallout is likely just beginning.
James Laurinaitis Headed to College Football Hall of Fame
Amid the chaos, there’s at least one feel-good headline out of Columbus.
James Laurinaitis - former Ohio State linebacker and current Buckeyes linebackers coach - has been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class. Laurinaitis was a three-time All-American during his playing days and one of the most dominant defensive forces of his era. Now, he’s making an impact from the sideline, helping mold the next generation of Buckeye defenders.
It’s a well-deserved honor for a player who left his mark on the field and continues to shape the game off it.
From sky-high ticket prices to courtroom drama and a scandal shaking the foundation of college hoops, it’s been a wild week across the NCAA landscape. And with the national championship on deck, the spotlight is only getting hotter.