College Football Championship Ticket Prices Soar, Chambliss Battles NCAA, and Hoops Faces Integrity Crisis
If you're planning to catch the College Football Playoff National Championship in person, you might want to check your bank account - twice.
This year’s title game between Indiana and Miami is not just the biggest game of the college football season, it’s also one of the most expensive tickets in the sport’s history. According to data from VividSeats, the average resale price for a seat at Hard Rock Stadium is a jaw-dropping $4,320 - the highest average for a college football game since ticket tracking began in 2009.
And it doesn’t stop there. This isn’t just a record-setter for college football; it’s also the priciest event at Hard Rock Stadium over the last five years.
And if you thought getting inside the stadium was the only financial hurdle, think again. Parking prices are nearly as outrageous.
On-site parking spots are going for as much as $747. Yes, just to park your car.
There is a bit of relief - if you're willing to walk. Parking across the street, accessible via a pedestrian walkway, is going for a relatively “bargain” rate of $280.
Indiana and Miami kick off Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, and while the football on the field promises to be elite, the price tag to witness it live is already making history.
Trinidad Chambliss Takes NCAA to Court in Bid for Sixth Year
While the spotlight shines on the championship stage, another college football story is unfolding off the field - and it’s headed to court.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is fighting to extend his college career, filing a lawsuit against the NCAA after being denied a sixth year of eligibility. The legal action, filed in Mississippi’s Lafayette County Chancery Court, seeks a permanent injunction that would allow Chambliss to return for another season under head coach Pete Golding.
Chambliss' argument centers on his sophomore year at Ferris State, where he says respiratory complications sidelined him for the season. According to the lawsuit, those issues were tied to post-COVID complications and chronic tonsillitis. Despite the NCAA’s denial, Chambliss has backing from Ferris State's head coach Tony Annese and Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Brett Knight, both of whom submitted statements supporting the quarterback’s medical claims.
The NCAA ruled that Chambliss and Ole Miss failed to provide sufficient documentation to verify that his health issues directly caused him to miss the season. But Chambliss isn’t backing down. He’s enlisted attorney Tom Mars - a name that’s no stranger to high-profile NCAA battles - to lead his legal fight.
College Basketball Hit by Widespread Point-Shaving Scandal
While Chambliss’ eligibility case plays out in court, the NCAA is also staring down a much deeper crisis - one that cuts straight to the heart of fair play.
A federal indictment filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has revealed a sprawling point-shaving scheme involving more than 39 players across 17 Division I basketball 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.
According to U.S. Attorney Metcalf, the scheme wasn’t just about rigging bets - it was a coordinated effort involving players, alumni, and professional gamblers to manipulate the outcome of games.
“The stakes here are far higher than anything on a bet slip,” Metcalf said. “This is about the criminal corruption of collegiate athletics.”
The indictment claims the conspiracy affected more than 29 NCAA games, with 20 of the 26 named defendants having played in the 2023-24 and/or 2024-25 seasons. Incredibly, some of the implicated players were still active in the week leading up to the indictment.
Among the five alleged “fixers” is former NBA player Antonio Blakeney, who also played professionally in China from 2019 to 2024. The Chinese Basketball Association, too, was reportedly impacted by the scheme, suggesting the operation reached far beyond the college ranks.
For a sport that already walks a tightrope with legalized gambling, this scandal is a gut punch - and a stark reminder of how fragile the integrity of the game can be when money and opportunity collide.
James Laurinaitis Earns College Football Hall of Fame Nod
In more uplifting news from the college gridiron, Ohio State fans have reason to celebrate. Former Buckeyes linebacker - and current linebackers coach - James Laurinaitis has been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2026.
Laurinaitis was the heart of Ohio State’s defense during his playing days, earning multiple All-American honors and the 2007 Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. His leadership on the field helped anchor some of the most dominant defenses in the country during his time in Columbus.
Now, he’ll be immortalized alongside the game’s greats - a well-deserved honor for one of college football’s most respected names.