The highly anticipated return of the Texas A&M Aggies—University of Texas Longhorns rivalry game has not only re-captured the attention of fans across the country but has also set a new record for ticket prices in college football.
For the first time in 13 years, the two teams will face off in what has now become the most expensive college football game in history by a considerable margin.
The online ticket platform TickPick reports that the average price for a seat at Saturday’s game at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field is a staggering $1,072. This makes the Lone Star Showdown the priciest college football game to date and more expensive than any regular-season NFL game in history.
The previous record for college football ticket prices was held by the 2023 Michigan-Ohio State game, with an average ticket price sitting around $760, according to Forbes.
For those hoping to snag a ticket to the renewed rivalry game, the cheapest seats available are currently listed for around $740 before fees. These “get-in” prices are 160% higher than the entry price for the 2024 Michigan-Ohio State game scheduled on the same day.
Meanwhile, the more premium tickets for Saturday’s showdown in Texas have already passed $5,000.
The return of the Texas A&M-UT rivalry marks the first meeting between the two schools since 2011 when A&M moved from the Big 12 Conference to the Southeastern Conference (SEC). After a 13-year break, the rivalry is finally set to return following Texas’s move to the SEC this past summer.
Historically, the rivalry has spanned over 118 games, dating back to 1894. Of those, 64 were played on Thanksgiving Day, cementing the Texas shootout as one of the longest-standing traditions in college football.
Texas A&M has scheduled an entire weekend of events to celebrate the return of the rivalry. One highlight is the “Ruck Across the Brazos,” where fans from both schools will transport a single football from Austin to College Station, with a symbolic crossing of the Brazos River.