Looking at the Most Expensive Schools at the Start of 2016 College Football Season

August 31, 2016

The 2016 College Football season is here, and several clear candidates lead the list of this year's most expensive schools on the secondary market. Notre Dame is back as the top-priced team in college football for the second straight year while Ohio State, Georgia, UCLA and Tennessee round out the top five.

Check out the complete list of this season's top-priced teams below. All data is provided by TicketIQ, the leading online aggregator that gives consumers the largest selection of inventory from primary and secondary market sellers:

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Notre Dame | Average Home Price in 2016: $335.38 | % Change from 2015: +<1%

Malik Zaire returns under center for the Fighting Irish in 2016, but he'll be without superstar wideout Will Fuller, who now suits up for the Houston Texans. Fellow receivers Chris Brown and Amir Carlisle are also gone, so it will be left to Torii Hunter Jr. to fill the void. Still, even with several big-name players opting for greener pasture in the NFL, Notre Dame is the most expensive ticket in college football this season. Notre Dame tickets on TicketIQ currently own a $335.38 average across all games at Notre Dame Stadium this season.

The school's top-priced game comes against Michigan State on September 17. That matchup currently owns a $500.11 average and the cheapest ticket is listed from $178. Conversely, a game against Nevada just one week prior will be the cheapest game on Notre Dame's schedule, with tickets averaging $144.08 and the get-in price starting from $60.

Ohio State | Average Home Price in 2016: $286.21 | % Change from 2015: +45%

Ohio State had a memorable season following their 2015 National Championship victory, but fell drastically in the rankings after a Week 12 loss to Michigan State. Ohio State tickets have experienced a notable increase in average price in 2016, however, jumping 45% on average from last year. The school's average price for games at Ohio Stadium this season is $286.21, a notable spike from 2015's $197.79 average.

A November 26 meeting with Michigan will be the most expensive game on Ohio State's schedule this season. That game has an average price of $628.56 and a $235 get-in price. If looking to attend the Buckeyes' cheapest home game, that comes against Tulsa on September 10 ($154.25 avg./$67 get-in).

Georgia | Average Home Price in 2016: $234.43 | % Change from 2015: -<1%

There's a new coaching staff in Athens, and Kirby Smart and Co. will have big shoes to fill. Smart fills the role of Mark Richt, whose 15-year tenure as Georgia's head coach saw him go 140-48. New coaching hasn't moved the needle at all on the secondary market, however, as prices for Georgia tickets are virtually the same as last year. The average resale price for Georgia tickets in 2016 is $234.43, down less than 1% from last year's average of $235.47.

The Bulldogs play their most expensive home game against Tennessee on October 1. That game owns a secondary market average of $306.52 and a $117 get-in price. On November 19, they welcome Louisiana-Lafayette in their cheapest game of the season at a $99.44 average and $27 get-in price.

UCLA | Average Home Price in 2016: $232.46 | % Change from 2015: +100%

Sophomore quarterback Josh Rosen leads the UCLA offense after a promising 2015 season, and the Bruins will look to take the next step forward in Jim Mora's fifth year as head coach. It appears that expectations are high on the secondary market, too, as UCLA tickets on TicketIQ have more than doubled in 2016. The Bruins own a $232.46 average during games at the Rose Bowl, up 100.5% from last year's average of $115.92.

Credit a November 19 game against rival USC for some of that boost. That game will be the most expensive at the Rose Bowl this season, with tickets averaging $358.02 and the get-in price listed from $102. UNLV will be UCLA's cheapest opponent at home on September 10, where tickets own a $98.81 average and $33 get-in price.

Tennessee | Average Home Price in 2016: $218.89 | % Change from 2015: +10%

Plenty of hype exists around the Tennessee Volunteers season. The team is ranked 10th in the Coaches Poll, 10th at Sports Illustrated and 12th at CBS. The Vols haven't finished in the top 10 since 2001, so there's lots riding on a productive seasons from offensive guns Joshua Dobbs and Jalen Hurd. Tennessee tickets on the secondary market have responded appropriately as well, as the average price to see the Vols play has risen 10% from 2015 to $218.89 this season.

The Florida Gators will be the top-priced opponent at Neyland Stadium this season when they visit on September 24. That game now owns an average price of $497.67 and the cheapest available ticket is listed from $191. On the opposite side of the financial spectrum, a September 1 game against Appalachian State will be the cheapest game on Tennessee's schedule this season, with a $96.50 average and $36 get-in price.