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When it comes to Week 7 of the college football season, the biggest ticket demand isn't for a traditional powerhouse rivalry—it's for Notre Dame's clash with BYU. According to data shared on College GameDay by Vivid Seats, the average ticket price for the Fighting Irish's game against the Cougars is $653, the highest in the nation for the week.
That figure outpaces other marquee matchups: Ohio State vs. Indiana has an average price of $558, while Alabama vs. Tennessee sits at $577. Both games feature nationally relevant programs from the Big Ten and SEC, yet neither can match the allure of Notre Dame vs. BYU.
Playoff Implications Drive Demand
The high ticket price reflects the stakes. Notre Dame, ranked No. 2, has a 93.7% chance of making the College Football Playoff according to ESPN's FPI. BYU, ranked No. 8, holds a 38.4% chance but could significantly boost its odds with a home win over the Irish. The Cougars have an early edge in the Big 12 race, with a key road game at Utah looming in early November.
Interestingly, a preseason ticket-price ranking told a different story. Notre Dame appeared at No. 5, but BYU was absent from the top ten, which was otherwise composed entirely of SEC and Big Ten schools (Texas, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee, etc.). The current demand suggests that BYU's strong start and the game's playoff implications have captured fans' attention.
Series History and Future
Notre Dame holds a 5-2 or 7-2 all-time series lead over BYU, depending on whether two vacated Irish wins from 2012 and 2013 are counted. In Provo, the series is tied 1-1, with BYU's 2004 victory offsetting a 1993 loss. The Cougars also won in South Bend in 1994, their only win in six such meetings (or four, again depending on the NCAA interpretation). The teams last met in 2022 at a neutral site in Las Vegas, where Notre Dame won 28-20. BYU is scheduled to visit Notre Dame in 2027, though the exact date remains undetermined.
For now, the focus is on Provo, where fans are paying a premium to witness the most in-demand college football game of the week.