Fans should not expect to "find any great deals in an online ticket marketplace" for the CFP National Championship game between Clemson and LSU at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, as data from TicketIQ "projects prices to rise over $3,000" with LSU making it to the title game that will be played about 70 miles from its campus, according to Jeff Nowak of the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE. That "would make it the second-most expensive" college football ticket of all time, behind only the Alabama-Georgia championship game in '18 that was played in Atlanta under similar circumstances. Data shared by StubHub earlier last week showed the average price of tickets sold was "hovering in the range of $1,719, with the cheapest tickets available in the range of $1,275." Those figures were "already 5% higher" than the Clemson-Alabama rematch a year ago, even despite the "unknown of which teams would be in the game" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 12/29). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Higgins & Chairusmi write under the header, "The Tiger Bowl Is Set For College Football's National Championship" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/30).
RAISING THE BAR: The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl between LSU and Oklahoma at Mercedes-Benz Stadium had an announced attendance of 78,347, "setting a new record for the bowl game." The crowd "surpassed the previous record" of 75,996, which was set during the last semifinal in Atlanta when Alabama defeated Washington at the Georgia Dome in '16 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/29).
FORMAT FRENZY: USA TODAY'S Dan Wolken wrote those who wish the CFP would expand should "take a deep breath" and ask an "important question: Are we sure this is what we want?" Maybe every now and then there are four teams that "belong on that level." Wolken: "But let's be clear: As long as the NCAA allows teams to give out 85 scholarships, there are never going to be seven or eight" (USA TODAY, 12/29). The AP's Ralph Russo wrote the 15-day break between Saturday's two semifinals and the National Championship on Jan. 13 is "far from ideal." ESPN VP/Programming & Acquisitions Nick Dawson said the "challenge is keeping the conversation in the forefront" against the first two weeks of the NFL playoffs. Russo noted ESPN will "try to keep the college football conversation going with lower-level bowl games scheduled for Jan. 2, 3, 4 and 6." The network also will have the final three episodes of "Inside the College Football Playoff" available on ESPN+, with behind-the-scenes looks at Clemson's and LSU's championship game preparation. CFP Exec Dir Bill Hancock said that he was "not concerned about fans losing interest due to the longer-than-usual layoff" (AP, 12/29).
