The 2015 college football season is just a month away, as year two of the College Football Playoff is ready to get underway. The new campaign packs a serious punch when it comes to hype, as Jim Harbaugh takes over the Wolverines, the Ducks try to move on without Marcus Mariota and Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide try to get back to the title game, among other key storylines.
There are numerous moving pieces and plenty of reasons to tune in this season, with so many teams and players worth watching. In fact, with US Dish Sports Packages, which features ESPN Game Plan, it’s now easier than ever to stay on top of all the college action every Saturday.
It would also be wise to take in some of the games live, and there might not be a better time to do that than right away in the opening week, when college football is graced with some killer non-conference battles. Let’s break down the top out-of-conference games, while also analyzing the value in college football tickets for the first week of action:
9/3/2015 – Michigan Wolverines @ Utah Utes at Rice Eccles Stadium | Avg: $359.85 | Get-in: $216
Jim Harbaugh makes his Michigan debut on the sidelines at Rice Eccles Stadium, while Utah kicks off 2015 with its home/season-opener. Michigan has a lot to prove with a new regime as they enter the new season unranked, but a big road win against the No. 21 Utes would go a long way in proving Harbaugh can will them to a quick turnaround. That’ll be easier said than done with Utah winning its season opener every year since 2008, but Michigan certainly can’t be counted out. They’re expected to improve this year in the first campaign with Harbaugh at the helm, and win or lose in this particular affair, Wolvers tickets are still expected to maintain notable value throughout the season.
9/5/2015 – Ohio State Buckeyes @ Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium | Avg: $342.51 | Get-in: $216
The defending champion Buckeyes take it to the road in the first weekend of their 2015 title defense, and it could be easier than anticipated at Lane Stadium. Frank Beamer’s squad hasn’t been quite themselves the past two years but the fact remains that Virginia Tech is a team that has won at least seven games in 22 straight seasons. Urban Meyer and co. won’t come in ill prepared or scared, but it’s quite possible they could have a game on their hands. Fans will hope so with Hokies and Buckeyes tickets coming in at $342.51 on average, but the price will quickly be forgotten with this Monday night game capping the week for two top-25 teams under the bright lights in front of the nation.
9/5/2015 – Wisconsin Badgers VS. Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium | Avg: $282.55 | Get-in: $99
Rank the games how you’d like, but this showdown has to take the cake for week one. Alabama has clear title aspirations and the Badgers fared well against the SEC last year (beat Auburn in the Outback Bowl in 2014), giving them a lot of promise for ’15 as the season kicks off. On top of this being a huge clash between the two top-15 teams, this is a matchup we just don’t ever see, with the only previous meeting between the two coming in 1928. Regardless of which side you’re on, college football tickets are coming at a tremendous value for this contest, which doesn’t even hit $285 on average.
9/5/2015 – Louisville Cardinals @ Auburn Tigers at Georgia Dome | Avg: $234.70 | Get-in: $82
Just the second top-25 game of week with two ranked clubs, this September 5 clash has the 24th-ranked Cardinals taking on the 22nd ranked Tigers at the Georgia Dome. Much like the Wisconsin/Alabama affair, fans are getting a major rarity in this one, while this clash also is at a neutral site. These two have faced off just once in history, with Auburn prevailing back in 1974. Both teams are ranked coming into 2015 and can ill afford to start the season off with a loss, so this could easily end up being one of the more hotly-contested matchups of the opening week.
9/5/2015 – Arizona State Sun Devils @ Texas A&M Aggies at NRG Stadium | Avg: $194.91 | Get-in: $67
The days of Johnny Football are long gone, but the Aggies remain a solid draw due to their high-powered offense. Texas A&M has faltered a bit since Johnny Manziel departed, but they’re potentially a tough task for Arizona State to start the year, given that they’ve won at least eight games and a bowl game in every season under head coach Kevin Sumlin. The Sun Devils are no joke as the No. 10 team coming into the country in 2015, but they could have a game on their hands come September 5. Fans can see the impact of the matchup right away, as Arizona State’s opener lifts Sun Devils tickets up roughly $50 from its season average of $144.22.
