College football remains a beloved American tradition — but in 2025, it’s becoming a more expensive one. According to the 2025 College Football Gameday Index, it now costs an average of $184.67 for two fans to attend a game, factoring in tickets, parking, beer, soda, and hot dogs. That’s a 2.7% increase from last year, even though ticket prices themselves have dropped slightly.
Most Expensive Gameday Experiences in 2025
Leading the list of priciest programs is the University of Colorado, where two fans can expect to spend $302 on gameday — the highest total in the nation. Colorado is followed closely by:
| Rank | College | Total Gameday Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colorado | $302 |
| 2 | Alabama | $295 |
| 3 | Texas | $292 |
| 4 | Notre Dame | $291 |
| 5 | Georgia | $289 |
| 6 | UCLA | $284 |
| 7 | South Carolina | $277 |
| 8 | Texas A&M | $268 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $267 |
| 10 | Kansas | $265 |
Notably, North Carolina saw the largest cost increase in this group with a +56.1% year-over-year jump.
Most Affordable Gameday Experiences
For budget-conscious fans, several programs still offer a full gameday experience for less than $110:
| Rank | College | Total Gameday Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Western Kentucky | $84 |
| 99 | Arkansas State | $86 |
| 98 | Ohio | $100 |
| 97 | North Texas | $106 |
| 96 | Northern Illinois | $107 |
Western Kentucky tops the list for best value, with a 40.8% decrease in total gameday cost from last year.
Biggest Price Drops
Some schools made major moves to reduce costs for fans in 2025:
- Western Kentucky: –40.8%
- Syracuse: –34.7%
- Wake Forest: –32.9%
These improvements suggest a renewed focus on fan accessibility in certain programs.
Biggest Price Increases
On the flip side, some schools saw major jumps in cost:
- Liberty: +83.0%
- Northwestern: +80.5%
- Texas Tech: +59.0%
These spikes are likely due to rising demand, expanded facilities, or changes in conference alignment.
Beer Prices: A Wide Range
The price of two beers varies dramatically across stadiums:
- Lowest: Tulane – $6
- Highest: Stanford – $20
Parking Adds to the Pinch
While overall gameday costs only rose 2.7%, parking costs surged 18.7%, contributing to the growing financial burden on fans.
The Bottom Line
Even as ticket prices stabilize or drop, gameday expenses are rising, with essentials like food, beer, and parking driving up the total. Programs like Colorado, Alabama, and Texas now cost well over $290 for two people — while schools like Western Kentucky and Arkansas State are keeping the tradition more affordable.
With the college football experience changing both on and off the field, fans will have to plan their budgets just as carefully as their tailgates.