The biggest weekend of the college football season has led to fans having to make some interesting financial decisions across the country ahead of what is shaping up to be a wild Saturday.
The question is whether you are prepared to spend thousands of dollars that could go towards a down payment on a new vehicle, for a hotel room around college towns that will keep you close to the action, or hundreds on a ticket just to get inside a stadium.
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But, let’s be honest, some of these games are just too hard to turn down if given the opportunity to attend.
From South Bend to Baton Rouge, all the way to Knoxville or Oxford, and out to Salt Lake City, fans will invade these towns by the truckload to experience one of the biggest weekends in recent memory with so much on the line.
Tiger Stadium before a game between the LSU Tigers and the Clemson Tigers on September 5, 2026, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
For the hardcore fans, they,ve had a plan over at least the past year. But, for those scratching an itch of FOMO, it’s going to cost you this weekend in college towns across America.
And, Notre Dame is the best place to start, where you will need to make a decision on whether paying the mortgage is more important than attending the most nostalgic game of the weekend.
Good luck getting a room in South Bend for under $2,000 a night
No, I’m not talking about a luxurious night inside a 5-star resort within miles of Notre Dame’s campus.
If you were hellbent on staying near the ‘Golden Dome’, the LaQuinta Inn ‘Suites’ had you covered for the low-low price of $2,985 per night over Friday and Saturday.
Have you lost your mind? Look, I get wanting to be close to the action, but the price surging is starting to remind me of the Taylor Swift ‘Eras Tour’. If you needed a little relief, staying 3.2 miles away from campus in Mishawaka will knock at least $1,500 off your nightly bill, with the fan-favorite ‘Country Inn and Suites’ averaging $1,185 per night.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish take the field before a game against the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., on Oct. 12, 2024. (Getty Images)
Don’t worry, though, the continental breakfast will assuredly make it worth the stay. You can’t beat powdered eggs and oatmeal to go with that morning coffee.
Here’s a tip: go stay in Chicago or Kalamazoo and pay $230 a night, then make the drive to South Bend for kickoff.
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Speaking of the actual game, the No. 11 Notre Dame versus No. 1 Miami classic showdown will have fans paying anywhere between $700 to $10,000 just to witness this very important game with massive CFP implications.
Godspeed to those who are trying to hide expenses with their significant other until the next credit card statement hits your inbox.
A monster slate within the SEC has fans spending a crazy amount of money
If the local Super-8 motel is charging $700 per night, you know it’s a college football weekend filled with high stakes.
As No. 10 Ole Miss prepares to host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday night in Oxford, those hoping to have a place to lay their head following the important SEC showdown within the town have already spent thousands.
Look, I’m a points guy when it comes to hotels I reserve before a travel weekend, but paying $1,384 per night to stay at the ‘Townplace Suites’ might cause some friction to significant others who have access to the joint-checking account.
A crowd gathers in The Grove before the college football game between the LSU Tigers and Ole Miss Rebels on Sept. 27, 2025, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Just stay 25 miles or so outside of town and enjoy a ‘Home2Suites’ in Batesville, Mississippi for $500 per night, which will save you from a mental breakdown once that payment comes due next month.
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As for actually attending the Rebels vs. Dawgs game, $250 per ticket is a steal when you think about the magnitude of this one.
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Over in Knoxville, Tennessee, those waiting until the last minute were in luck.
The highly-anticipated rivalry game that will see No. 6 Kentucky entering a ‘Dark Mode’ version of Neyland Stadium on Saturday night to face No. 13 Tennessee.
Luckily for those looking for a place to stay, the comfortable ‘Hilton Garden Inn’ just eight miles from campus will only cost you $320 a night, and that glorious breakfast is included.
But, getting into the actual game with CFP ramifications for both teams will cost fans anywhere from $353 to $940 to experience this environment that will feel more like a Halloween night in Knoxville.
My advice? If you can afford it, go enjoy the spooky night with 100,000 fans wearing their favorite black Tennessee decor, along with a few thousand Kentucky fans decked out in their best blue.
Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Oklahoma Sooners on Nov. 1, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Salt Lake City, Baton Rouge and Columbia (Missouri) are reasonable
Luckily for LSU and Alabama fans making the trek to Tiger Stadium for the Saturday afternoon SEC showdown, the afternoon kickoff time that everyone seems to be complaining about will actually pay-off for those looking for a reasonable nightly rate.
From anywhere between $300 to $500 per night, you can stay within six miles of LSU’s campus.
And, you can get into this game for around $240, which is a steal for this rivalry game that will be played for the last time on an annual basis this weekend.
As for the ‘Holy War’ that will see No. 9 BYU face No. 3 Utah in what is the second-most intriguing game of the weekend, it will cost more to get into the actual Big 12 showdown than what it could take to stay the night.
A $381 ‘get in’ price will be well-worth the cost of admission for this one, even if ESPN picked the wrong kickoff time, with a 10 a.m. local time start.
The Utah Utes huddle before a game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, on Oct. 18, 2025. (ISI Photos via Getty Images)
If you are attending the No. 7 Texas vs. No. 18 Missouri matchup in Columbia, the $500 per night accommodations will only have you paying out extraordinary prices on Friday night, thanks to the wonderful 11 a.m. kickoff time.
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But, it will cost you anywhere between $150 to $597 to get into this sneaky-good SEC showdown that will see Arch Manning try to keep the Longhorns rolling after the win over Ole Miss last week, while Austin Simmons can keep the Tigers within striking distance of the College Football Playoff.
Alright, if you’ve been following my advice this season on travel expenses, you’re already ahead of those that don’t.
Sure, I have a weird fascination with ticket prices and hotel accommodations. But, I hope you have used my quirky investigative mind to your advantage and you enjoy this monster slate of college football without breaking the bank.
Let’s have ourselves a weekend, as we inch closer to conference championship games that will bring this regular season to an end.