President Trump Announces NCAA Championship Attendance as Tickets Hit New Low for Monday Night

As Indiana looks ahead to face Miami in the national title game, President Donald Trump is also expected to attend the matchup in South Florida on Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium. Trump’s appearance could further boost coverage of the college football championship which has surprisingly seen low ticket sales.

Trump’s 18-year-old granddaughter, Kai Trump, is a senior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach. She has committed to play NCAA Division I golf at the University of Miami. Though Kai will only join the Hurricanes after graduating in May, she has already given the presidential family an apparent connection for who they could be supporting.

But for now, the President is staying neutral. Aides say he hasn’t picked a side, though he’s openly praised Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. It may hint at something, but what’s even more intriguing, and possibly tilting in Miami’s favor, is the presence of the Secretary of State.

According to Axios, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also be in attendance, joining Trump at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Rubio is a Miami-born politician who has spent more than a decade representing Florida in the U.S. Senate. Don’t be surprised if the President’s close advisor cheers a little louder for Carson Beck over Mendoza.

While the president’s presence adds to the significance of this season’s CFP National Championship Game, it also comes with another promising news for fans, as ticket prices have dropped as of Wednesday.

Ticket prices for the NCAA Championship were averaging around $3,600 just four days ago to get in, with roughly 750 listings available last Saturday. Now, after tickets were distributed to Indiana and Miami, prices have dropped to around $2,600, with about 600 additional listings on the market, meaning supply is up and buyers finally have some leverage.

But that wasn’t the case initially. Still, the NCAA Championship is essentially sold out through official channels, forcing fans to turn to the resale market.

On sites like SeatGeek, StubHub, and Vivid Seats, the cheapest pair of upper-bowl seats next to each other still starts at around $2,900. Flying solo doesn’t help either as most single upper-level tickets are hovering near $3,000.

Looking for a better view? You’ll have to spend more.

The Lower-bowl seats on the secondary market range from nearly $5,000 to well over $16,000 per ticket. The priciest options are located within the exclusive 72 Club, offering luxury perks, all-inclusive food, and alcoholic beverages.

And then there’s parking. Slater reported prices starting at a staggering $747 on StubHub, with nearby lots still listed around $693, and only one spot left per lot. Even students felt the squeeze. Miami students, who usually attend games for free, were shocked to see national title tickets priced near $500.

“To get the tickets was so stressful,” student Luisa Arana told Local 10 News. “I saw it was $400, almost $500, and I was like, I can’t—but I would love to go.”

Then CFP executive director Rich Clark defended the pricing, saying, “We price our tickets competitively, but once they hit the market, the market takes over.” Simply put, demand rules everything, even parking spots.

Football How to get a chance to watch the NCAA Championship live

Despite the high prices, fans hoping to catch the 2026 CFP National Championship still have options, but patience and timing are key.

The hype for this game is infectious. The rise in prices is evidence of the fans’ excitement for this battle between undefeated Indiana and five-time champion Miami. Both teams are looking to prove a point. Indiana has never claimed a national title, and Miami’s last championship came in 2001. The winner will create history, and the loser will be left with heartbreak.

However, Hoosier fans have already shown their dedication. Thousands traveled to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta for the beatdown against Oregon that it practically felt like an Indiana home game. Now, with the championship on home turf for Miami, the Hoosier fandom is sure to be putting that much more effort to come and show support to their team, which is having their Cinderella run.

Even Billionaire Mark Cuban will be surely present there as he is one of the main boosters for their program. The Indiana alum has been donating significant funds to its athletic department since 2024. But for all the other normal fans, to get last-minute tickets, expect to face a challenge.

Secondary marketplaces like GameTime are already seeing prices more than double from last year. The most reliable sources, however, remain the CFP’s official marketplace and authorized resale partners, including Playoff Premium and Ticketmaster.

Prices often peak immediately after the semifinals, then soften slightly in the 24–48 hours leading up to kickoff. Now, waiting until game day can pay off, especially for upper-level seats or single tickets, but availability is limited, so do act fast.