Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio State sold out the Ohio team.
Approximately 7,500 of the 12,000 tickets that were available were sold or reserved for team guests, according to Brett Scarbrough, the school’s associate athletic director for ticketing and premium seating, who made the announcement on Wednesday.
Compared to the previous year, when the Buckeyes participated in the College Football Playoff, there was less of a desire to see them in the postseason. Their 13,000-ticket allocation for the Peach Bowl, which held a semifinal in Atlanta, sold out in a matter of days.
Additionally, it’s a decrease from their previous non-CFP bowl game appearance. Two years ago, Ohio State and Utah played in the Rose Bowl, which is the oldest bowl game in college football. Of the tickets sold, roughly 13,000 were sold, or roughly two-thirds of the total.
Fans of Missouri have been more interested in attending the Cotton Bowl. Within a single day of receiving a bid, 13,000 seats were sold, according to a school spokesman.
After an unexpected season that saw them finish 10-2 overall and challenge two-time defending national champion Georgia for the top spot in the Southeastern Conference’s East Division, the Tigers are making their first appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game since 2014.
The Buckeyes, who are playing in their 11th consecutive NY6 game—including a prior visit to the Cotton Bowl at the end of the 2017 season—have less novelty this time around.
The remaining tickets Ohio State was given were returned to the Cotton Bowl, according to Scarbrough.