Indiana University’s athletics department has rolled out a new student season‑ticket system for the 2026 football campaign, reshaping how undergraduates secure access to games at Memorial Stadium.
Under the revised plan, each eligible student may claim up to five of the eight home contests, a shift from the longstanding practice of holding tickets for every home game.
Claim periods and game selection
The process is split into three distinct claim windows. The first runs from August 12‑13 and covers the non‑conference opener against North Texas. A second window, August 26‑27, adds the rivalry game with Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket. The final window stretches from September 30 to October 1, featuring the marquee matchups versus Ohio State and USC.
Tickets are allocated according to class standing and the Student Priority Point Program, a metric that rewards attendance history and academic seniority.
The change comes amid a surge of enthusiasm after the Hoosiers captured a national championship in 2025, a momentum that has left the student body eager for more on‑field action.
Longtime fans have voiced disappointment, arguing that the tradition of filling the stadium for every home game is being eroded by a system that prioritizes limited selections over blanket attendance.
The season will open on September 5 against North Texas before the Big Ten slate begins with a September 25 contest at Northwestern, setting the stage for a schedule that blends early non‑conference challenges with later conference showdowns.