United Airlines will launch a new nonstop round‑trip service that connects Indianapolis with Lincoln, Nebraska, specifically for the Indiana University versus Nebraska football game in October. The outbound flight departs Indianapolis at 1 p.m. on Oct. 9 and touches down in Lincoln at 1:52 p.m. local time, while the return leg leaves Lincoln at noon on Oct. 11 and arrives back in Indianapolis at 2:50 p.m.
Championship momentum fuels travel surge
Indiana’s football team capped a flawless 16‑0 season by defeating Miami 27‑21 to claim its first college football national championship. The perfect record has amplified the school’s profile and sparked heightened demand among fans eager to witness the Hoosiers in person.
Tickets for the direct flight to the IU game are priced between $380 and $1,150, a range that mirrors the broader upswing in college‑football travel costs as conferences and airlines respond to fan enthusiasm.
Expanding the college‑football network
Beyond the Indianapolis‑Lincoln route, United has added seven new flights to support Notre Dame’s schedule, including games against Michigan State, Stanford, Miami, Boston College, Rice, Wisconsin and SMU. These services are part of a coordinated effort to give supporters seamless access to the sport’s marquee matchups.
The airline also announced several other nonstop connections tied to high‑profile college games, such as Ohio State at Texas, Wisconsin at Penn State, Alabama at Tennessee, Alabama at LSU, Oregon at Ohio and Texas at LSU, underscoring a nationwide push to serve the growing market of college‑football travelers.
Michael Weeks, managing director of domestic schedule development at United, said the airline is responding to fan enthusiasm for the sport’s biggest matchups, ensuring travelers can reach the action with convenient schedules and reliable service.