Michigan Wolverines Football Tickets

Michigan football in brief: the most wins in college football

The Michigan Wolverines play home football games at Michigan Stadium, the Big House, in Ann Arbor. With an official capacity of 107,601, it is the largest stadium in the United States, and every home game since November 8, 1975, has drawn more than 100,000 fans. Michigan plays six or seven home games a season, on Saturdays from late August or early September through late November.

Michigan fielded its first team in 1879 and has won more games than any other program in college football history. The school claims 12 national championships, from Fielding Yost's teams of 1901 to 1904 through 1997 and 2023, when Michigan beat Washington in the College Football Playoff final. It has won or shared 45 Big Ten titles, played in the very first Rose Bowl in 1902, and produced three Heisman Trophy winners: Tom Harmon (1940), Desmond Howard (1991) and Charles Woodson (1997).

The look is part of the identity. Fritz Crisler introduced the winged helmet in 1938, the colors are maize and blue, and the fight song, "The Victors," dates to 1898.

Where to sit in the Big House for a Michigan game

Michigan Stadium is a single bowl with no upper deck, dug mostly into the ground, with sections running up to 98 rows deep. Almost all seating is aluminum bench seating. That depth means the row matters as much as the section: row 10 and row 90 in the same sideline section are completely different experiences.

The best views

According to seating guides, the Michigan sideline sits in front of Sections 22 to 24 on the west side. Sideline sections between the 30-yard lines, roughly rows 25 to 60, are the best balance of closeness and perspective. The very lowest rows sit near field level, where the sideline crowd blocks part of the view.

Atmosphere and the student section

Seating guides place the student section in Sections 26 to 33, plus parts of 25 and 34. It is the loudest part of the stadium and stands all game. Neighboring sections get the noise without the obligation.

Sun, weather and comfort

The field runs north to south, so during an afternoon game the sun sits over the west rim and shines into the eyes of fans on the east sideline. There is no roof and little cover anywhere. Chairback seats are limited, mainly in the upper rows of the west sideline and the club areas, so most fans sit on benches with no armrests.

Michigan's own pricing tiers are named Victors, Valiant, Maize, Blue and End Zone, so a listing's tier tells you roughly where in the bowl it sits. For a deeper look at the bowl, see the Michigan Stadium page.

The Game, the Paul Bunyan Trophy and other big home dates

Michigan's schedule is built around its rivalries, and they set the price of a ticket.

• Ohio State: "The Game" began in 1897 and is played as the last regular-season game in late November. Since 1918 it has alternated sites, with Ann Arbor hosting in odd-numbered years and Columbus in even years. Michigan leads the series. The Ten Year War between Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes (1969–1978) made it a national event, and ESPN ranked it the greatest rivalry in North American sports in 2000. The Ohio State game in Ann Arbor is the hardest and most expensive ticket on Michigan's schedule.
• Michigan State: the in-state rivals play for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, a four-foot wooden statue first awarded in 1953. It alternates sites and is the second-biggest home ticket when the Spartans come to Ann Arbor.
• Minnesota: the Little Brown Jug, dating to 1903, is the oldest rivalry trophy in college football.
• Notre Dame: the series began in 1887 and has been played on and off since. Michigan Stadium's record crowd, 115,109, watched Michigan beat Notre Dame in 2013, and the Big House's first night game, in 2011, was against the Irish.

Night games and visits from other ranked Big Ten teams also draw extra demand. Early-season non-conference games in September are usually the easiest Michigan tickets to find.

Gameday in Ann Arbor: traditions and getting there

A Michigan Saturday follows a familiar rhythm. Tailgating and parking spread across university lots, the Ann Arbor Golf and Outing course, Pioneer High School, private businesses and front lawns near the stadium. The Michigan Marching Band plays a pregame show, and the gates open two hours before kickoff, so arrive early enough to be seated for the team's entrance.

Plan your arrival carefully. There are no hotels within walking distance of the stadium, and roads around it close well before kickoff. As of the 2026 season, South Main Street and East Keech Street close three hours before the game, and many university lots require a permit or season-ticket priority. TheRide's FootballRide shuttle runs from hotels and parking sites around Ann Arbor, starting about two hours before kickoff and dropping fans near Gate 2 by Crisler Center. Check the Michigan parking page for current lots and closures.

How Michigan football tickets work

Season tickets go first to existing holders, who renew each spring. New buyers join Michigan's football ticket interest list, and season seating is tied to the Preferred Seat Contribution program, the donation attached to many seats, and to priority points that also govern parking. Students buy student season tickets in March (returning students) and June (incoming students). Online sales through the university end five hours before kickoff.

With more than 107,000 seats, Michigan usually has single-game inventory for early non-conference games. That changes for the Ohio State game in an odd-numbered year, a Michigan State visit, or a top-ranked Big Ten opponent, when season-ticket holders and students absorb most of the bowl and the resale market becomes the realistic way in. Prices for those games tend to climb as the matchup's stakes become clear in November. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.

The Big House bag policy: no bags at all

Michigan's rule is stricter than the clear-bag policies used at most stadiums. As of the 2026 season, all bags are prohibited, including purses, clear bags and fanny packs. Fans with medical or childcare needs enter through a bag exception gate, Gate 3 at the south end or Gate 9 West at the north end, where one appropriately sized bag is inspected. Bottles, outside food, umbrellas, strollers and seat cushions with pockets or backs are also banned; blankets, rain gear and foam seat pads without pockets are allowed. Gates open two hours before kickoff, and under Big Ten policy everyone needs a ticket, including infants. Check Michigan's stadium safety page for the current policy before you go.

Sources

• Wikipedia – Michigan Wolverines football
• Wikipedia – Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry
• Wikipedia – Paul Bunyan Trophy
• Wikipedia – Michigan Stadium
• Michigan Athletics – Football Ticket FAQ
• Michigan Athletics – Safety at Michigan Stadium
• Michigan Athletics – Football Gameday Parking
• TheRide – FootballRide 2026
• RateYourSeats – Michigan Stadium seating guide