HAIL NO: Ticket prices for UM national championship could leave you blue

If you want to Go Blue, you're going to need to shell out some serious green.

After Michigan's dramatic Rose Bowl victory Monday night that locked their spot in the National Championship, fans are eager for the team to take on the University of Washington Huskies, who won the Sugar Bowl on Monday.

But even six days before the game, tickets are going for thousands of dollars apiece. It doesn't help that the game isn't at Michigan Stadium or even in another midwestern state — it's all the way down in Houston, at NRG Stadium. Travel costs aside, if you want to be there in person to see the Wolverines play in the National Championship, be prepared to open your wallet.

Here's everything you need to know to take in the game next week:

When is the National Championship game?

The University of Michigan will play the University of Washington on Jan. 8. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

Fantasia, a Grammy-winning singer who was recently nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in "The Color Purple," will sing the National Anthem. Marching bands for both UM and Washington will perform before the game as well as at halftime.

How do I get tickets to the National Championship football game?

According to the College Football playoff, the only place to get official tickets is through Ticketmaster. Be prepared to pay big bucks, though — the lowest price for seats on Tuesday afternoon for nosebleed seats was more than $2,300 for two tickets. If money is no object, you can nab seats near the front row of 50-yard line for about $18,500 for two tickets (plus fees, of course).

The majority of tickets are allocated to the two schools playing. Those tickets are sold directly through the respective universities. The tours authorized by UM are through the alumni association. Alumni association members have the option to buy full packages that include tickets, hotels, souvenirs and more. Anyone 18 and older can become a member of the alumni association, though, regardless of whether they are an alumnus. Memberships are $74 for a year.

According to the university's athletics page, tickets will not be available to the general public.

It's worth noting that NRG is smaller than Michigan Stadium — by more than 35,000 seats. The Big House is famously one of the largest stadiums in the world.

Where can I watch the National Championship on TV?

If you're not interested in spending more than $1,000 on tickets alone, television streams are going to be your best bet.

The National Championship game will be broadcast on ESPN, or you can stream it from the ESPN app.

The Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, local Emagine and MJR theaters and the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In will also be showing the game on their big screens. Tickets are $20 and are available online.

Who is going to win?

We won't know for sure until the game is played. But for what it's worth: ESPN analytics gives Michigan a 74.3% chance of winning as of Tuesday afternoon. At the same time, Draft Kings Sportsbook has Michigan ahead by 4.5 points.

Has Michigan been in the National Championship before?

Not in the revamped playoff version that has existed since 2014. Michigan has been in the semifinals three times, counting Monday night — the 2021-2022 season, when the team lost to Georgia, and the 2022-2023 season, when the team lost to Texas Christian University. Monday's game was the team's first win in a semifinal in the playoff era.

Before the playoffs, there was the BCS National Championship (which Michigan never won) and before that, the top team was decided by polls. Michigan came out on top in several of the polls over the years, most recently in 1997 when it finished No. 1 in the AP poll, although Nebraska won the Coaches Poll that year.

It's worth noting that Washington also has a split victory. It won the Coaches Poll in 1991, while Miami (of Florida) took the AP poll. That was Washington's only victory.

National Championship Game

Michigan vs. Washington

▶ When: 7:30 Monday, NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

▶ TV/radio: ESPN/950

▶ Records: Both teams are 14-0

▶ Line: Michigan by 4 1/2