When you think of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, basketball is probably the first sport that comes to mind. While the football team’s pedigree can’t match that found on the hardwood, there has been momentum building in Kroger Field. The ticket market has taken notice of that recent success, too, with the average ticket price on the secondary market rising nearly 20%.

Last season was one of the best in recent Wildcats history. They reached the 10-win plateau for only the third time ever, posted their first winning record in SEC play since the late 1970s, and brought home a big time bowl victory, taking down Penn State in the Citrus Bowl. Mark Stoops’ squad also finished the season ranked 12th in the AP Poll.

Unfortunately the Wildcats will be losing two of their most important players from last season—Josh Allen and Benny Snell—to the NFL. Stoops remains at the helm, however, and a beneficial schedule can help him “keep the fire burning”, his stated goal for this season.

Based on the secondary ticket market, UK fans have confidence that the team can keep rolling this season. The average price of resale ticket has jumped nearly $30 from last season, rising from $108 to $134. Over the course of the season, however, there are still plenty of chances to score a deal.

Kentucky football tickets

Kentucky’s first two home games should be safe wins, and their prices on the secondary market reflect that. The home opener against Toledo currently has an average secondary market price of $48 with a get-in price of $38; one week later you can see Eastern Michigan with ticket prices beginning at $35.

After that, the quality of opponent, and price, begins to ramp up. Florida ($129 average price and $116 get-in price) and Arkansas ($137 average price, but only a $37 get-in price) should provide stern tests for the Wildcats.

Three mid-tier games against Missouri, Tennessee, and Tennessee Martin follow, before the season wraps up with Governor’s Cup match-up against Louisville. As you’d assume, that’s a marquee ticket with an average resale price currently sitting at $120.

Kentucky will release single game ticket during the summer, but season ticket holders get access to them before the general public so you might not want to bank on getting your choice of seats. If you’re interested in making a larger commitment to the Wildcats, however, season ticket plans and smaller flex packages are still available. The former option ranges from $250 for a digital Pocket Pass to nearly $3000 for a Loge Level seat; the latter offers the choice of different opponents and pricing tiers to suit your preference.

No matter which way you purchase your tickets from the school, however, they will be handled through your UK account. From there you can choose either digital or print-at-home tickets.

Your buying strategy for the Wildcats football season will likely depend on which game you’re targeting. If you want to attend one of the earlier big games, like Florida or Arkansas, it’s probably in your best interest to act quickly. Kentucky will probably win the easier match-ups before those games, so it’s hard to imagine prices dropping. If you’re targeting a game later in the season—other than Louisville—it might be worth waiting to see if the Wildcats can cope with their personnel losses.

It’s hard to predict which way the Kentucky season will go but, after last year’s results, you’ll want to keep an eye on this team and their tickets.