A few weeks ago I wondered what a postseason home game would look like. Hopefully Georgia will earn a bye and the high seed that comes with an auto bid, but the possibility of getting an at-large bid has to be considered. When Georgia has hosted NCAA postseason events in other sports, those games have often been ticketed through a separate process without much regard to how tickets were issued during the regular season. Would it be the same for Sanford Stadium if Georgia hosted a first-round CFP game? Would it resemble a true home game, or would the CFP allocate tickets themselves?

To the athletic department’s credit, we know those answers before the season starts. Season ticket holders recently received a postcard outlining exactly how it will work. Some key points:

• Season ticket holders will have the first right to purchase “their” seats for a CFP home game.
• It’s all or nothing – you either buy all of your seats or forfeit them for this game. (No buying only two tickets of a four seat block.)
• Once season ticket holders accept or decline their seats, the remainder will be available based on the priority system.
• There is no distribution process for an away CFP game. They expect the visitor allotment to be small enough not to bother with.

No surprise: there is nothing about pricing. It’s likely the tickets will be priced at usual CFP levels, and those high prices might influence whether season ticket holder with large blocks decide to opt in.

This system seems about as fair as it could be. It should be reassuring to season ticket holders who might have worried about getting pushed out of seeing a home playoff game. You’ll pay for the right to be there, but you’ll still have first say.

As a bonus the postcard also included the 2024 postseason donation requirements and ticket quantities. We know what it will take to qualify for tickets to the SEC championship, the CFP, and any other bowl game. Of course games held in Atlanta (SECCG and the CFP quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl) will have the highest cutoff levels. Fans have until November 1st to add to their cumulative donation.