COLUMBUS — Tickets for No. 6 Ohio State's home game with No. 2 Texas on Sept. 10 are in high demand when even the ticket brokers are priced out.

Paul Zaretsky, owner of the Twinsburg-based Affordable Ticket Agency, said the high-selling prices are too much of a gamble.

"The problem is the price is way too expensive," he said. "I've only bought a few tickets for Texas-Ohio State. I'm staying away from it just because people want too much money. It's not worth spending $500 on a ticket to make $25. It's too risky."

The Buckeyes kicked off their season against the Miami RedHawks on Sept. 3. But the battle with the Longhorns rivals the fervor for the Buckeyes' home game with Notre Dame in 1995, the most-anticipated home non-conference game in Buckeye history.

While Zaretsky is avoiding the mass hysteria for the game, Jamie Kaufman, president of Dream Seats, Inc., a company based out of Columbus, is looking to break the bank. A high risk also means a high reward.

Kaufman alone bought more than 100 tickets for the game.

"There have been a couple cases where we've been able to do some (tickets) at $350, but on average, it's been about $400 and higher," he said.

That, of course, is for just one ticket. If you want a pair or even, as many as four, good luck.

Internet sites such as eBay and StubHub have become popular trading places for tickets. But with each passing day, prices on the auction style sites increase.

Tickets for the Longhorns could be anywhere from $500 to $1,000 if you want the best seats or added amenities such as parking passes.

But Kaufman said buyers should be wary of who is at the opposite computer. Internet sites have no safeguards for buying stolen or counterfeit tickets.

"If they don't know who they are buying from, I wouldn't do it," he said. "I'm not saying, "Buy from me." But you had better buy from somebody you know, or you can come back to if you do have a problem."

If fans do want to see the Buckeyes against Miami or San Diego State on Sept. 17, some tickets are still being sold for less than $100, and Ohio State's own Web site sold leftover tickets to those games as recently as two weeks ago.

But if fans want to see a game between top-10 teams, have plenty of money in the checkbook.

What's the best advice for getting a good price on tickets for a big game? Buy tickets to the Buckeyes' home game with No. 11 Iowa on Sept. 24. They are going for right at $200 per ticket now. But do not wait too long.

Kaufman said those prices will jump immediately in the final two weeks leading up to the game if the Buckeyes beat the Longhorns.

Kurt Snyder can be reached at (740) 328-8556 or ksnyder@nncogannett.com.