The Columbus Dispatch reports that 5,234 fewer alumni and 2,276 fewer students than last year applied to buy single-game tickets.

Alumni Association spokesman Jay Hansen says most years about 44,000 alumni apply for tickets. This year, 33,436 applied.

Altogether, students, faculty and staff members and OSU alumni will get about 48,000 tickets per game. An additional 42,000 tickets go to season-ticket holders, including major boosters.

Hansen says he thinks the economy is mostly to blame for the trend. Also, there are more total tickets available this year because the Buckeyes are playing eight home games instead of the more-typical seven.