A couple of weeks ago, news broke that Arizona State and Kansas were in talks to bring their 2026 matchup across the pond. This was confirmed today as both teams took to social media to announce their participation in the inaugural Union Jack Classic. An exciting time for college football fans in Europe as our access continues to expand. This could very well be the 3rd college game in Europe next year. The Aer Lingus Classic returns and Michigan are set to host Western Michigan in Frankfurt too (unconfirmed).

The matchup will take place at Wembley Stadium on the 19th of September 2026. While London is no stranger to American Football with annual NFL games, this will be the first college football game on British soil. It also serves as the inaugural game for the ‘Union Jack Classic’. Aiming to bring annual college football games to the United Kingdom.

Correction: this isn’t the first college football game in the UK. This is, however, the first FBS college football game in the UK. In 1988, we did in fact, have an FCS matchup. The FCS Richmond Spiders played against the Boston Terriers at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Thank you, Twm Owen for noticing.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark has said “I’m thrilled that Big 12 football will be heading to London for the first-ever college football game at Wembley Stadium. I’ve often said my goal is for the Big 12 to be the most globally relevant conference in college athletics. Expanding our international presence will elevate our brand, create new opportunities for student-athletes, and open the door to meaningful commercial growth for the league.”

For more information on the Union Jack Classic, you can visit their website, where you can join the ticket waiting list. You can also follow them on social media too for more updates.

It’s an exciting time to be a college football fan this side of the Atlantic. If you’re as excited as I am, make sure to check out the College Football UK podcast on the Network.

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