It has now been officially confirmed that Arizona State and Kansas will head to London to play the first-ever college football game at Wembley Stadium.

The match-up, scheduled for 26th September 2026, will see a second Big 12 conference clash take place overseas in a matter of weeks, following the scheduled Week 0 clash between TCU and North Carolina in Dublin’s Aer Lingus College Classic. Conference commissioner Brett Yormark spoke ahead of this year’s ALCC about his ambition to take the conference global, and is especially excited about the conference hosting a game in London.

“I’m thrilled that Big 12 football will be heading to London for the first-ever college football game at Wembley Stadium,” he said of the announcement of the inaugural Union Jack Classic. “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.”

The Union Jack Classic hopes to follow the continued success of the Aer Lingus College Classic that sees tens of thousands of loyal college fans travelling across the Atlantic.

The game was founded by a collective of internationally-recognised sports marketing and sponsorship agencies, bringing together decades of expertise in launching and growing American sports abroad. The initiative is led by Brian Dubiski and Thomas Hensey of Rhino Marketing, alongside Rob Yowell of Gemini Sports. With a track record stretching over three decades, the agency principals were instrumental in the launch of the World League of American Football in London, Frankfurt and Barcelona, as well as sponsorship and media relations for the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium. Collectively, they have brokered global naming rights partnerships, including landmark venues such as Emirates Stadium and The O2.

“We are proud to make history by bringing American College Football to London on a global stage,” chairman and CEO Dubiski claimed. “Hosting two elite Big 12 programmes at Wembley Stadium positions this match-up as the premier international showcase for our sport, and we look forward to delivering an unforgettable experience for fans and partners worldwide.”

Kansas director of athletics, Travis Goff, acknowledged the fact that this will take a home game away from season ticket holders but also highlighted the unique experience on offer.

“This is the perfect moment in time for Kansas Football to blaze an uncharted trail to historic Wembley Stadium in London,” he reasoned. “This opportunity is reflective of the growth and trajectory of our football programme and the entire university, and will provide our fans and student-athletes an unprecedented experience. We’re excited that our season ticket holders and students will still have six opportunities to watch a game at The Booth next season as that project is being completed, while also having the chance to see the Jayhawks play international for the first time ever. Our commitment is to provide a first-class, generational experience for our programme and supporters, while showcasing Jayhawk football and the University of Kansas on a global stage.”

Arizona State counterpart Graham Rossini, meanwhile, spoke about ASU’s global presence and being able to showcase the school to an international audience.

“The Big 12 is leading the charge to take college football global, and we’re proud to be part of it,” he said. “College sports are about providing our student-athletes with life-changing experiences, and playing in the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium will be an incredible one. With nearly 18,000 international students from 160 countries, ASU already thrives on a global stage, and we can’t wait to showcase Sun Devil football and Arizona State University to fans across Europe.”

Tickets will go on presale beginning on Monday 6th October with general sales from Thursday 9^th October available through KUAthletics.com, SunDevils.com, and UnionJackClassic.com.