As the Arizona State Sun Devils and Kansas Jayhawks wind down their 2025 campaigns, preparations for an important milestone in the 2026 college football season continue apace.
As the sport expands its global reach, the two programs will participate in the Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium, London, next September. A new partnership announced on Monday aims to continue developing American football beyond its traditional boundaries.
The Union Jack Classic Announces Important Partnership for the Global Development of College Football
While college football programs across the landscape of the sport are no strangers to traveling across the pond, the Arizona State vs. Kansas clash will be the first competitive collegiate game held at Wembley Stadium.
Ahead of the Sept. 19 matchup, the organisers behind the Union Jack Classic announced a partnership with the British American Football Association (BAFA), which will continue to strengthen the growth of the game overseas.
“We are thrilled to play a part in this historic moment for American football in the UK,” said BAFA CEO Chad Ehlertsen via a press release. “Working in partnership with the Union Jack Classic allows us to align grassroots development with a world-class international event, inspiring current and future generations of players, coaches, officials, and fans.”
“American football is a sport that continues to grow here in the UK,” added Thomas Hensey, COO of Union Jack Classic. “Partnering with the British American Football Association marks an exciting step to grow the sport in this country.”
MORE: College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker: Every Missing Player for Every Matchup
While scepticism around the global expansion of college football continues to exist among US-based fans, there is a genuine appetite for the game across the pond and beyond. There is a strong, passionate, and knowledgeable fan base within the UK and Europe, with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, regularly being a sold-out spectacle.
However, the impact of college football globally goes beyond the casual spectator. The NFL Academy, based in Loughborough, England, has produced several FBS players, including Temple Owls standout Peter Clarke, a PFSN First-Team All-American Conference tight end who tallied 483 receiving yards at 16.1 yards per reception with six touchdowns in the 2025 season.
The partnership between the Union Jack Classic and the British American Football Association (BAFA) aims to further develop these opportunities, investing in the game at the grassroots level and expanding college football opportunities for players like Clarke and the many other UK-grown talents.
Far from a one-off spectacle, there is a desire from everyone involved in the Union Jack Classic to drive college football growth across the pond.
“At Union Jack Classic, we want to be part of the growth of American Football in the UK,” COO Hensey continued, “leaving a legacy of even more American Football players and fans across the country. We have seen this sport grow and want to help accelerate it even more through this partnership.”
The messaging aligns with the vision of Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, who has long viewed global expansion as a cornerstone of his tenure. It’s no coincidence that the first college football matchup to take place in Wembley Stadium features two programs from his conference.
“I’ve been the commissioner for three years. My initial goal was, how do I stabilise the conference and set us up to grow and thrive, and I think going global is a part of that overall strategy. How do we plant our flag in important markets across the world?” explained Yormark during a visit to Wembley Stadium earlier in the year.
Between the desire of the Big 12 to increase its global footprint, and the Union Jack Classic partnering with the British American Football Association to develop opportunities for players, coaches, volunteers, and fans, it’s an exciting time for college football fans on both sides of the pond. You can get in on the action, with tickets on sale now for Arizona State vs. Kansas.
