Wembley Stadium will host its first American college football game this Saturday, marking the UK's second college football game ever and a significantly larger event than the first in 1988. The inaugural Union Jack Classic (UJC) will feature the Kansas Jayhawks against the Arizona State Sun Devils at 17:00 BST, with an estimated 60,000 fans expected.
The event is set to bring a full American college gameday experience to London, including marching bands, spirit squads, and tailgate parties outside the stadium. UJC chief executive Brian Dubiski and a business partner, both former college football players, developed the idea after noticing the absence of college football in England since the NFL began playing in London in 2007.
The University of Kansas and Arizona State committed to the trip, with KU aiming to expand its brand and ASU opening a London campus this month. Many players on both teams did not own passports before this trip, with the teams also seeking to provide a cultural experience. Actor Jason Sudeikis, a lifelong Kansas fan, might be among the crowd, having been invited along with other British actors.
Dubiski has secured an exclusive multi-year deal with Wembley and is planning games for the next three years, potentially expanding to other European cities and including basketball games. Fox Sports will broadcast its flagship pre-game show from outside Wembley, starting two hours before kick-off, marking its first overseas broadcast.