College football is inching closer to making its first major leap overseas in the modern era, and the Big 12 may be leading that charge. Discussions are currently underway for a potential 2026 regular-season game in London between Arizona State and Kansas. The matchup would be one of the first true conference games ever played abroad and could mark the beginning of a new international push for the sport.
The Big 12 has been exploring ways to grow its brand globally, and staging a game in London, possibly at Wembley Stadium, would be a bold first step. The idea is to showcase the conference on a global stage, open up new markets, and create a new kind of spectacle to kick off the college football season. From a branding and media standpoint, the move makes sense. From a logistics and competitive standpoint, it’s far more complicated.
One of the biggest challenges right now is Kansas’ hesitation to give up a home game to make the London trip happen. Hosting a Big 12 game in Lawrence brings in valuable revenue for the school, and surrendering one of those dates isn’t a decision taken lightly. Home games aren't just about ticket sales—they impact local economies, alumni engagement, and recruiting weekends. Kansas has every reason to hesitate, even as the Big 12 pushes for something bigger.
There’s also a scheduling complication. In order to play the game in London, both teams would likely need a waiver to start their season in Week 0. That means working through NCAA regulations and getting conference approval—another layer of red tape that has to be handled carefully. It’s a reminder that staging a college football game internationally is far more than just booking a stadium and boarding a flight.
But if the logistical hurdles can be overcome, the upside could be enormous. The Big 12 would become the first Power Five conference to take a meaningful game abroad. The international exposure would benefit the league’s long-term growth, giving players and programs visibility that stretches far beyond the U.S. borders. It could also help with recruiting and NIL opportunities, as athletes become more marketable in global markets.
This move mirrors trends in professional sports, especially the NFL, which has leaned heavily into overseas games in recent years. The idea is to create global events not just for in-person fans, but for the growing international audience watching on screens. College football, while traditionally rooted in regional pride and campus culture, is now shifting toward bigger markets and broader appeal.
If the Arizona State–Kansas game does end up happening in London, it will likely serve as a test case for more to come. Other Big 12 programs, such as Oklahoma State, may want in on the action for more exposure internationally. Neutral-site, overseas games could become a staple of Week 0 or early-season schedules. For now, it remains a proposal, but the conversation alone signals where things could be headed in the future.
The college football landscape is changing fast. Between the transfer portal, NIL, and media rights, conferences are searching for new ways to stay competitive and generate revenue. More revenue, the more they can spend on their facilities and players. Playing games overseas might be the next frontier. Whether or not Kansas is willing to give up a home game, the Big 12’s push into London shows that the appetite for global expansion is real.
The outcome of this specific negotiation may still be uncertain, but one thing is clear: international games are no longer a matter of if, but when. We've seen Kansas State and Iowa State this year play in Ireland, that could only be the start of what's to come. And if the Big 12 leads the way, the college football world will be watching.