The first US college football game in nearly four decades at Wembley Stadium between Arizona State and Kansas did not live up to expectations on the field but created a vibrant atmosphere off it. Despite Arizona State's victory with a score of 24-17, much of the excitement came from both teams' marching bands which kept the energy high throughout the three-hour and thirty-seven-minute game. The match was attended by 46,532 spectators, falling short of organizers’ promise of a 60,000 crowd, raising questions about its success as an event in London.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Brian Dubiski, chairman of Union Jack Classic, organized the first U.S. college football game in nearly 40 years at Wembley Stadium on September 19, featuring teams from Kansas and Arizona State. Despite an initial goal to fill all 86,270 seats, only about 46,523 fans attended the event. Dubiski, whose involvement is personal due to a tragic family incident—a concert he planned in 1999 was followed by a fatal shooting at Columbine High School—seeks to build college football's brand globally through such matches.
The game itself drew mixed reactions; while the pre-game atmosphere was lively with tailgating and band performances, the match proved less exciting. Marching bands from both universities significantly enhanced the event’s spirit by playing popular songs, contributing to a unique experience for attendees. Dubbed Union Jack Classic, the competition aims to introduce American college football culture to British audiences.
Organizers hope this inaugural game will inspire future events and fan enthusiasm in Europe, much like NFL games held previously at Wembley. Despite lower-than-expected attendance, the event showcased the energy and excitement of U.S. college football, with students from both teams expressing their ambitions for professional careers in the NFL.
Written for “Wembley College Football Game” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
You sensed that Britain’s first US college football game in nearly 40 years was going to be a very different experience when Wembley Way began to reverberate to the sound of steel, muscle and a few whoops long before kick-off.
asserted
Way → sense → off
The noise came from the Arizona State Sun Devils’ marching band, who were so energetic their horns and trombones swished from left to right like air raid lights hunting a target as they played.
asserted
they → come → target
Soon afterwards there came a risposte from the Kansas Jayhawks’ marching band, along with more cheers from the large crowd outside the stadium.
asserted
risposte → come → stadium
Watching on, two relaxed police officers were taking it all in when they were approached by a fan, Ian Taplin, from Milton Keynes.
asserted
they → watch → Keynes
“I bet you’re glad you are not at Millwall,” he told them, leading them both to smile.
asserted
he → bet → them
It was a scene that lingered during a humdrum match, played out over a long three hours and 37 minutes.
asserted
that → linger → hours
Because, even in the lulls, those marching bands never let the atmosphere drop.
asserted
atmosphere → let → lulls
The Jayhawks’ band played the Beatles Twist and Shout and Cameo’s Word Up.
asserted
band → play → Beatles
The Sun Devils’ band responded with Salt-N-Pepa’s Push It.
asserted
band → respond → It
It made for a great – and unique – atmosphere.
asserted
It → make → atmosphere
Well, let’s just say the Union Jack Classic did not live up to its billing.
asserted
Classic → let → billing
The Arizona State Sun Devils won 24-17, a scoreline that was nowhere near as close as it sounds.
asserted
it → win → ?
Before the game, the Fox Sports analyst Chris Fallica suggested to the Guardian that this match was the equivalent of a lower-tier Premier League or upper-tier Championship match.
uncertain
match → suggest → match
He was soon proved correct.
asserted
He → prove → ?
Little happened until the game turned decisively in the space of a minute either side of half-time.
asserted
game → happen → time
At that point Kansas were leading a dull game 7-3, following a 72-yard punt return from Taty Nagy.
asserted
Kansas → lead → Nagy
But then everything changed.
asserted
everything → change → ?
First the Jayhawks’ punter Matthew Gill sliced a kick 17 yards.
asserted
Gill → slice → kick
Then, on the following play, ASU quarterback Cutter Boley found Reed Harris for a 25-yard touchdown to make it 10-7.
asserted
it → follow → touchdown
Then, to rub vinegar into the wound, Jaren Hamilton dropped a shoulder, evaded a tackle, and ran in a 100-yard kick-off return to increase the lead to 17-7.
asserted
Hamilton → rub → 17
“I had a feeling deep in my soul,” said the man they call Turbo.
asserted
they → have → soul
“I knew something was going to happen.”
asserted
something → know → ?
The game was in effect over when 305lb defensive lineman Hyrum Vaeono recovered a fumble and ran 77 yards to set up a score that made it 24-7.
asserted
it → recover → score
Meanwhile as the casual observers left Wembley they had more questions than answers.
asserted
they → leave → answers
Was the 46,532 attendance a decent first effort, given the posh seats and executive boxes were full?
asserted
seats → give → ?
Or was it a forced fumble, given that organisers had promised a 60,000 crowd?
asserted
organisers → force → crowd
It also seemed strange not to stage the game next weekend, during the three-week Premier League international break.
asserted
It → seem → break
Either way, it wasn’t the greatest of looks to see Wembley’s upper tier empty.
asserted
tier → see → looks
And this was the start of what the Big 12 conference hopes will be a significant piece of brand-building in Europe.
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conference → hop → Europe
“These schools are obviously getting rewarded financially to come over,” Fallica told the Guardian.
asserted
Fallica → reward → Guardian
“But it’s also about exposure.
asserted
it → ’ → exposure
All these schools have international branches.
asserted
schools → have → branches
They want international students to come over.
asserted
students → want → ?
So they are getting their brand out there.”
asserted
they → get → brand
That much was clear as early as the game’s first timeout, with adverts telling the crowd that ASU has launched a London Campus and provides an “education unlike anything in the UK”, pumped on the big screens.
asserted
ASU → tell → screens
Brett Yormack, the commissioner of the Big 12, said that they wanted to follow the NFL by having more games in Europe – and said he hoped to announce next year’s Wembley game soon.
asserted
he → say → game
“We’re not there yet, but I’m confident we’ll be back,” he said.
asserted
he → ’re → ?
That message was echoed by ASU coach Kenny Dillingham, who described the experience of coming to London as life changing,
“We’ve had multiple players saying: ‘Man, I want to come back now.
asserted
I → echo → London
I love this place.
asserted
I → love → place
I want to come back and spend summer or Christmas out here’.
asserted
I → want → summer
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
