5 global kickoffs and how they fit into college football’s all-time legacy
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College football is known for lovely American traditions and packed stadiums, but some of its biggest moments actually happened overseas. Long before it was normal to play internationally, teams traveled the world for real, important games. These trips showed fans outside the United States could love the sport, too.
These global games actually helped shape how football is played today. These early trips introduced rules we still use and proved that regular-season games could be played in other countries and still mean something to fans and players. Even when the crowds were small or the money wasn’t great, these early games made the way for the huge global events we see now.
In 2026, college football will feature two international games. Week 0 on Aug. 29 brings us TCU vs. North Carolina in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. Then, on Sept. 19, Arizona State and Kansas get together in London for the Union Jack Classic, the first college game at Wembley Stadium since 1988.
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While each game happened at a different point in history, together they tell the story of how college football grew around the world. By taking the sport on the road, these teams built a legacy that reaches far beyond America.
Here is a look at five international games that changed college football forever.
5. 1985 Australia Bowl, Melbourne, Australia
Date: 1985
Location: VFL Park, Melbourne, Australia
Matchup: Wyoming vs. UTEP
Result: Wyoming 23, UTEP 21
Attendance: 19,107
The 1985 Australia Bowl was one of the first times college football tried to grow its audience in Australia. Wyoming defeated UTEP 23-21 in a close game at VFL Park in Melbourne.
The crowd was not very large because Australian Rules Football was already the country’s most popular sport. Even so, the event was still important. It showed that college football teams could travel across the Pacific and successfully play overseas. The Australia Bowl also helped open the door for future games in Australia, including the Sydney Cup.
4. 1988 Emerald Isle Classic, Dublin, Ireland
Date: 1988
Location: Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland
Matchup: Boston College vs. Army
Result: Boston College 38, Army 24
Attendance: 42,525
The 1988 Emerald Isle Classic was the first NCAA-approved college football game played in Ireland. Boston College beat Army 38-24 in front of more than 42,000 fans.
The strong attendance showed that people in Europe were interested in American college football. This happened long before streaming services made it easy for fans around the world to follow the sport.
The game’s success encouraged organizers to bring more college football games to Ireland. It helped lead to events like the 1996 Shamrock Classic and today’s Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
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3. 1993 Coca-Cola Classic, Tokyo, Japan
Date: December 1993
Location: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Matchup: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State
Result: Wisconsin 41, Michigan State 20
Attendance: 51,000
The 1993 Coca-Cola Classic was much more than just an exhibition game. Wisconsin beat Michigan State 41-20 in front of 51,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome.
Unlike today’s international Week 0 games, this matchup was played at the end of the regular season and had major conference title implications. The win gave Wisconsin a share of the Big Ten championship and sent the Badgers to their first Rose Bowl in 31 years.
The game proved that an important college football matchup could be played thousands of miles from home without losing its importance. It showed that international games could matter just as much as games played in the United States.
2. The Bacardi Bowl, Havana, Cuba
Active Years: 1907-1946
Locations: Almendares Park and La Tropical Stadium, Havana, Cuba
Key Games:
- December 25, 1907: LSU 56, University of Havana 0
- January 1, 1937: Auburn 7, Villanova 7
Attendance:
- 1907: About 10,000
- 1937: Between 15,000 and 18,000
The Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba, was college football’s first major international postseason event. It was played seven times between 1907 and 1946, combining football with tourism and bringing American teams and fans to Cuba.
LSU’s 56-0 win over the University of Havana in 1907 drew around 10,000 fans. The 1937 game between Auburn and Villanova attracted up to 18,000 spectators and ended in a 7-7 tie.
That 1937 game made history as the first college football game played outside the United States between two American schools. The Bacardi Bowl also showed that international games could attract fans while promoting travel, an idea that many later overseas games followed.
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1. The 1874 Harvard vs. McGill Series, Montreal, Canada
Date: Oct. 23, 1874
Location: Montreal Cricket Grounds, Montreal, Canada
Matchup: Harvard University vs. McGill University
Result: Harvard 3, McGill 0
Attendance: Approximately 2,000
No international college football game had a bigger impact than the 1874 series between Harvard and McGill.
At the time, American colleges mostly played a soccer-style game where kicking the ball was the main focus. McGill, however, played by rugby rules, which allowed players to carry the ball.
After playing McGill, Harvard liked the rugby-style rules and brought them back to the United States. The school helped introduce those rules to other colleges, and they slowly became the foundation of modern American football.
Although only about 2,000 people watched the game in Montreal, its impact was enormous. It helped shape the sport into the version of college football that millions of fans watch today.
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