Cactus Bowl

The Cactus Bowl kicks off in Tempe on Saturday, December 26, 2026, bringing a primetime college football showdown between the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences to Mountain America Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. MST, with the game airing nationally as part of ABC Saturday Night Football. College football fans can expect an action-packed postseason matchup, along with pregame tailgating, entertainment and plenty of opportunities to enjoy Tempe before kickoff. Known for high-scoring, down-to-the-wire games, the Cactus Bowl is the only bowl game featuring a Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup. Celebrating its 37th edition in 2026, the Cactus Bowl returns to its Arizona-inspired name and to Tempe for the first time since 2015, kicking off an exciting new chapter for one of the state’s longstanding college football traditions.