Cactus Bowl

Did you hear? The 🏈🌵 is returning to Tempe!

🌵 A new chapter begins today.

The is back with a refreshed logo, a return to Tempe, and a primetime kickoff on ABC. Today, we officially unveiled its new identity at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe alongside Fiesta Sports Foundation leadership, Tempe Vice Mayor Doreen Garlid, ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini, and 2005 Cactus Bowl MVP, Rudy Carpenter! 🏈

📍 Tempe, Arizona
📅 December 26, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM MST
🎟️ Seat deposits available now at CactusBowl.com

The countdown to Bowl Season starts NOW!

🚨 SWEEPSTAKES ALERT!!!

In celebration of our big reveal of a new name, logo & venue for college football’s only postseason game between the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences, we’re giving away two Cactus Bowl hats!

ENTER TO WIN this hat from Tempe’s own, :

1️⃣ Follow on Instagram.

2️⃣ Tag a friend in the comments, who you will give one of your hats to if you win.

3️⃣ Like and Repost this post to help spread the word!

Official Rules: Must be 18+ to enter and a U.S. resident. Enter as many times as you would like, but you may only tag each friend once. Winner will be selected at random from among all eligible entries on Monday, June 8, and announced in the comments of this post. Good luck!

🏈🌵 The Cactus Bowl — college football’s only postseason game between the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences — enters an exciting next chapter of its history in Arizona, with a new name, new logo, new venue, new TV network and enhanced fan experience!

Founded in 1989 as the Copper Bowl in Tucson, the Cactus Bowl will be played on Saturday, Dec. 26, as part of ABC Saturday Night Football, and hosted at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, AZ, for the first time since 2015.

Fiesta Sports Foundation operates the Cactus Bowl as part of its year-round slate of programming in the areas of youth, sports and education.

Read more: CactusBowl.com

Hecht to the Black & Blue! 🐱🥶

With the 144th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers select C and alum Sam Hecht.

Happy Easter! 🐰 How did your basket Rate this year? 🤔

Congratulations to Rate Bowl alum Larry Fitzgerald on being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026! 🙌🏈

A soon-to-be Arizona legend, Fitzgerald led the University of Pittsburgh to a 38-13 victory in the 2002 Insight Bowl (today’s Rate Bowl).

The freshman wideout hauled in five receptions for 88 yards and a 40-yard touchdown in the win over Oregon.

❓ Before the 2025–26 season, ’s last bowl win came in our game in 1991!

The Hoosiers defeated Baylor, 24-0, in the then-named Copper Bowl (today’s Rate Bowl), which was held at Arizona Stadium down in Tucson. 🏈🌵

From a decades-long drought to the top of college football — what a run in Bloomington! Congratulations, Indiana!

Now that the Rate Bowl has wrapped up, we want to send a huge thank you to Veteran Tickets Foundation - Vet Tix for once again providing FREE tickets to veterans, active-duty military, first responders and their families. 🫡 🇺🇸

Don’t miss what’s next — veterans can sign up through VetTix for access to tickets to the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, as well!

Visit vettix.org to learn more.

We’re proud to celebrate the Rate Bowl alongside our title partner, ! Their continued support helps make this game & the fan experience truly special.

Thank you, Rate, for investing in college football, our community, and every moment that makes the Rate Bowl unforgettable. 🏈🌵⬇️