After 11 years, the Cactus Bowl is returning to a familiar place and name, with the postseason game taking place in Tempe this December.
ASU hosted the bowl nine times from 2006-15, before it relocated to the Diamondbacks' Chase Field. In addition to relocating, the Cactus Bowl underwent several name changes over the years, with it most recently being known as the Rate Bowl.
With the home of the Diamondbacks' impending stadium renovations, the bowl was in search of a new home for the 2026 season, which it found in ASU's own Mountain America Stadium—known as Sun Devil Stadium during the bowl's previous Tempe run.
This Big Ten vs. Big 12 contest is set for Saturday, Dec. 26, at 5:30 p.m. and will be aired by ABC.
Founded in Tucson as the Copper Bowl in 1989, the bowl's first 11 games were played on Wildcat land.
Despite originating in ASU's enemy territory, this desert bowl and its organizer, Fiesta Sports Foundation, have established decade-long ties with the Sun Devils in other ways. Fiesta Sports Foundation was founded in 1971, with its first "Fiesta Bowl" occurring that same year.
Four of the highest-attended games in the Cactus Bowl's history took place in Tempe; the most-attended game was between Oklahoma and Iowa in December 2011, attracting 54,247 fans.
"We return to a place that is essential to the origin story of the Fiesta Sports Foundation, and that's Arizona State University," Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director and CEO Erik Moses said via ASU News.
Ahead of the Cactus Bowl's second run in Tempe, the game underwent a brand renewal, suited to its desert roots. The new logo features classic Arizona staples, from the cactus-shaped goalposts to the sunset-painted sky.
"Reviving the Cactus Bowl name with a logo that reflects what's unique to our Arizona roots and returning to Tempe gives us a true identity and shows our commitment to making this one of the premier destination bowl games in the country," Moses said via Fiesta Sports Foundation.
Regardless of the longevity of the Cactus Bowl and ASU's relationship, the Sun Devils never participated in this postseason game while it was hosted on pitchfork territory.
However, they participated in the year before hosting and the year that followed their host allotment, missing their home field when the games moved to Chase Field. In 2005, ASU beat Rutgers 45-40 at the then-Insight Bowl. In 2016, West Virginia ousted ASU 43-42 in a contest bearing the Cactus Bowl name.
By returning to Tempe, this Big Ten vs. Big 12 tie-in bowl game provides the Sun Devils with a chance to play at home, one they'll have to wait a little longer for, as the 2026 bowl tie-ins will match seasons prior, tying ASU to the legacy Pac-12 bowls.
Although ASU may be ineligible for this upcoming Cactus Bowl, the University's athletics director, Graham Rossini, sees this game as an opportunity to highlight the home of the Sun Devils.
"It showcases where we get to call home," Rossini said via ASU News. "We're very bullish on this being the best place in the country to live, and I can't think of a better way to do that."
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Natalia Jarrett and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at cjoneil6@asu.edu and follow @cjojournalism on X.
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Char O’Neil is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in special events management. This is her third semester with The State Press. She has also reported for AZPreps365, Blaze Radio and Phoenix College Basketball.
