Foreign football sports

College football has scarcely gone international, but Big 12 could change that

Braden Bush Sports Editor

The Big 12 is expanding its brand beyond the U.S. borders.

Could OSU ever play a football game internationally?

It’s a possibility in the not-so-far-off future, with the Big 12 announcing plans earlier this month for Kansas and Houston men’s and women’s basketball programs to play in Mexico City in December 2024. The conference is also exploring a bowl game in Monterrey starting in 2026.

The initiative is aptly named Big 12 Mexico.

“Mexico is a natural extension to the Big 12 footprint, and I’m thrilled to introduce Big 12 Mexico as the conference’s first-ever international presence,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement. “Through Big 12 Mexico, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete in an international setting, and our Conference will have the chance to showcase our brand across Mexico.”

While the initiative might begin in sports like basketball and even baseball, it opens the door for football. So, how often have Big 12 football teams, or any college football programs for that matter, played games outside the United States?

Since 1994, there have been 21 Division I football games played outside the U.S. Only seven were played in the regular season, while 14 more have been played in bowl games such as the Bahamas Bowl (current), the Internation- al Bowl (2007-10) in Toronto and the Bermuda Bowl (199495).

Here’s a list of the seven regular season games since 1994:

Notre Dame: 54, Navy: 27 – Nov. 2, 1996, Dublin, Ireland.

Notre Dame: 50, Navy: 10 – Sept. 1, 2012, Dublin, Ireland.

Penn State: 26, UCF: 24 –Aug. 30, 2014, Dublin, Ireland.

Cal: 51, Hawaii: 31 – Aug. 27, 2016, Sydney, Australia.

Georgia Tech: 17, Boston College: 14 – Sept. 3, 2016, Dublin, Ireland.

Stanford: 62, Rice: 7 –Aug. 26, 2017, Sydney, Australia.

Northwestern: 31, Nebraska: 28 – Aug. 27, 2022, Dublin, Ireland. No team in the Big 12 era has played an international game in the regular season or bowl season. Kansas State and Nebraska played a Big Eight conference game in December

1992 in Tokyo, Japan. That was the late time a Big Eight or Big 12 affiliated team has played outside the U.S. The only other current Big 12 or former Big Eight members to play internationally were OSU and Texas Tech, when the Cowboys pulled out a 45-42 win in Tokyo in November 1988. OSU running back Barry Sanders accepted the Heisman Trophy via satellite from Tokyo the same day as the game.

Houston, which is entering its first year in the Big 12, has played abroad twice – against SMU in the 1983 Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, and against Arizona State in the 1990 Coca-Cola Classic in Tokyo.

If the Big 12 were to create a bowl game in Monterrey, it would be the first held in Mexico and the only other international bowl game along with the Bahamas Bowl.

For those who would rather watch films than create them, Mecca at Modella is a continuous showing of films at the Modella Art Gallery June 16-17. Stillwater Community Center 108 also offers free film activities June 16-17.

A large selection of visual arts events and workshops joined Dancing Turtle’s lineup. Children’s art programs, vendors, demonstrations, an art contest and a basket weaving workshop will be hosted at the Stillwater Community Center from June 16-17.

Dancing Turtle has two free options for musicians to improve in every area.

Throughout June 17, free classes on songwriting, sining and instruments will be held in the Stillwater Community Center. Rock Academy costs $50 to attend and is held in the Stillwater Community Center.

Singer-Songerwriter Masterclass, held in the OSU Greenwood School of Music, is $100.

Dancing Turtle encourages visitors to dance with its four free dance elements.

On June 16, free latin dance, swing dance and line dancing class, Art Beat in the Street, grooves from 7-9 p.m. on 8th and Maine St. A community flash mob will take place at 6 p.m on June 16. On June 17, the dance choreography workshop is from 10-11 a.m. in the Wildly Brave tent outside the Stillwater Community Center, and the Mindful Movement workshop will follow with an 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. class under the same tent.

Industrial Arts with Habitat for Humanity will host free interactive welding, water piping and other simulations for visitors to explore on June 17 at the Stillwater Community Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. A 3D component production systems and a manufacturing robotics demonstration will be displayed at the event.

Many consider cars a form of art, too. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 17 at the Stillwater Community Center, a car show full of restorations, hotrods and customs will be free for viewing.

Guest speaker David Miller, owner and manager of Unique Customs and Restorations, will kick off the day in the Winfrey Houston Theater at the Stillwater Community Center at 11 a.m.

On June 16 from 6:30-9 p.m., the Stillwater Community Center will host a VIP fundraising dinner with an entry fee of $100. Songwriting legends Zac Maloy, Scooter Carusoe and Lee Thomas

Miller, who have contributed to the success of household country names such as Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and Kenny Chesney, will speak at the event. Proceeds from the dinner will fund OSU Music Industry Program students attendance to the Singer/ news.ed@ocolly.com

Songwriter Master Class June 17 and OSU Music Industry Program scholarships Visit https://www.sccfoundation.org/dancingturtle to register for a class or learn more about the arts events hosted by Dancing Turtle.