Cactus Bowl returning to ASU’s Mountain America Stadium for 1st time since 2015

TEMPE — The Cactus Bowl, which has most recently been known as the Rate Bowl, will return to Tempe at Arizona State’s Mountain America Stadium in 2026.

The Fiesta Sports Foundation, which hosts the bowl game in addition to the Fiesta Bowl in the College Football Playoff, announced the return on Wednesday alongside ASU athletic director Graham Rossini.

The game will be played on Saturday, Dec. 26 at 5:30 p.m. MST and will be aired on ABC Saturday Night Football.

The postseason game has been played at Chase Field since the 2016 edition, with its title sponsorship often changing hands. Its name during that stretch has been the Cactus Bowl (2015-17), Cheez-It Bowl (2018-19), Guaranteed Rate Bowl (canceled 2020 edition through 2023) and finally the Rate Bowl (2024-25).

ASU hosted the game nine times from 2006-15 while it was known as the Insight Bowl (2002-11), Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (2012-13) and one year as the Cactus Bowl.

Fiesta Sports Foundation CEO Erik Moses said “cactus” will remain in the name even if a title sponsor does come, joking his mind could be changed by an $8 billion offer. Moses said it’s important that the destination of Arizona, especially during the winter, remains part of the name.

The Sun Devils did not participate in the game while it was at their home stadium, though they were included in the year before (beat Rutgers in 2005) and after (lost to West Virginia in 2016) its Tempe stay.

ASU could find itself included again, as the Big 12 and Big Ten have the conference tie-ins for the bowl game. However, that would have to come down the line, as 2026 bowl tie-ins will match the 2025 tie-ins and leave ASU still attached to the legacy Pac-12 bowls.

The Big 12 has won two of the last three in the matchup. The lone year without the win came in 2025 when it was not represented, following Iowa State’s withdrawal from bowl consideration.

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