The roots of college football stretch beyond American borders, with international games dating back to the sport’s early days.
The first recorded series took place in 1874, featuring Harvard and McGill University from Montreal, Quebec.
These matches were held at the Montreal Cricket Grounds, utilizing a blend of soccer and rugby rules in their inaugural contest, which Harvard won 3-0.
When McGill traveled to Cambridge for a second match played under their rugby-like regulations, Harvard edged them out again, 1-0.
This series was crucial in the sport’s evolution, as Harvard’s players embraced McGill’s running game style, influencing the rules that would develop the game further.
Another significant chapter in international college football unfolded with the Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba.
The inaugural Bacardi Bowl occurred in 1907, where LSU faced the University of Havana, securing a decisive 56-0 victory.
The series continued until 1946, when Mississippi Southern defeated Havana 55-0 at La Tropical Stadium.
These games were not just sporting contests; they served as major social events integrated into a broader sports festival in Cuba.
An interesting anecdote from this era involved Auburn’s first bowl game in Havana against Villanova in 1937.
The game almost faced cancellation when Cuban President Fulgencio Batista noticed he was not featured in the game program.
A last-minute reprinting saved the event, highlighting the intersection of sports and political drama in the region.
As college football entered its modern era in the late 1970s, the landscape of international play expanded significantly.
The NCAA allowed member schools to compete in one regular-season game abroad every four years, catalyzing a new wave of international matches.
The 1976 Pioneer Bowl held between Grambling State and Morgan State in Tokyo marked the first postseason game outside the Americas, drawing an impressive 50,000 fans as Grambling State triumphed 42-16 at Korakuen Stadium.
This energizing start led to the establishment of the Mirage Bowl, followed by the Coca-Cola Classic, where crowds reached remarkable numbers, including a Pac-10 matchup between UCLA and Oregon State in 1980 that attracted a record 86,000 spectators.
The concept of international play continued to evolve with the 1988 Emerald Isle Classic in Dublin, Ireland.
Boston College emerged victorious against Army in the first regular-season college football game in Europe, winning 38-24.
The game has since flickered on and off, now known as the Aer Lingus College Football Classic, solidified as a Week Zero tradition since 2022, averaging over 40,000 attendees.
An astonishing upset took place in 2024 when unranked Georgia Tech overcame then-No. 10 Florida State 24-21 at Aviva Stadium, marking a memorable moment in overseas college football history.
Adding to the global reach of college football, the Bahamas Bowl has become a popular postseason fixture since receiving NCAA certification in 2014, showcasing teams primarily from the MAC and C-USA.
The game’s inaugural matchup was a thrilling event, with Western Kentucky narrowly defeating Central Michigan 49-48 in the highest-scoring game in its history.
image source from：ncaa
