A Historic Matchup
Arizona State University (ASU) has agreed to pay Morgan State University $600,000 for a non‑conference college football game scheduled for September 5, 2026, at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. The contest will kick off at 7 p.m. and marks the first-ever meeting between the Sun Devils and the Bears.
The Sun Devils, who finished the previous season 6‑3 in the Big 12 and 8‑5 overall, enter the game as heavy favorites, while the Bears, an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision program in the Mid‑Eastern Athletic Conference, posted a 4‑8 record last year. Morgan State, a historically black college or university based in Baltimore, Maryland, will travel to Tempe to face a program that regularly competes at the highest level of collegiate football.
Financial details reveal that Morgan State will bear its own transportation, meals and lodging expenses, but the university will receive $600,000 from ASU to offset the costs of the matchup. The agreement also grants the Bears the ability to purchase up to 2,150 tickets at face value and request as many as 350 complimentary tickets for staff and fans.
In addition to the financial arrangement, the game will feature free attendance for Morgan State’s cheerleaders, mascots and band members, underscoring a collaborative spirit between the two institutions. The contract was formalized in May 2025 by ASU Athletics Director Graham Rossini and Morgan State’s David LaChina, cementing a partnership that highlights the growing trend of Power Five schools scheduling games with HBCU opponents.
Beyond the spectacle, the matchup offers Morgan State a rare opportunity to showcase its program on a national stage, potentially boosting recruitment and fundraising while reinforcing the university’s commitment to athletic excellence. For ASU, the game serves as a modest revenue generator and a chance to support a fellow institution, illustrating how college athletics can blend competition with community partnership.