The biggest rivalry in Division III college football will return to the legendary ballpark in the Bronx in 2026.
Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland will square off at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in the annual battle for the Cortaca Jug, the rivals announced Wednesday.
Next season’s contest will mark the second time the two schools have faced off at the iconic venue. Kick-off time will be announced at a later date.Dubbed “the biggest little game in the nation” by Sports Illustrated, Cortaca has drawn the two largest crowds in NCAA Division III history, with attendance topping 40,000 when the matchup last took place in Yankee Stadium in 2022.
The rivalry also made headlines in 2019, when the teams met at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, setting a Division III single-game attendance record of 45,161 fans.
Tickets for Cortaca 2026 at Yankee Stadium will go on sale exclusively through Ticketmaster on Nov. 20, 2025, and will be available on the Ithaca College Athletics website.
Ticket prices will range from $27.50 to $89, plus applicable fees.
“Cortaca is bigger than one afternoon − it’s a tradition our community celebrates together,” said Ithaca College President La Jerne Terry Cornish. “It’s a time for our students, alumni, families, and friends to show what Bomber pride truly means. We respect our long rivalry with SUNY Cortland and are thrilled to bring that shared history − and the energy of Ithaca College − back to Yankee Stadium in 2026.”
Aaron Bouyea, Ithaca College’s director of Intercollegiate Athletics, added, “This rivalry represents the best of Division III athletics: tradition, sportsmanship, and pride. Our partnership with Cortland and with Yankee Stadium allows us to create an unforgettable experience for everyone who loves this game.”
Yankee Stadium officials echoed the enthusiasm for Cortaca’s return.
“We couldn’t be more excited to host the Cortaca Jug match-up for a second time at Yankee Stadium,” said Mark Holtzman, Yankees Vice President of Non-Baseball Sports Events. “The 2022 game was a perfect college football afternoon filled with tremendous warmth and energy from the students, alumni and fans of both schools. As soon as the game concluded, we wanted to do it again, and we deeply appreciate that the administrations of SUNY Cortland and Ithaca felt the same way.” The Cortaca Jug itself dates back to 1959, when team captains from both colleges agreed to create a traveling trophy to commemorate their rivalry. The original jug, purchased for $2 at a local yard sale, was painted in each school’s colors and has since become one of the most recognizable symbols in college athletics.
Each year, the winning team claims the jug and proudly displays it until the next meeting. As the record grew, the original Jug ran out of room for scores in the mid-1980s, prompting a second Jug; that vessel filled up by 2015, and “Cortaca III” was unveiled at the pregame press conference in 2016.
“There’s nothing like stepping onto that field with your teammates and your college community behind you,” Bombers head coach Michael Toerper said. “Playing Cortaca at Yankee Stadium gives our student-athletes a stage worthy of their hard work and dedication.”
Full details about the 2026 game, ticketing options, and related events will be available on the Ithaca Athletics website.
In the meantime, the rivals will square off in the 2025 clash this Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon.
Ithaca leads the all-time series at 43-36-3, while in Jug Games, the Bombers have taken 38 wins in 65 meetings.
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This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Back to the Bronx. Ithaca, Cortland will battle for Cortaca Jug at Yankee Stadium in 2026
Reporting by Neal Simon, Ithaca Journal / Ithaca Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
