ITHACA, N.Y. — The Cortaca Jug—the legendary football rivalry between Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland—will return to Yankee Stadium on Saturday, November 14, 2026, with a kick-off time to be announced at a later date, marking the second time the two schools have faced off at the iconic Bronx venue.
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 the Bronx 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 November 20, 2025 and will be available Ithaca College Athletics website. Ticket prices will range from $27.50 to $89.00, plus applicable fees.
A joint virtual press conference with representatives from Ithaca College, SUNY Cortland, and the New York Yankees will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. to provide additional details about the 2026 Cortaca Jug at Yankee Stadium. The event will include remarks from campus and athletics leaders and student-athletes from both institutions and will re-air on the Ithaca Bombers YouTube page.
Ithaca College President La Jerne Terry Cornish said, “Cortaca is bigger than one afternoon—it’s a tradition our community celebrates together. 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.”
Head Coach Michael Toerper noted, “There’s nothing like stepping onto that field with your teammates and your college community behind you. Playing Cortaca at Yankee Stadium gives our student-athletes a stage worthy of their hard work and dedication.”
Yankee Stadium officials echoed the enthusiasm for Cortaca’s return to the Bronx. “We couldn’t be more excited to host the Cortaca Jug matchup 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 two dollars 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.
Full details about the 2026 game, ticketing options, and related events will be available on the Ithaca Athletics website.
