Shake Shack on the Thames, then kickoff at Wembley for Kansas and Arizona State

By KEN MAGUIRE — In News — September 18, 2026

   ​LONDON (AP) — The Jayhawks and Sun Devils skipped tea and feasted on Shake Shack burgers along the Thames River.Culture clashes abound as Kansas and Arizona State bring American college football to Wembley Stadium — the home of English football — in the inaugural Union Jack Classic on Saturday.And the “Ted Lasso” references are unavoidable with both teams staying at hotels located near Richmond.The Big 12 Conference matchup is an important one on the field — both teams want to avoid back-to-back losses — but the trip also offers a chance for players to experience a European capital and be ambassadors for their sport.“I know I haven’t done anything like this before,” ASU defensive lineman C.J. Fite said this week. “To be able leave a country, play football in front of new fans … and kind of figure out this new culture and be able to experience it, it’s a No. 1 thing for sure.”Burger timeThursday was a big sightseeing day for both teams. The game organizers had arranged for boat trips on the Thames. Plus, they set up tables full of Shake Shack UK food for the players.On the boat tours, players snapped photos of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster. A popular spot was Tower Bridge, where players strolled on the glass walkway that looks down on the bridge deck and the Thames.“This is a lifetime opportunity for our players, for our program and, again, I can’t tell you how exited we are to be here and be part of this,” Kansas coach Lance Leipold said this week.His counterpart, Kenny Dillingham, was asked if he had anything fun planned outside of football.“Absolutely not,” he responded. “We’re playing a football game.”Dillingham added there is “zero positive” from a football perspective in playing a Week 3 game internationally but, in the bigger picture, noted the once-in-a-lifetime experience for players.Indeed, ASU offensive lineman Jalen Klemm said it will be exciting “to play in front of a different country and a different culture that doesn’t experience football and college football as often as obviously we do in America. So I think it’s a great opportunity for us to just go out there and play our game and kind of show what Sun Devils football is about.”Ted Lasso connectionsThe Jayhawks, better known for their basketball, weren’t about to miss a layup. Their marching band and cheerleaders did a short performance at the Richmond plaza that’s instantly recognizable to fans of the Apple TV series “Ted Lasso.” It’s near where the fictional character — played by Kansas native Jason Sudeikis — lives.A real Kansas coach — associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki, who handled the Jayhawks’ offense — had some Lasso-esque moments during his news conference Wednesday, including when he asked a local reporter how she spelled her name — because it’s also his dog’s name.He also talked about being in the “foxhole” with quarterback Isaiah Marshall. Kotelnicki called a timeout during t  

Content Source: Yahoo News

Image Credit: Getty Images

All rights to the news content and images belong to their respective copyright owners.