Next Year’s Cortaca Game Will Once Again Take Place at Yankee Stadium

The 67th edition of Cortaca will once again take place at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. During a press conference on Wednesday morning with both SUNY Cortland & Ithaca College, the schools made the official announcement. The game will take place on Saturday, November 14th, 2026. A time for kickoff has yet to be determined.

“Cortland and Ithaca both help set the standard in Division III athletics, and our Cortaca Jug rivalry demonstrates that shared excellence,” said Mike Urtz ’94, M ’00, director of athletics at Cortland. “It’s been called ‘the biggest little game in the nation’ for a reason, and it’s fitting to be played in one of the most iconic sports venues in the entire world.”

Tickets for the 2026 Cortaca Game at Yankee Stadium will go on sale November 20th to the general public exclusively on Ticketmaster. Ticket prices will range from $27.50 to $89, plus fees.

“The Cortaca Jug stands out as one of our university’s most cherished traditions and a special bond that unites Red Dragons of all class years,” said SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum. “Bringing the game back to New York City provides an extraordinary opportunity to engage with dedicated alumni while sharing SUNY Cortland’s name on an even bigger stage.

SUNY Cortland says the experience also will be something new for Cortland head football coach Tom Blumenauer, who graduated from Ithaca in 2007 and currently owns an 8-1 record in his first season leading the Red Dragons.

“I know how much the Cortaca Jug game means, having played and now coached on different sides of it,” said Blumenauer, who guided the Red Dragons to their fifth straight Empire 8 Conference title in 2025. “Playing in a historic venue like Yankee Stadium only makes the rivalry that much more special. I’m excited for a new group of student-athletes to get to share in that experience.” 

The two rival schools played at Yankee Stadium in 2022 in front of over 40,000 fans. Ithaca College would win the game, 34-17.

“We couldn’t be more excited to host the Cortaca Jug matchup for a second time at Yankee Stadium,” said Mark Holtzman, vice president of non-baseball sports events for the Yankees. “The 2022 game was a perfect college football afternoon filled with tremendous warmth and energy from the students, alumni and fans of both schools.

For this year, Cortaca will take place at Butts Field in Ithaca this Saturday, November 15th. Celebrations will be taking place both Friday and Saturday in the City of Cortland with the 2nd annual Crown City Cortaca Celebration. Details may be found at CrownCityRising.com.