SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Sun Belt Conference will compete in the inaugural TransPerfect San Juan Bowl on Dec. 16, 2026, facing an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The bowl and conference announced a primary agreement on Thursday that marks a significant milestone, making it the most lucrative in the Sun Belt’s 26-year football history. This agreement also stands as the Sun Belt’s first primary bowl deal to feature a guaranteed matchup against an autonomy conference opponent.
Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill stated that the conference is excited to expand postseason opportunities for its football student-athletes. Gill emphasized that the inaugural TransPerfect San Juan Bowl represents a significant step in strengthening the conference’s postseason bowl lineup, particularly by guaranteeing a contest against an autonomy conference foe. The commissioner noted that the Sun Belt has been the non-autonomy leader in bowl representation over the past four seasons.
The game will be contested at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a primetime kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT. This event will mark the first-ever NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) bowl game played in Puerto Rico.
San Juan Mayor Miguel A. Romero Lugo highlighted the bowl's potential to showcase San Juan and Puerto Rico on a national stage, drawing attention to the capital’s history, culture, and attractions. Mayor Lugo also pointed out that the event validates the city's investment in renovating Hiram Bithorn Stadium and demonstrates its capacity to host world-class competitions across various sports. He anticipates that welcoming student-athletes, their families, and fans during the holiday season will generate opportunities for local hotels, restaurants, businesses, and workers, while introducing San Juan to new audiences.
Hiram Bithorn Stadium, centrally located in San Juan, has a proven track record of hosting major international sporting events, including the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Major League Baseball games, international soccer matches, and concerts by renowned artists. For the bowl game, the stadium’s playing surface will undergo conversion to a football field, aiming to provide a world-class experience for both players and fans.
TransPerfect, which serves as the bowl’s title sponsor and owner, is recognized as the world’s largest provider of language and technology solutions for global business. The company maintains a substantial presence in San Juan, with a major office and four C-level executives residing in the city. TransPerfect has prior experience with college football sponsorships, having served as the title sponsor for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl in Nashville from 2020 through 2024.
TransPerfect President and Co-CEO Phil Shawe commented on the parallels between success in football and business, both relying on high-level team execution. Shawe noted Puerto Rico’s rich tradition of athletic excellence, encompassing sports such as baseball, basketball, and boxing. He expressed excitement about adding college football to this list through the TransPerfect San Juan Bowl, anticipating a memorable experience for student-athletes, fans, and guests.
The Sun Belt has demonstrated consistent growth in its bowl representation, increasing bowl revenue by 187 percent since 2019. Despite an expansion from 10 to 14 football-playing members, the conference has successfully placed every bowl-eligible team in postseason play. The new bowl game is expected to attract visiting and local fans, student-athletes, team personnel, families, and media to the island during the holiday season, further showcasing Puerto Rico’s distinctive culture, unique cuisine, natural beauty, and its prominent role in the growing popularity of Latin music.
