COLUMBUS, Ohio – In addition to Ohio State, three teams from the Buckeye State are going bowling this year.
Bowling Green (7-6) and South Alabama (6-6) will play in the Camellia Bowl in Alabama’s state capital on Dec. 20.
Bowling Green is 7-6 and coming off a 51-17 loss to Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference championship game.
It’s the third straight season the Falcons have made a bowl game. Their last bowl win came in Mobile in 2004.
The matchup was announced on Sunday, though South Alabama earlier accepted the invitation. The Jaguars are in their second season as full FBS members and sixth season of competition.
It’s the fastest a new program has reached a bowl game. Former Sun Belt Conference member Florida Atlantic did it in the seventh year overall and third at the FBS level.
Cincinnati will face Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman on Dec. 27.
Cincinnati (9-3) won a share of the American Athletic Conference title after finishing with a 7-1 league mark. The Bearcats are on a seven-game winning streak. Quarterback Gunner Kiel has thrown for 3,070 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Virginia Tech struggled by its lofty standards this season, finishing with a 6-6 record, including a 3-5 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hokies beat Ohio State 35-21 in September, which turned out to be the Buckeyes’ only loss in the regular season.
Virginia Tech’s coach Frank Beamer recently had throat surgery, but the school released a statement saying the 68-year-old is still expected to coach in his 22nd consecutive bowl game.
Toledo and Arkansas State will meet in the GoDaddy Bowl on Jan. 4.
Bowl officials announced Sunday that the Rockets accepted an invitation to represent the Mid-American Conference against the Red Wolves, who were previously announced as the Sun Belt team.
Toledo is 8-4 and led by 34-year-old coach Matt Campbell. The Rockets feature 11 All-MAC players, including running back Kareem Hunt and linebacker Junior Sylvestre.
Toledo played in the game in 2005, beating UTEP 45-13. It’s the fourth bowl game in five years for the Rockets.
This is the fourth consecutive year Arkansas State (7-5) has finished its season in Mobile.