A venue change has resulted in this year’s Military Bowl being played at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. A new deal come 2014 means the Military Bowl will also have a new conference partner -- reportedly.
And it’ll be the AAC vs. the ACC.
ESPN’s Brett McMurphy reports that, beginning in 2014 under a new six-year contract, the Military Bowl will pair teams from the ACC and the American Athletic Conference. McMurphy adds that the bowl will share the third through sixth picks from the AAC, and the seventh through 10th picks from the ACC. Officially, no announcement has been made.
The American has lost three postseason tie-ins during this latest round of bowl shuffling: the Belk Bowl, the Pinstripe Bowl and the Russell Athletic Bowl. The conference has explored the possibility of creating its own bowl game, likely at Marlins Park.
In 2015, Navy will join the AAC as a football-only member. The Midshipmen will not be precluded from playing in the bowl despite the fact it will be held at the Academy’s home site.
In May, Conference USA announced a one-year renewal of its agreement with the Military Bowl.