It’s been awhile, but Eastern Michigan can again say they’re going bowling.
Tuesday morning, the MAC football program announced that it has accepted a bid to play in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. EMU will face Conference USA’s Old Dominion in the Dec. 23 game.
The Bahamas Bowl will mark the Eagles’ first postseason game since the 1987 California Bowl. That had been the program’s lone bowl appearance.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to be selected to compete in the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl,” athletic director Heather Lyke said in a statement. “We are proud to represent the MAC and expect to finish our season strong. Our coaching staff and student-athletes have worked incredibly hard to be in a position to compete in the postseason and continue to build pride in the Block E. We are thankful for all of our loyal alumni, donors, fans and our university leadership for being committed to supporting our football program.”
EMU’s seven wins are its most since winning seven in 1989, and the team will finish above .500 for the first time since 1995. The seven wins also matches the Eagles’ win total for the previous four seasons combined.
Lasts season, Chris Creighton‘s second with the school, EMU won just one game. Their six-win turnaround this season tied for the best mark in the FBS.
“Nearly a year ago our seniors set our season goal, to go to a bowl game for the first time in 29 years,” the head coach said. “We could not be more excited to accept this invitation. What an awesome experience this is going to be for everyone associated with our program.”
Including BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl, three of the 80 bowl invitations have been extended.