and accepted an invitation on Sunday to play in the inaugural Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl on Christmas Eve in the Bahamian capital city of Nassau.
WKU, which has been bowl eligible in four consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in Conference USA, will have a re-match of their first bowl game in school history when they take on Central Michigan of the Mid-American Conference in the game, which will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Kickoff time is slated for 11 a.m. CT from Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium
“It is a tremendous reward and opportunity for our players and coaches who have worked incredibly hard this season,” said head coach Jeff Brohm. “A bowl game is one of our goals at the beginning of every season, and to be able to realize and achieve that goal is a credit to their attitude and willingness to put in the effort to get better each and every week. We look forward to getting back to practice and preparing for our second bowl game in school history.”
The Hilltoppers are coming off one of the biggest wins in school history, a 67-66 overtime victory at previously unbeaten Marshall. The Thundering Herd were ranked as high as No. 19 entering the contest and had not lost a home game in nearly three years before Brandon Doughty and the offense racked up a school record 738 yards with eight touchdown passes in one of the most thrilling football games of the 2014 season.
Over the course of the 2014 campaign under their first-year head coach, WKU shattered the record books and set a combined 42 team and individual records, including total offensive yards in a season and game, points scored in a season and scoring average, and career touchdowns thrown by Doughty.
WKU has already faced a team from the MAC this season, dismantling MAC East champion Bowling Green 59-31 in the season opener. In 2012, just four years into their transition to the FBS, the Hilltoppers participated in their first bowl game, the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit, Mich., on Dec. 26. WKU is seeking its first-ever bowl victory in the Hawaii/Bahamas Bowl.
Fans looking to secure travel arrangement to join the Hilltoppers in the postseason should contact the official travel company of the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl, Miller Global Travel at 844-804-9454 or at www.bahamasbowltravel.com.
WKU is also sponsoring three ticket donation packages, with tickets given to Bahamian youth organizations. Every ticket purchase will receive a commemorate WKU Bahamas Bowl ticket and each level includes exclusive gifts only available to fans helping sponsor youth tickets to see the Hilltoppers in action.
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