BYU Cougars agree to play in 2011 Armed Forces Bowl

By Kevin Kelley -

Armed Forces BowlThe BYU Cougars have agreed to play in the 2011 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl if they do not receive a BCS bid, the school announced today.

The game is scheduled for Friday, December 30 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas at 11:00 a.m. CT (ESPN). BYU will face a team from Conference USA.

The Cougars also have bowl affiliations set for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. If the Cougars are bowl eligible and not selected by a BCS bowl, they will play in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in 2012 and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in 2013.

“We are pleased to announce the relationship with the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl,” said BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe. “When we announced our football program was going independent, we recognized it would be a challenge given the timing to secure a bowl affiliation for 2011. As an institution, we have a lot respect for the service academies and the individuals who protect our country. We are privileged to participate in a game that honors the men and women of our armed forces.”

BYU’s 2011 football schedule, their first as an FBS independent, features road games against Ole Miss, Texas and Oregon State, home games against UCF and Utah and a game against TCU at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Comment (1)

I will hope for a more profitable bowl game with a shot at National Title but still think a military support bowl game is great for the program if a title shot is not possible.