MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama Football has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2023 68 Ventures Bowl, the school announced Sunday.
 
The 68 Ventures Bowl will be played at South Alabama's home venue, Hancock Whitney Stadium, and will take place on Saturday, Dec. 23. The Jaguars will face 6-6 Eastern Michigan out of the Mid-American Conference. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. CT and the game will be televised on ESPN.
 
After playing in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl a season ago, the accepted invitation to this year's 68 Ventures Bowl marks the fourth bowl game appearance in South Alabama history. It is also the first time in program history the Jags will make bowl game appearances in consecutive seasons. South previously played in both the 2014 Camellia Bowl and 2016 Arizona Bowl. The Jags are still seeking the first bowl championship in school history.
 
South Alabama finished the 2023 regular season with a record of 6-6, winning two of its final-three games to clinch bowl eligibility. Highlights of the Jags' season include going on the road and dominating Oklahoma State for the second Power Five win in program history, back-to-back 55-point performances in wins over ULM and Southern Miss, and the program's first shutout over an FBS opponent in a 28-0 victory against Marshall. At season's end, 10 Jaguars earned All-Sun Belt Conference recognition, including wide receiver Caullin Lacy and safety Jaden Voisin who both received first-team honors.
 
The 68 Ventures Bowl will mark the first-ever meeting between South Alabama and Eastern Michigan. The Eagles entered their final-two games of the 2023 season with a 4-6 record, needing to win both remaining games to clinch bowl eligibility. EMU did just that, earning a double-overtime win against Akron, and a 24-11 victory at Buffalo in the season finale. Eastern Michigan owns a record of 2-4 in six bowl game appearances. The Eagles visited Mobile in 2021 for what was then the Lending Tree Bowl, eventually falling to Liberty by a score of 56-20.
 
Tickets to sit in the South Alabama fan section at the 68 Ventures Bowl will go on sale Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 8 a.m. CT.
 
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