MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama Football has accepted an invitation to play in the 2024 IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl against Western Michigan on Saturday, Dec. 14.
 
The IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl is the first FBS bowl game of the 2024 bowl season and will be played at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. CT. The bowl game will be nationally televised on ESPN immediately following the 2024 Heisman Trophy ceremony.
 
"Our team is excited to be selected to play in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl," said South Alabama head coach Major Applewhite. "It is great to see their hard work rewarded with a postseason opportunity. I'm happy our seniors will get one more chance to put on a South Alabama uniform, and that our younger players will have more time to practice and develop this season. Playing in the first FBS bowl game of the postseason in our home state is the ideal situation for our program. We are proud to represent the state of Alabama, and look forward to sharing this bowl game experience with our fans."
 
The Salute to Veterans Bowl will be the fifth bowl game in the history of South Alabama Football, and the third-consecutive bowl appearance for the Jaguars. It will also mark the second time the Jags have participated in a bowl game in Montgomery as they played in the inaugural Camellia Bowl in 2014. South won its first bowl championship in program history last season in the 68 Ventures Bowl with a 59-10 victory over Eastern Michigan.
 
"We are grateful and excited to be heading to Montgomery for the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl," added South Alabama Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann. "The proximity of Montgomery, combined with the Saturday game day, provides a tremendous opportunity for South Alabama students and fans to travel and support the Jags. We look forward to the national spotlight being on the University of South Alabama as we compete in the first game of the 2024 FBS bowl season."
 
South Alabama finished the 2024 regular season with an overall record of 6-6, including a 5-3 mark in Sun Belt Conference play. After opening the season 2-4 while playing four of its first-six games on the road, USA closed the season winning four of its final-six matchups, including the Battle for the Belt against Troy and a victory at Sun Belt West Division Champion Louisiana. The Jags clinched bowl eligibility with their sixth win of the year at Southern Miss in a 35-14 decision on Nov. 23, and were in the race for the division championship until the final game of the regular season.
 
The IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl will mark the first time South Alabama has squared off against Western Michigan. The Broncos went 6-6 in 2024, including a 5-3 record in the Mid-American Conference. Western Michigan defeated Eastern Michigan, 26-18, in the final game of the regular season to clinch bowl eligibility.
 
Ticket information for the Salute to Veterans Bowl will be communicated as soon as it is finalized. Fans who previously indicated interest in attending the Salute to Veterans Bowl on the bowl game ticket interest form will be sent direct information once it becomes available.
 
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