DALLAS (May 28, 2020) – Conference USA has announced the bowl lineup for the new six-year cycle, spanning through 2020-25. In the upcoming six-year cycle, the league is guaranteed seven bowl appearances in each year of the new cycle.

For the full C-USA release, click here. 
 
"We are very pleased with our future bowl lineup," said C-USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod. "Our teams will continue to have postseason opportunities in outstanding destinations that are very accessible to our schools and their fans.  We are also excited to have additional flexibility to create great matchups."
 
As part of the new bowl cycle, C-USA will annually send teams to the Bahamas Bowl against a Mid-American Conference opponent, and to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, against a Sun Belt Conference school. The league has participated in all six Bahamas Bowls and has placed a team in the New Orleans Bowl 14 times in its first 18 years.
 
As previously announced, the league will continue its relationship with the Independence Bowl. C-USA is guaranteed to send a team to the Shreveport, Louisiana-based bowl in 2021 and 2025, while holding a secondary agreement with the bowl in the other years of the cycle.
 
C-USA will also continue its long-standing relationship with the Hawai'i Bowl. The league is set to participate in the Honolulu-based game in 2020, 2022 and 2024.
 
The conference's remaining guaranteed selections in the cycle (either 4 or 5 per season) will include the LendingTree Bowl (Mobile, Alabama) and the following games which are owned and operated by ESPN Events:
 
1. Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas)
2. TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, Alabama)
3. Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, Florida)
4. Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
5. Cure Bowl (Orlando, Florida)
6. Fenway Bowl (Boston, Massachusetts)
7. SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (Dallas, Texas)
8. Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl (Frisco, Texas)
9. Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, Florida)
10. Myrtle Beach Bowl (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina)
11. New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
 
"We are excited about extending our relationship with Conference USA," said Pete Derzis, ESPN senior vice president of programming and ESPN Events. "We look forward to continuing to feature the conference's top programs, student-athletes, coaches and fans in our bowl games across ESPN's networks."
 
C-USA's 25th football season is scheduled to begin on Saturday, August 29. The league's 16th annual football championship game is scheduled for Saturday, December 5.

FIU enters its fourth season of the Butch Davis era in 2020, as the Panthers seek to continue their bowl streak and head to their fourth-straight this fall. The 2019 season was highlighted by a 30-24 victory over the Miami Hurricanes at Marlins Park. The Panthers lost one of its most talented classes ever, as two players were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft and four were signed to undrafted free agent contracts to lead the way for Conference USA.

FIU will look to replace James Morgan at quarterback, who was taken in the fourth round by the New York Jets. The wideout core of Shemar Thornton, Bryce Singleton and JJ Holloman will be a big key for the new Panther QB, as Thornton returns as the leading receiver with nearly 700 yards last year. On defense, the Panthers will look to replace Stantley Thomas-Oliver III in the secondary, who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round. The twin duo of Richard Dames and Rishard Dames will seek to do that, as the pair combined for over 100 tackles, four interceptions and 11 pass breakups last season.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU.Football on Instagram and @FIUFootball on Twitter and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.