Information on WMU's bowl destination.

FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL
Date: Dec. 20, 5:45 p.m.
Location: Boise, Idaho
Stadium: Albertsons Stadium (Boise State University)
TV: ESPN
Tie-ins: Mid-American Conferences vs. Mountain West
Official Website

BUY TICKETS

BOISE, Idaho -- The Western Michigan football team has accepted a bowl bid to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 20 against Mountain West opponent Air Force at 5:45 p.m. ET at Bronco Stadium on the campus of Boise State University.

"Western Michigan University is extremely excited and grateful to share our celebratory season with the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and the city of Boise," said head coach P.J. Fleck. "The 18-year existence of this bowl shows the elite commitment and work ethic of all that are involved in this historic bowl. Boise, it is time to ROW THE BOAT!"

The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will be broadcast live on ESPN. The Broncos are bowl eligible after the completing the best turnaround in program history and Mid-American Conference history, going 8-4 this season after 1-11 last season. WMU has the top scoring offense in the MAC, the MAC Coach of the Year in Coach Fleck, the MAC Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in Jarvion Franklin and 11 All-MAC selections.

"We are extremely honored to receive the invitation to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl," said Director of Athletics Kathy Beauregard. "It is a great honor for our football program that has earned this opportunity after the incredible turnaround we have had this season. We are excited to represent the Mid-American Conference in this bowl and in a city with such a long bowl history."

Air Force is bowl eligible after finishing the regular season 9-3 (5-3 MWC) and fourth in the Mountain West Conference Mountain Division. The Falcons boast the eighth-best rushing attack in the nation, averaging 272 yards per game. Jacobi Owens is the top rusher on the team with 1,054 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Kale Pearson has passed for 1,513 yards and 14 touchdowns but has also rushed for 646 yards and six touchdowns.

This is the first trip to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, formerly the Humanitarian Bowl, for the Broncos. WMU has appeared in five bowls in program history with its last trip in 2011 to the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl.

History of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
1997 - Cincinnati 35, Utah State 19
1998 - Idaho 42, Southern Miss 35
1999 - Boise State 34, Louisville 31
2000 - Boise State 38, UTEP 23
2001 - Clemson 49, Louisiana Tech 24
2002 - Boise State 34, Iowa State 16
2004 - Georgia Tech 52, Tulsa 10
2004 - Fresno State 37, Virginia 34
2005 - Boston College 27, Boise State 21
2006 - Miami 21, Nevada 20
2007 - Fresno State 37, Virginia 34
2008 - Maryland 42, Nevada 35
2009 - Idaho 43, Bowling Green 42
2010 - Northern Illinois 40, Fresno State 17
2011 - Ohio 24, Utah Sate 23
2012 - Utah State 41, Toledo 15
2013 - San Diego State, Buffalo 24

WESTERN MICHIGAN GOES BOWLING WITH ...
• The best single-season turnaround in Western Michigan and Mid-American Conference history, going from 1-11 in 2013 to 8-4 in 2014.
• Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year P.J. Fleck
• Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year Jarvion Franklin -- the first player in MAC history to win both awards.
• 11 All-MAC selections
    - First Team: RB Jarvion Franklin, WR Corey Davis, CB Donald Celiscar
    - Second Team: QB Zach Terrell, LT Willie Beavers
    - Third Team: G Jimmy Kristoff, WR Daniel Braverman, CB Ronald Zamort, FS Justin Currie, P J. Schroeder KR Darius Phillips
• The MAC's top scoring offense averaging 34.6 points per game
• The most efficient quarterback in the MAC and fourth-most efficient in the nation in Zach Terrell
• Best pass rush in the MAC, averaging 2.33 sacks per game.
• 2014 recruiting class was the best in MAC history, with 18 true freshmen playing this season.
• OC Kirk Ciarrocca nominated for the Broyles Award for the nation's top assistant coach.
• WMU cornerback duo of Donald Celiscar and Ronald Zamort leads the country in passes defended (pass breakups + interceptions) with 1.8 per game this season.
• 11 MAC West Player of the Week Awards. Jarvion Franklin led the way with four while Cleveland Smith, Ronald Zamort, J. Schroeder, Corey Davis, Trevor Ishmael, Zach Terrell and Donald Celiscar each earned one. The 11 were the most by any MAC school this season.

HEAD COACH P.J. FLECK
• Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year
• Maxwell Award National Coach of the Year Semifinalist
• Engineered greatest single-season turnaround in WMU and MAC history
• Best recruiter in the Mid-American Conference
• Youngest head coach in FBS (34)
• Featured on ESPN.com, SI.com, USA Today
• 8-4 record with a 6-2 record in MAC play
• Most wins by a WMU head coach since 2008
• First time WMU is bowl eligible since 2011

RUNNING BACK JARVION FRANKLIN
• First player in Mid-American Conference history to win MAC Offensive Player of the Year and MAC Freshman of the year.
• MAC freshman rushing record holder with 1,525 yards
• WMU single-season touchdown (25) and point record holder (150)
• Top freshman running back in the NCAA