Overview
- Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET) at Protective Stadium in Birmingham with national coverage on ESPN.
- App State (5–7) accepted after multiple 6–6 teams and higher-APR 5–7 teams declined, with Auburn, Florida State, UCF, Baylor, Rutgers, Temple and Kansas listed among those who passed according to On3’s Brett McMurphy.
- The conference called the pairing “certainly unusual” and noted Georgia Southern was the final bowl-eligible Sun Belt team to receive an invitation.
- The matchup renews a long-running rivalry; App State leads 22-18-1, Georgia Southern won 25-23 in Boone this season, and this will be the first neutral-site meeting and first Birmingham Bowl for both programs.
- Georgia Southern has opened ticket sales for its West Sideline allotment, with purchases supporting GS Athletics, as the Eagles enter their eighth bowl appearance.