UTSA’s placement in the Frisco Bowl was the result of an agreement between Conference USA and ESPN that provides ESPN Events the first selection from the league’s teams during the bowl invitation process.
While UTSA was widely projected to the Independence or New Orleans bowls, both of which are considered higher-profile games offering a greater spotlight, neither falls under the ESPN Events umbrella.
When the time came Sunday for C-USA and its bowl partners to finalize this year’s matchups, ESPN Events made UTSA the top selection from the league, an ESPN spokesperson said Monday.
A spokesperson from C-USA confirmed that ESPN Events holds the top pick from the league under the current bowl tie-in process.
As a result, UTSA (12-1) will face No. 24 San Diego State (11-2) in the Frisco Bowl at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
Conference USA’s bowl cycle assures league programs seven bowl appearances per year from 2020-25, spread through up to 16 different bowls. For 2021, C-USA is guaranteed a spot in the New Orleans Bowl, the Independence Bowl and the ESPN Events-run Bahamas Bowl.
The remaining C-USA selections could come from either the LendingTree Bowl or a group of 11 games owned and operated by ESPN Events, including the Frisco Bowl. ESPN Events is hosting 18 bowl games overall this season.
The page on Conference USA’s website explaining the league’s…
