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It was a tough loss on a cold rainy day at Plaster Field for Missouri State on Senior Day against Louisiana Tech 42-30. Throughout most of the game Bears Defensive couldn’t find a way to stop Louisiana Tech’s ground game that rushed for 388 yards and all 6 of its touchdowns. It took Louisiana Tech Bulldogs running back, Andrew Burnette just 16 carries for 132 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns to break the MSU Bears Defense despite the best effort by offensive play by Bears Senior quarterback Jacob Clark who threw for 294 yards and 2 touchdown passes in the game. Despite the lost Missouri State learned it would get a historic Bowl game when around 10:30 p.m. the school got the call that their season will be extended, as confirmed by Conference USA.

Though the school had a bowl-eligible record, the rules for first-year FBS transition status prevented the Bears from qualifying for a bowl – a longtime NCAA rule that has recently been challenged – unless there’s a shortage of bowl teams. Missouri State will join fellow first-year FBS program and Conference USA member Delaware (6-6) who had enough wins to fit into the two available remaining bowl slots. They will also join Louisiana Tech, Kennesaw State (9-3, 7-1), Jacksonville State (8-4, 7-1), Western Kentucky (8-4, 6-2), and FIU (7-5, 5-3) who are all bowl eligible. Bowl pairings, dates and locations will be announced in the coming days on Sunday, Dec. 7, following next weekend’s conference championship games.

“Couldn’t be happier for our football team and coaches,” athletic director Patrick Ransdell posted to X. “Worked their tail off and were excluded from the FCS Playoffs last year. This is deserved! Appreciate all their efforts.”