NEW ORLEANS – Ohio earned its second straight bowl game appearance for the first time in school history and will be competing in the postseason for the third time in five years after the announcement that the Bobcats were selected to face Troy in the New Orleans Bowl in the Super Dome on Dec. 18.

"I am elated for our student-athletes, coaches, university and fans," Ohio Director of Athletics Jim Schaus said. "This being our third bowl in five years is a testament to the growth of our football program. New Orleans is a spectacular city, the Superdome is a great football venue and the 18th is a convenient date for Ohio fans. I encourage all Bobcats everywhere to come join the fun if they can."

Troy earned a share of the Sun Belt Conference championship with a 7-5 record that included a 5-2 mark in conference play.

Still searching for the first-ever bowl victory, the Bobcats (8-4) were one of four Mid-American Conference schools selected to a bowl game, receiving an at-large invitation from the New Orleans Bowl.

An at-large spot in the bowl became available when UTEP was released from Conference-USA’s tie-in in order to play closer to home in the postseason.

“When we worked with Conference USA to release UTEP to the New Mexico Bowl, we did so knowing that we had an at-large pool that was demonstrating a lot of enthusiasm about the opportunity for post season play in New Orleans,” New Orleans Bowl Chairman Ron Gardner said. “Ohio was no exception. We are excited to have Coach (Frank) Solich’s Bobcats represent the MAC, and guarantee their trip to New Orleans will make them the envy of their Conference. We look forward to introducing the teams.”

It is Ohio’s third bowl in Solich’s tenure, which includes losses in the Little Caesar’s Bowl to Marshall last year and a defeat to Southern Mississippi in the GMAC Bowl following the 2006 season.

Previous to that, the Bobcats’ only other bowl appearances were losses to Richmond in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl and to West Texas State in the 1962 Sun Bowl.

Three other MAC teams were extended invitations to bowl games, including Northern Illinois (10-3) against Fresno State (8-4) in the Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 18, Toledo (8-4) against Florida International (6-6) in the Little Caesar’s Bowl on Dec. 26 and Miami (9-4) against Middle Tennessee State (6-6) in the GoDaddy.com Bowl on Jan. 6.

"We are extremely excited for the bowl invitations to our four MAC institutions," said Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, commissioner of the MAC. "Our conference placed three teams in our primary agreements with the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, GoDaddy.com Bowl and uDrove Humanitarian Bowl. We were also able to garner an at-large selection in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. I strongly feel that this reflects on the competitive nature of our conference and I congratulate all of our universities, coaches and student-athletes for their efforts this year."

However, the only two bowl-eligible teams across the nation who did not receive bowl bids were MAC teams Temple (8-4) and Western Michigan (6-6).

Action between the Trojans and Bobcats is set to kick off at 9 p.m. Dec. 18 on ESPN.