Update 1:23pm
Written by Mark Taylor, A-State Sports Information
Jonesboro, AR – (Contributed) – The Arkansas State Athletics Department announced Thursday the Red Wolves have accepted an official invitation to play in the Xbox Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 18, at 8:00 p.m. (CT).
Making its third consecutive bowl-game appearance, the Red Wolves will face Conference USA member Missouri State inside the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, in a contest set to be televised by ESPN2.
“We’re excited for the chance to compete in the Frisco Football Classic Xbox Bowl and give our student-athletes and fans a memorable experience,” said A-State Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Chris Pezman. “This is a great opportunity for our team, and we look forward to seeing our fans and alumni in Frisco as we make our third straight postseason appearance.”
Arkansas State (6-6) earned a third consecutive bowl bid, one of just 17 Group of Six teams to make at least three consecutive bowls including the 2025 bowl season. The Red Wolves are the only team in the nation to start 1-4 and end the season bowl eligible and 13th team to do so since 2003. A resilient team, A-State won three consecutive road games for the first time since 2015 and became the 12th FBS team to win three one-point games in a season.
A-State will make its 20th all-time bowl appearance (9-9-1 record), 13th at the FBS level (8-10-1 record). This will be the Red Wolves fourth postseason appearance in Texas following three appearances in the Pecan Bowl (1968, 1969, 1970). A-State meets a CUSA opponent in the postseason for the fifth time, first since a 34-26 win against FIU in the 2019 Camellia Bowl.
“We look forward to postseason play and are extremely proud of being one of just 17 Group of Six programs to play in three or more consecutive bowl games,” said A-State head football coach Butch Jones. “Frisco is a great destination and will be a new experience for our staff, players and fans. We’re very excited for this opportunity and the challenges that present themselves in playing a very good opponent in Missouri State.”
In their inaugural season in Conference USA and the FBS ranks, Missouri State was 7-5 overall and finished 5-3 in the CUSA standings to tie for fourth place in the 12-team league. The Bears had eight players receive All-CUSA honors.
A-State and Missouri State have met four times on the gridiron, all in Jonesboro, dating back to 1991. The two sides last met in 2015 with the Red Wolves earning a 70-7 victory. Missouri State took the first meeting between the two schools 37-20 on Oct. 26, 1991. The two sides announced a home-and-home series for the 2027 and 2028 seasons with the Red Wolves visiting Springfield, Mo., on Sept. 25, 2027, and the Bears returning to Jonesboro on Sept. 16, 2028.
The Xbox Bowl, which replaces the Bahamas Bowl in Nassau, Bahamas, joins the portfolio of 17 postseason college football games owned and operated by ESPN Events, many of which have become launchpads for future NFL talent and unforgettable fan experiences.
Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase all tickets to the Xbox Bowl through Arkansas State Athletics. Purchasing tickets directly through A-State provide many benefits, including sitting with other Red Wolves fans, providing direct revenue back to the university athletic programs, making A-State attractive to future bowl organizations and more.
Tickets are on sale beginning at Noon Friday and can be purchased by visiting AStateRedWolves.com/bowlcentral. Ticket prices will range from $42-74.
Additional information regarding tickets and premium areas may be obtained by e-mailing redwolvesfoundation@astate.edu or by contacting the Arkansas State Athletics Department at 870-972-2401.
Original Report 11:39am
Frisco, TX – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Arkansas State will play Missouri State Thursday, December 18 in a yet-to-be-named football bowl game that would replace the Bahamas Bowl in the bowl game lineup, according to published reports.
Brett McMurphy of On3 reported Thursday morning the teams will play at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. The game will kick off at 8:00pm CT and it will be televised nationally via an ESPN network.
JRN asked Arkansas State University Sports Information Director Jerry Scott if the bowl assignment is a done deal. JRN has not received a response. Supporters with “inside knowledge” said the bowl game is confirmed. The source said plans are for the team to leave Jonesboro December 14.
ESPN Events announced this summer that the Bahamas Bowl would not be played at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas, in 2025. Instead, ESPN Events stated that “…league commitments will be fulfilled through other ESPN owned-and-operated games.”
The On3 report said a second bowl game is also scheduled to be played at the Ford Center at The Star this season due to renovations to Toyota Stadium in Frisco. That contest is the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl slated for Tuesday, Dec. 23.
In four previous meetings on the gridiron, Arkansas State owns a 3-1 record against Missouri State. The series began in 1991, and all four games were played in Jonesboro.
The ESPN Events bowl game, which currently does not have a title sponsor, will mark Arkansas State’s 13th overall post-season bowl game appearance (5-7 record). Led by head coach Butch Jones, Arkansas State finished the regular-season 6-6 overall and 5-3 in Sun Belt Conference action.
The Missouri State Bears, a first-year member of Conference USA after moving up from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), earned a bowl spot after there were only 80 bowl eligible teams for 82 spots. Missouri State, led by head coach Ryan Beard, finished the 2025 regular-season 7-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
