No BBVA Compass Bowl for WKU

Brad Stephens

The BBVA Compass Bowl on Sunday thanked WKU fans for their interest and apologized the bowl was unable to extend the Toppers a bid, soon after news broke that Southern Methodist and Pittsburgh would meet in the game.

The announcement comes in the wake of a week in which WKU students, alumni and fans have directly lobbied the bowl via social media in hope of an at-large bid.

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โ€œYour enthusiasm and the support you have shown your team has been tremendous,โ€ an official post on the BBVA Compass Bowlโ€™s Facebook fan page read. โ€œWhile our conference agreements may have prohibited us from extending you an invitation your efforts did not go unnoticed. 

โ€œOur staff has read every email, wall post and tweet. Congratulations on a winning season and best of luck next year.โ€

The Birmingham, Ala., bowl traditionally pits a team from the Big East Conference against a team from the Southeastern Conference.

But because the SEC didnโ€™t have enough eligible teams, the bowl picked SMU of Conference-USA, a conference with which the BBVA Compass Bowl has secondary ties.

The Toppers appeared a likely possibility for an at-large berth in the game throughout much of the week.

But Houstonโ€™s loss to Southern Mississippi in the C-USA Championship on Saturday ended the Cougarsโ€™ BCS hopes, and ensured the C-USA would have a team in position for the BBVA Compass Bowl.

The Herald will provide updates throughout the night regarding WKUโ€™s bowl hopes.

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