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Northern Illinois and Utah State have each accepted invitations to the 2013 Poinsettia Bowl in Sand Diego California.
Having it's origins back in the 1950's as a bowl between different Military teams the rebooted Poinsettia bowl rotates one of it's tie in's between the FBS independent Army and Navy teams. The other tie in currently sits with the Mountain West Conference which is home to the Air Force Academy. In the event that one of the independents can't come through the Mid American Conference inherits that spot.
With this being Army's year the Black Nights 3-8 record means <MAC TEAM> of the Mid American Conference will step up as a replacement. In a few seasons the Bowl will become part of the "Group of Five" rotation. and the MAC is a primary contract team in 2017 and 2019. So far the only MAC team ever to play in the game was Northern Illinois who were the recipient of a beating at the hands of Texas Christian back in 2006.