Streaking Miami (Ohio) gets crack at Mississippi State

Miami (Ohio) (6-6, Mid-American Conference) vs Mississippi State (5-7, SEC), Dec. 26, 10 a.m. EST

LOCATION: St. Petersburg, Florida.

TOP PLAYERS

Miami (Ohio): WR James Garner, 40 receptions, 658 yards, 3 TDs.

Mississippi State: QB Nick Fitzgerald, 21 TD passes, 14 TD rushes.

NOTABLE

Miami (Ohio): The RedHawks were the only team in the country to start 0-6 and finish 6-6. Miami sealed its surprising finish with a 21-20 win over Ball State, clinching its first bowl bid in six years.

Mississippi State: The five-win Bulldogs were among the last teams considered for a bowl, sneaking in with a high Academic Progress Rate from the NCAA. But MSU is coming off a huge win, throttling rival Ole Miss 55-20 on the road.

LAST TIME

This will be the first meeting between these programs.

BOWL HISTORY

Miami (Ohio): This will be the RedHawks' 11th bowl appearance. Miami is 7-3 in bowl games.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs will be making a school-record seventh straight bowl appearance. They're one of just five SEC schools to go to a bowl every season this decade.

---

More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org