When the seventh Bahamas Bowl takes place in Nassau in December 2021, the game will feature teams from Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference.
CONFERENCE USA
In 2019, Conference USA produced eight teams that were bowl eligible, and all eight played in bowl contests. Charlotte was chosen for the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, while conference champion Florida Atlantic (Cheribundi Boca Raton) and West Division champion UAB (R+L Carriers New Orleans) were joined by FIU (Camellia), Louisiana Tech (Walk On’s Independence), Marshall (Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla), Southern Miss (Lockheed Martin Armed Forces) and WKU (SERVPRO First Responder) in playing in the postseason.
East Division champion Florida Atlantic won its second C-USA title in three years with a 49-6 victory over West Division champion UAB in the 2019 Ryan Conference USA Championship Game. The Owls finished 11-3 overall, 7-1 in C-USA contests.
Judy MacLeod serves as Commissioner of Conference USA.
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
The Mid-American Conference had eight teams that were bowl eligible and a conference-record-tying seven played in postseason bowls in 2019. Buffalo was chosen for the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, while conference champion Miami played in the LendingTree Bowl and West Division champion Central Michigan participated in the New Mexico Bowl. Other MAC bowl participants were Eastern Michigan (Quick Lane), Kent State (Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco), Ohio (Famous Idaho Potato) and Western Michigan (SERVPRO First Responder).
Miami won the 2019 Marathon MAC Football Championship Game with a thrilling 26-21 victory over Central Michigan at Detroit’s Ford Field. The victory marked Miami’s first championship since 2010 and the 16th MAC championship in program history, including three MAC title game victories. The RedHawks finished 8-6 overall and 6-2 in MAC contests.
Dr. Jon Steinbrecher serves as the Commissioner of the MAC.