MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The sixth edition of the Myrtle Beach Bowl presented by Engine is set to feature Kennesaw State and Western Michigan on Friday, Dec. 19 at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN. The Kennesaw State Owls posted a 10-3 record and also brought home the Conference USA Championship. The Western Michigan Broncos boast a 9-4 record and are coming off a win in the Mid-American Conference Championship Game. The game will be played at Brooks Stadium on the campus of Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C.
“The Myrtle Beach Bowl Presented by Engine has grown into a marquee event for our community each December, and we’re thrilled to continue building on that tradition as we welcome the incoming teams and their fans to experience everything the Grand Strand has to offer,” said Tony Ferrante, executive director of the Myrtle Beach Bowl Presented by Engine.
“Visit Myrtle Beach is excited to welcome Kennesaw State and Western Michigan to The Beach for the Myrtle Beach Bowl Presented by Engine,” said Stuart Butler, President, Visit Myrtle Beach. “We’re once again proud to partner with ESPN Events and Coastal Carolina University to deliver an outstanding college football experience to our community and all who travel here for the game. We hope fans, players and coaches enjoy everything our destination has to offer, from our 60 miles of beautiful beaches and 2,000-plus restaurants to our top attractions and signature December traditions, including holiday light displays, festive celebrations and world-class live shows.”
“Coastal Carolina is honored to serve as the host of the 2025 Myrtle Beach Bowl,” said Chance Miller, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and University Recreation. “This event is a fantastic annual showcase of all that Coastal Carolina, Conway, and Myrtle Beach have to offer. We look forward to welcoming two passionate fan bases and showcasing our great campus and community to the nation!”
This matchup will mark the first ever meeting between the Kennesaw State Owls and the Western Michigan Broncos. The Broncos have competed in the Mid-American Conference since 1948, while the Owls have been a member of the Conference USA since 2024.
Western Michigan (9–4, 7–1 MAC) captured the 2025 Mid-American Conference championship with a 23–13 victory over the Miami RedHawks at Ford Field. The Broncos are led by Lance Taylor, in his third year, with Walt Bell serving as offensive coordinator and Chris O’Leary in his first year as defensive coordinator.
All-time, Western Michigan has played in 12 bowl games, carrying a 2–10 record into 2025. Their two bowl wins came in the 2015 Bahamas Bowl (45–31 vs. Middle Tennessee) and the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl (52–24 vs. Nevada).
Kennesaw State (10–3, 7–1 CUSA) completed a remarkable turnaround under first-year head coach Jerry Mack, winning the 2025 Conference USA Championship Game with a 19–15 comeback victory over Jacksonville State Gamecocks. His 2025 staff includes Mitch Militello as offensive coordinator and Marc Mattioli as defensive coordinator.
Because 2025 is only the Owls’ second FBS-eligible season, this will mark their first bowl appearance ever.
The Myrtle Beach Bowl presented by Engine is one of 17 college football bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events.
About ESPN Events
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In the 2025-26 academic year, the 35-event schedule includes three early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, two college volleyball events, the premiere regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
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