PULLMAN, Wash. - The Washington State University Cougars accepted an invitation to play in the Cheez-It Bowl, Friday, Dec. 27, at 7:15 p.m. PT, Cheez-It Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy announced Sunday.
 
The 2019 Cheez-It Bowl will feature the Cougars against the Air Force Academy from the Mountain West Conference. This will mark the first meeting between the two teams.
 
"Washington State is excited to be a part of the 2019 Cheez-It Bowl," said WSU Director of Athletics Pat Chun. "Cougar fans remember the last bowl game we played in Arizona, when Drew Bledsoe led us to a thrilling win over Utah in 1992. Our fans will take advantage of a great week in Phoenix and a wonderful bowl game."
 
Under eighth-year head coach Mike Leach, the Cougars finished the regular season with a 6-6 overall record, 3-6 in Pac-12 play. It also marks the fifth-straight bowl appearance by the Cougars, a program first. In all, Leach has guided the Cougars to six bowl games in the past seven seasons. The Cougars' currently lead the nation in passing for the fourth time in the past six years while senior quarterback Anthony Gordon leads the nation in passing yards, passing average and total offense.
 
Washington State is making its fifth-straight bowl appearance and sixth in eight years under Leach, marking the first time a coach has done either at WSU. It also marks the 16th overall bowl game for the Cougar program.  Last season, WSU came away with a 28-26 victory over No. 25 Iowa State in the Valero Alamo Bowl, en route to a program-record 11-win season and a No. 10 final ranking. Previously WSU has played in the Rose Bowl (1916, 1931, 1998, 2003), the Holiday Bowl (1981, 2003, 2016, 2017), the Aloha Bowl (1988), the Copper Bowl (1992), the Alamo Bowl (1994, 2018), the Sun Bowl (2001, 2015) and the 2013 New Mexico Bowl. The Cougars are 8-7 in bowl games all time.
 
"On behalf of the Washington State football program and the university, we are extremely honored and proud to have the opportunity to play in the Cheez-It Bowl," said WSU Head Coach Mike Leach. "We look forward to a great week."
 
The Cougars previously played in this bowl in 1992, known then as the Copper Bowl and played in Tucson, Ariz., coming away with a 31-28 victory over Utah as Drew Bledsoe threw for 476 yards while Philip Bobo caught seven passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns as he was named the Offensive Player of the Game.
 
Tickets for the 2019 Cheez-It Bowl may be ordered through wsucougars.com later this afternoon (Sunday, Dec. 8). Fans may also call the Cougar Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-COUGS starting at 9 a.m., Monday morning. More information is also available at www.cheezitbowl.com.
 
The Cheez-It Bowl will be televised live nationally by ESPN from Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz.