2025 Bowl Central

Making its third consecutive bowl-game appearance, the Red Wolves will face Conference USA member Missouri State inside the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, in a contest set to be televised by ESPN2.

Arkansas State (6-6) earned a third consecutive bowl bid, one of just 17 Group of Six teams to make at least three consecutive bowls including the 2025 bowl season. The Red Wolves are the only team in the nation to start 1-4 and end the season bowl eligible and 13th team to do so since 2003. A resilient team, A-State won three consecutive road games for the first time since 2015 and became the 12th FBS team to win three one-point games in a season.

A-State will make its 20th all-time bowl appearance (9-9-1 record), 13th at the FBS level (8-10-1 record). This will be the Red Wolves fourth postseason appearance in Texas following three appearances in the Pecan Bowl (1968, 1969, 1970). A-State meets a CUSA opponent in the postseason for the fifth time, first since a 34-26 win against FIU in the 2019 Camellia Bowl.

In their inaugural season in Conference USA and the FBS ranks, Missouri State was 7-5 overall and finished 5-3 in the CUSA standings to tie for fourth place in the 12-team league. The Bears had eight players receive All-CUSA honors.

A-State and Missouri State have met four times on the gridiron, all in Jonesboro, dating back to 1991. The two sides last met in 2015 with the Red Wolves earning a 70-7 victory. Missouri State took the first meeting between the two schools 37-20 on Oct. 26, 1991. The two sides announced a home-and-home series for the 2027 and 2028 seasons with the Red Wolves visiting Springfield, Mo., on Sept. 25, 2027, and the Bears returning to Jonesboro on Sept. 16, 2028.

The Xbox Bowl, which replaces the Bahamas Bowl in Nassau, Bahamas, joins the portfolio of 17 postseason college football games owned and operated by ESPN Events, many of which have become launchpads for future NFL talent and unforgettable fan experiences.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 5, at Noon. A ticket link with access code will be provided here when tickets are available for purchase.

Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase all tickets to the Xbox Bowl through Arkansas State Athletics. Purchasing tickets directly through A-State provide many benefits, including sitting with other Red Wolves fans, providing direct revenue back to the university athletic programs, making A-State attractive to future bowl organizations and more.

All tickets for the ESPN Events Bowl are digital only and delivered through the SeatGeek mobile app. There are no printed or mailed tickets.

Short answer for those familiar with ticketing apps: Download the SeatGeek app and log in using the email address

where your tickets were sent. Your tickets will automatically appear in the app.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Install the SeatGeek App

Open the App Store or Google Play Store, search for “SeatGeek Tickets”, and download the app. (It’s the orange icon with black letters.)

2. Create or Log in to Your Account

If you’re a first-time user, create a SeatGeek account using the same email address tied to your tickets and set your password.

3. Access Your Tickets

Open the SeatGeek app and tap the ticket-shaped icon at the bottom.
Your ESPN Events Bowl tickets will appear there once they’ve been delivered.

4. Watch for Notifications
You’ll receive:

An email/text confirming your purchase or transfer.
A second email/text letting you know your tickets have been delivered to your SeatGeek app.

5. If Tickets Are Transferred to You

Accept the transfer request from the email/text/push notification you receive.
Once accepted, the tickets will appear in your SeatGeek app automatically.

6. Entering the Stadium

Open the SeatGeek app when you arrive and pull up your digital ticket(s).
A staff member will scan your ticket at the gate.

If you have any issues accessing your tickets, please email hi@seatgeek.com

BOWL HISTORY

1951 Refrigerator Bowl

A-State 46, Camp Brecknridge 12

December 2, 1951
Reitz Bowl | Evansville, Ind.
Attendance: 10,000

Richie Woit rushed for 166 yards and 3 TDs to spark ASU, which wound up with 582 yards of offense. Rudy Wagner and Buzzy Gebert scored twice each for the Tribe, which was the highest scoring team and the No. 2 defensive team in the nation.

1952 Tangerine Bowl

Stetson 35, A-State 20

January 1, 1952
Tangerine Bowl | Orlando, Fla.
Attendance: 12,500

All-America quarterback Bill Johnson connected for 3 TD passes with Dave Laude to help the Hatters overcome a 13-7 ASU halftime lead. Stetson was limited to 50 yards offense and three first downs in the first half, but made up for it thereafter.

1952 Refrigerator Bowl

Western Kentucky 34, A-State 19

December 7, 1952
Reitz Bowl | Evansville, Ind.
Attendance: 9,500

The Hilltoppers overcame an opening 73-yard drive on ASU’s first possession to improve their record to 9-1. They scored 34 unanswered points before a pair of fourth quarter ASU touchdowns made it more respectable. ASU had to play without All-America halfback Richie Woit, sidelined with a broken ankle.

1954 Tangerine Bowl

A-State 7, Texas A&M-Commerce 7

January 1, 1954
Tangerine Bowl | Orlando, Fla.
Attendance: 12,976

Texas A&M-Commerce, heavily favored with the nation’s longest win streak at 29 games, had to march 61 yards in the fourth period to manage the tie. ASU had scored in the first quarter on 20-yard Bobby Spann to Jim Turley pass. Dan Spensieri intercepted a Texas A&M-Commerce pass in the final period and appeared on the way to scoring with it, but dropped the ball out of bounds at midfield.

1968 Pecan Bowl

North Dakota State 23, A-State 14

December 14, 1968
Memorial Stadium | Arlington, Texas
Attendance: 7,200

Paul Hatchett plowed for 106 yards on 25 carries to spark NDSU, which took 9-0 record into the game. The Bison recovered an early fumble on ASU’s 17, took it in three plays later and proceeded to a 23-0 halftime edge. James Hamilton, who passed for 173 yards, ran for a couple of fourth-period Indian scores, but they were too little and too late.

1969 Pecan Bowl

A-State 29, Drake 21

December 15, 1969
Memorial Stadium | Arlington, Texas
Attendance: 7,500

Backup quarterback Bubba Crocker took over when regular James Hamilton was injured early in the first quarter and masterfully directed the victory. He threw for two TDs, ran for another and scored a two-point conversion as the Tribe ran up a 22-0 halftime lead. Calvin Harrell supplied the muscle with 160 rushing yards on 34 carries.

1970 Pecan Bowl

A-State 38, Central Missouri 21

December 12, 1970
Memorial Stadium | Arlington, Texas
Attendance: 9,500

ASU amassed 509 yards of offense, thanks to 244 passing yards by James Hamilton and 135 rushing yards by Calvin Harrell. Chet Douthit landed two of Hamilton’s three TD passes. Dennis Meyer contributed by intercepting a pair of CMSU tosses.