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BLACKSBURG - For the first time in history, Virginia Tech is headed to Annapolis, Maryland, for a postseason football bowl game, but it will face a familiar postseason foe in the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Virginia Tech (6-6) will meet American Athletic Conference co-champion Cincinnati (9-3) in the Military Bowl presented by Northrup Grumman at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27 in the 34,000-seat Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

It will be the 22nd straight bowl appearance for the Hokies, the second-longest active streak in college football behind fellow ACC member Florida State (33).

“I’m confident that I speak for the entire Hokie Nation when I say how excited we are to be playing in the Military Bowl,” said Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer. “Our coaches and players have worked extremely hard this season, our fans continue to give us great support, and it’s rewarding that we’ll have the opportunity to gather for a final time this season in Annapolis. We have great respect for Coach Tommy Tuberville and Cincinnati and appreciate the opportunity to participate in this bowl game that honors and supports the proud men and women of our military and their families.”

The Military Bowl will be the 11th football meeting between Virginia Tech and the University of Cincinnati in a series that dates back to 1947 and is tied 5-5. This will be the third meeting in a bowl game between the two as they split the earlier two meetings. Cincinnati beat Tech in the 1947 Sun Bowl and the Hokies downed the Bearcats in the 2008 Orange Bowl.

The Hokies last played in Maryland in 2012, a 27-24 loss to Cincinnati at FedEx Field in Landover. Tech has played nine games all-time in Annapolis, but eight of those nine previous games against Navy came in 1915 or earlier. Virginia Tech is 1-0 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, blanking the Midshipmen 14-0 in 1995.

“We’re honored to have the chance to go Annapolis and the Military Bowl, and to represent the ACC and Virginia Tech” said Whit Babcock, Virginia Tech Director of Athletics. “The Northern Capital Region is home to our largest alumni base and we feel confident Virginia Tech will be well represented on game day. Obviously, this matchup has special meaning to me as I have a lot respect for the University of Cincinnati, its administrative team, its staff and its fans. I am looking forward to this bowl game; it ought to be a great matchup.”

Tickets to the Military Bowl are on sale now. All Hokie Club members who pre-ordered tickets through the postseason ticket ordering process will have their request fulfilled. Hokie Club members who purchase tickets through Virginia Tech will receive three priority points per ticket bought.

Fans who are unable to attend the game are encouraged to purchase a proxy ticket. Proxy tickets will be donated with fans given the option to donate to students, Corp of Cadet members, or members of the Armed Forces in the Northern Capital Region. Hokie Club members purchasing a proxy ticket will receive points based on the postseason Point Priority System. To order your tickets or for more information, log on to hokietickets.com or call the Virginia Tech Athletic Ticket Office at (540) 231-6731 or toll-free at 1-800 VA TECH4 (1-800-828-3244).

For more information on the bowl, visit the Military Bowl website.

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