INDIANAPOLIS – The McKendree University Bearcats and Ashland University Eagles have been selected to participate in the fourth annual America's Crossroads Bowl (ACB) on Friday, Dec. 1, in Hammond, Indiana, representing the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), respectively.
McKendree (5-5, 5-2 GLVC) and Ashland (8-3, 8-1 G-MAC) will play at Hammond Central High School at 6 PM CT local time.
The Bearcats will be making their first appearance in the bowl game after finishing second in GLVC play in 2023. Truman State University was the league representative – and three-time champion – for the first three bowl games. McKendree went on five-game win streak from Oct. 14 through Nov. 11 to close out the season after starting 0-5.
The Eagles finished second in the Great Midwest standings, ending the season winning their final seven games. Ashland's only conference loss was to Great Midwest champion Tiffin, which was the bowl game rep for its league last season.
The America's Crossroads Bowl is one of three NCAA Division II bowl games sponsored nationally in 2023 and is conducted in partnership with the South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority and City of Hammond. The three previous bowl games were played on a Saturday afternoon at Hobart High School's Brickyard Stadium in Hobart, Ind.
Tickets for the game are available for $12 for adults and $7 for students and seniors. Children 4 and under are free. Tickets for the banquet on Thursday night, Nov. 30 at the Marquez Banquet Hall (3916 173rd St. Hammond, Ind.) from 7-9 PM can also be purchased for $25, while several apparel items are also on sale. Both tickets and apparel can be purchased online by visiting the link above.
Additionally, a pre-game party will be held at Byway Brewing Company (2825 Carlson Dr., Hammond, Ind.) from 2-5 PM with food and beverage specials available for fans of all ages.
Broadcast coverage of the America's Crossroads Bowl will be announced at a later date.