Washington State to face Central Michigan in Sun Bowl after wild 24 hours
Washington State has a new opponent for Friday’s Sun Bowl: Central Michigan.
With the Boise State program battling COVID issues, the Broncos pulled out of the Arizona Bowl Monday afternoon. Speculation immediately began that their opponent, Central Michigan, could be the savior for the Sun Bowl, which saw Miami pull out Sunday evening for the same reasons. Washington State had arrived in El Paso, Texas, for the game earlier that day and stated publicly it was determined to play a game and close out its season the right way.
According to multiple reports, the Chippewas have reached an agreement with the MAC, Sun Bowl, and Arizona Bowl to exit the latter and meet up with Washington State in Texas. The Arizona Bowl, as a result, has been canceled.
BREAKING: Sources tell KTSM that Central Michigan will be coming to El Paso to play Washington State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. CMU is in Tucson now, as they were scheduled to play Boise State in the Arizona Bowl. Will now travel down I-10 to El Paso. More to come.
— Colin Deaver (@ColinDeaverTV) December 28, 2021
Tucson, where the Chippewas were, is just a four-hour drive from El Paso. Washington State reacted appropriately to the news.
🤝 @CMU_Football pic.twitter.com/x7SPg7SPLX
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) December 28, 2021
“We are grateful for the diligent work of the Sun Bowl Association, the Pac-12 conference, the Mid-American conference, and Central Michigan University to ensure the 2021 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl will be played,” Cougar athletic director Pat Chun said in a statement. “A special thank you to CMU’s director of athletics Amy Folan and head coach Jim McElwain for prioritizing the bowl experience for both teams, especially the seniors who will be playing their final college game.”
Central Michigan went 8-4 this season and has won four straight. The game will be played at 9 a.m. PT on Friday, Dec. 31, on CBS.