STATESBORO, Ga. - For the second time in history, Georgia Southern is headed to an NCAA postseason bowl game, as announced Sunday afternoon. Georgia Southern (9-3) will meet Eastern Michigan (7-5) of the Mid-American Conference, in the 2018 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl at 4:30 p.m. Central (5:30 p.m. Eastern) on Saturday, Dec. 15 in the 25,000-seat Historic Cramton Bowl. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN.

"It's an honor and a blessing to be able to play in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl," said Georgia Southern head coach Chad Lunsford. "A bowl game is hard to get to and it's a reward for our players, staff and fans. We've had a great season, but to be able to have the opportunity to pick up a 10th win against a great opponent in Eastern Michigan is something we won't take lightly. I hope all of Eagle Nation will descend upon Montgomery as they did for our last bowl game and make it a special event for everyone involved."

The Raycom Media Camellia Bowl will mark the first football meeting between GS and Eastern Michigan. GS is 2-1 all-time against current teams from the MAC, splitting a pair of games against Western Michigan and downing Bowling Green in the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl.

"We're extremely honored and excited to play in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl and would like to thank bowl executive director Johnny Williams and assistant executive director Will Pope for inviting us to play in their bowl," said Tom Kleinlein, Georgia Southern Director of Athletics. "This bowl opportunity is the result of the hard work by our players, Coach Lunsford and his staff, as well as the support from the University and our fans. Bowls are a chance to celebrate a great season and I feel confident that our fans will show up in Montgomery for this tremendous event."

Tickets to the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl are now on sale, both online and via phone. Fans may call 1-800-GSU-WINS from 3:30-7 p.m. Sunday night, or go to GSEagles.com/Bowl to order tickets at any time. Phone lines and the Ticket Office will open at 8:30 a.m. on Monday for sales. Student sales ($15 for the first 200) will begin online tonight at 6 p.m. All patrons who pre-ordered tickets through the postseason ticket ordering process will have their request fulfilled. Fans who purchase tickets through Georgia Southern will receive 1.5 priority points per ticket bought.

The deadline for season ticket holders and donors to order their tickets to be allocated by priority points is Wednesday, Dec. 5 at midnight. The Ticket Office will not start allocating seats until Thursday, Dec. 6. Tickets are projected to be shipped out/ready for pick up starting Monday, Dec. 10 and will not be available before then.

Fans who are unable to attend the game are encouraged to consider purchasing tickets and donating them to Wings and help a future Eagle soar. Wings is a program made possible by the Ticket Office that redistributes donated tickets to veterans, underserved youth, deserving families and charitable organizations.   

To order your tickets or for more information, log on to GSEagles.com/Bowl or call the Georgia Southern Athletic Ticket Office toll-free at 1-800-GSU-WINS.

For more information on the bowl, visit GSEagles.com/Bowl.