JONESBORO - The Sun Belt Conference champion Arkansas State football team will play Mid-American Conference member Ball State in the 2014 GoDaddy Bowl. The matchup was announced Sunday after the Cardinals accepted an invitation to the Jan. 5 bowl game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

The Red Wolves accepted an invitation Monday, Dec. 2, to play in the GoDaddy Bowl for an unprecedented third consecutive year in the game's 15-year history. Arkansas State dropped a 38-20 decision to Northern Illinois in the 2012 GoDaddy Bowl, but claimed a 17-13 victory over then-ranked No. 25 Kent State in last year's version of the bowl game.

Ball State completed the regular season with a 10-2 overall record and as the Mid-American Conference's West Division runner-up behind Northern Illinois with a 7-1 league mark. The Cardinals reached 10 victories for the third time in school history, winning eight of their last nine games to conclude the regular season.

Led by 13 All-MAC?selections, Ball State will be making a bowl-game appearance for the second consecutive season. The Cardinals dropped a 38-17 decision against UCF last season at the Beef ‘O' Brady's Bowl that brought their final 2012 record to 9-4.

The 2014 GoDaddy Bowl will mark the first ever meeting between Arkansas State and Ball State. The Red Wolves won four of their final five regular-season games this season to finish with a 7-5 overall record, which included a 5-2 league mark that placed them atop the final Sun Belt Conference standings with Louisiana-Lafayette.

Fans are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets only through the A-State Ticket Office to directly support the Red Wolves and to ensure they receive priority seating within the designated A-State area.

Bowl tickets are only $45 per ticket when purchased through the A-State Ticket Office. Tickets will be available for purchase at the pep rally event, but fans can also go to AStateRedWolves.com and click on ‘Bowl Game Central' (AStateRedWolves.com/BowlGame) to order tickets. The A-State Ticket Office, located at the Convocation Center's lower red entrance, is also taking walk-up or telephone (870-972-2781) orders.

Special pricing is also available for students in the designated student zone when ordered through the A-State Ticket Office. Students may also use their A-State Express Dollars to purchase tickets.