Mid-American Conference champion Ball State meets undefeated Mountain West Conference champion San Jose State in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl. San Jose State is ranked No. 19 in the AP Top 25, No. 20 in the Coaches Poll and No. 22 in the College Football Playoff Rankings, while Ball State is receiving votes in the latest AP and Coaches polls.

The Cardinals are making their 10th bowl appearance -- their first since the GoDaddy Bowl after the 2013 season -- and seeking for the program’s first bowl victory.

Ball State, also MAC West Division champion for the first time since 2008, handed previously unbeaten and 23rd-ranked Buffalo its first loss in the MAC Championship Game to claim the Cardinals’ first overall conference championship since 1996. It was the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2012 (at No. 23 Toledo). The Cardinals now go for back-to-back wins over ranked teams for the first time ever.

In the MAC title game, Ball State limited the nation’s top scoring (51.8 points) and rushing (344.6 yards) team to 28 points and 134 yards on the ground. The Cardinals held Buffalo RB Jaret Patterson, the nation’s leader at 205 yards per game, to 47 yards on 18 carries.

Fifth-year head coach Mike Neu brought BSU’s sixth MAC title to his alma mater. Neu quarterbacked the Cardinals’ MAC championship and Las Vegas Bowl team in 1993 and was also part of BSU’s league championship and California Raisin Bowl team in 1989.