DETROIT, Mich. --  Bowling Green State University returns to action in the eighth annual Quick Lane Bowl against the New Mexico State Aggies on Mon., Dec. 26. It is Bowling Green's first appearance in the Quick Lane Bowl, but the Falcons appeared in a bowl game two previous times at Ford Field, including the now-defunct Motor City Bowl (2003) and the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl (2013). Both those games also happened to be played on Dec. 26. The bowl game will air on ESPN and kick at 2:30 p.m.

Bowling Green is playing in its first bowl game since the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl when the Falcons fell to the Georgia Southern Eagles. The Falcons enter Bowl Season as one of four FBS programs whose win totals improved 4+ games from 2020 to 2021 and then improved 2+ more games from 2021 to 2022. Joining BGSU on the list are Kansas State, Oregon State and Tennessee as the Falcons are the only program from outside the "Power-5" to accomplish the feat.

Bowling Green is No. 11 in the nation with 37 sacks, or No. 9 in the nation with 3.08 sacks a game. They will have a battle in the trenches as New Mexico State is No. 25 in the nation by allowing only 15 sacks. The most sacks New Mexico State gave up in a game was three against UMass. BGSU tallied six in a game three times. 

DL Karl Brooks is a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus and is the highest graded edge rusher in the nation. He enters Bowl Season No. 8 in the nation in sacks with 10.0. He is also No. 9 in the nation with 18.0 tackles for loss.

WR Odieu Hiliare has a catch in 34-straight games, which includes his career at Alabama A&M. It is the 14th-best active streak in the nation. The Alabama A&M transfer has 156 career receptions for 2,069 career receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns.

TE Harold Fannin Jr. leads BGSU with four rushing touchdowns. He and Tennessee's Princeton Fant are the only tight ends with at least four rushing touchdowns. Fant scored his fifth last time out at Vanderbilt. He is the only FBS tight end in the nation to lead his team in rushing touchdowns.

The 2022 Quick Lane Bowl will be the first all-time meeting between Bowling Green and New Mexico State in football.