Eastern Michigan has played in two bowl games. Ever.
In 2016, the Eagles lost the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. Prior to that in 1987, they won the California Bowl.
But in between those contests, there were years of futility that produced nothing.
This season is different though. At 7–5, Eastern Michigan is bowl eligible and in position to win the second-most games in school history and would only trail the 1987 California Bowl squad.
However, there are 81 teams that are bowl eligible this season and only 78 slots. So three teams will be stuck with the short straw.