Houston accepts invitation to play against SEC opponent in Jan. 4 BBVA Compass Bowl

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Houston will face a Southeastern Conference team in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

The bowl game announced the first half of the matchup for the Jan. 4 game at Legion Field on Sunday. The SEC opponent — possibly Vanderbilt — will be named later Sunday.

Houston, which plays in the American Athletic Conference, is 8-4 and is making its eighth postseason trip in the past 11 seasons.

The Cougars are 9-11-1 in bowls, including a 30-14 win over No. 22 Penn State in the 2012 Ticket City Bowl to cap coach Tony Levine's first season.

Levine says "facing a formidable opponent from the SEC is a great challenge and one that our program is looking forward to."