Missouri State has officially earned a spot in a bowl game.

At the end of the college football regular season Nov. 29, Bowl Season — which coordinates the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision’s 82 postseason teams — announced the eligibility.

The Bears finished the season with a 7-5 record under head coach Ryan Beard, who served as the defensive coordinator for Missouri State before moving into the top job in 2022.

In mid-November, athletic director Patrick Ransdell announced Missouri State was petitioning the NCAA for a postseason waiver to participate in a bowl game.

Because of MSU’s recent transition to Conference USA, they were ineligible for postseason play under NCAA rules.

Missouri lawmakers, including U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt and U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison added their support, calling on the NCAA to grant the waiver request.

“The university has done everything asked of it and more. Its student athletes have earned their place on the field and a chance to compete in the postseason through performance, not administrative technicalities,” Schmitt wrote, in part.

“The NCAA must not deny these student-athletes the postseason opportunity they have earned based on an arbitrary, outdated regulation that no longer reflects the current realities. I strongly urge the NCAA to approve Missouri State University’s waiver request and allow these student-athletes to compete for the postseason recognition their hard work and on-field success have earned.”

Burlison added: “With 82 postseason slots available this season, Missouri State University deserves equal consideration. These student-athletes have earned their opportunity on the field and should not be sidelined by an outdated rule alone.”

The NCAA waivers have been granted in the past.

In addition to Missouri State, fellow Conference USA newcomer Delaware was also granted eligibility.

Bowl pairings, dates and locations will be announced at a later date. The official Bowl Selection Show is Sunday, Dec. 7.

More: Missouri State to petition NCAA for bowl eligibility after earning sixth win at Liberty

Missouri State fans who are interested in attending the bowl game can fill out an “intent form” to obtain ticket information as soon as a bowl destination is known.

In their inaugural season in Conference USA and the FBS ranks, the Bears are 7-5 overall and finished 5-3 in the CUSA standings to tie for fourth place in the 12-team league.

JOPLIN, MO. — Ever since sports betting launched in Kansas in 2022, numerous Missouri residents have made the trip across the border to legally access sports betting platforms such as FanDuel and DraftKings, but a change is near.

Legal sports betting officially launches in the Show-Me State on Monday, December 1 meaning that all Missouri residents will have the option to place bets from the comfort of their own home.

While it’s been just over a year since the sports betting amendment passed with a 50.05% vote to bring the once taboo activity to Missouri, some Joplin citizens have been placing bets for years being located just minutes from the Kansas border.

“I’ve been coming here [the Missouri-Kansas border] for a long time, either down here or down over in C.J. by the border over there,” Joplin resident Logan Quarles said.

From a Joplin resident’s perspective, there is a bit of irony in play considering parts of city limits extend out to the Kansas border.

“I live five minutes down the road,” Quarles said. “The border is right here. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be able just to be in my room, in my bed, just placing bets. Instead, I have to come all the way down here to do it. Not that far to drive, but it is kind of an inconvenience.”

As for the state of Missouri itself, the legalization of sports betting is expected to benefit the average resident.

“It’s difficult to argue that it produces a lot of money to help the state do things for our citizens,” District 161 Missouri State Representative Lane Roberts said.

For the last three-plus years, surrounding states, such as Kansas, have benefited fiscally with Missouri residents making the trip across state lines to engage in betting activity.

“That’s part of what drove the effort to have gaming introduced in Missouri in the first place,” Roberts said. “We knew that people were doing that. And worse yet, there are a number of people in the state who are using offshore betting. That revenue was going to other places and that part was a little bit distasteful.”

Starting December 1, 2025, the tax revenue generated from sports betting will go toward education as well as problem gambling resources.

For bettors like Quarles, however, it means no more trips across state lines.

“I’ll be able to place it at my house, place it at my parents house, do this you know what I mean,” Quarles said. “Place it wherever I want. I don’t have to, like, set a time aside to go place my bet. I can just place it wherever I’m at.”