The host site for the game was determined by the BCS rankings since the Owls did not face the Thundering Herd during the regular season. Both teams are technically tied with 7-1 in C-USA play, 9-3 overall. The tie was broken for home field advantage by a BCS standings extension formula, plus votes in two human polls.
When the BCS averages were extended and votes were tallied, Marshall came up short.
Both schools are making their first appearances in the C-USA Championship game.
Marshall leads the all-time series 3-1, including a wild 54-51 victory in their last meeting at Rice Stadium in September 2012. The Thundering Herd has won both meetings on their home field of Huntington, West Virginia, while the teams are 1-1 in Houston.
The Owls won a share of the Southwest Conference championship in 1994, but their last outright conference title was the 1957 SWC championship.
Marshall will be playing for its first conference championship since winning their sixth straight Mid- American conference title in 2002.
Tickets for the C-USA Championship game will be go on sale Monday at 8:30am. You can purchase them in person at Tudor Fieldhouse, by phone at 713-522-OWLS or online at www.RiceOwls.com.
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