BOISE, Idaho – Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl executive director Kevin McDonald today announced the signing of agreements that set the stage for a four-year relationship pitting top teams from the Mid-American Conference against top opponents from the Western Athletic Conference.

Qualifying teams will be selected according to each conference’s criteria for bowl participation. The MAC is committed to send its third selection of bowl eligible teams based on the MAC bowl selection process to the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl.

The WAC is committed to send one of its top teams, based on its bowl-eligible teams’ regional drawing strength for fans of the Boise-based game.

“Over the past several years the WAC and MAC have demonstrated a very high level of national success on the football field,” said WAC Commissioner Karl Benson. “Last season the two conferences were awarded nine bowl berths. We look forward to carrying that success over into Roady’s Humanitiarian Bowl.”

“We are so excited to have this agreement with the MAC and the WAC. These two conferences are known for playing a brand of explosive offensive football and a great tradition of winning teams that are really a lot of fun to watch,” said Kevin McDonald, Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl executive director.  “Last year’s match-up delivered one of the most exciting bowl games of the year. We believe the game will always have that kind of drama and excitement for our fans.”

Last year’s Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl, which featured Bowling Green State University from the MAC and the University of Idaho from the WAC, equaled the game’s all-time highest television rating on ESPN. The game received a Nielsen household rating of 2.4, representing over three million total viewers, tying the record for the highest rating ever which was the 2008 Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl, matching Maryland and Nevada.

“We are very happy to have in place this tremendous relationship with a long-established and very successful bowl game,” said MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher. “Based on last year’s match-up between the two conferences, I believe fans of the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl game can look forward to exhilarating and competitive contests in the future.”

The Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl is the only bowl game in the United States that has humanity in its brand. The Bowl recognizes the positive impact teams, coaches and student-athletes have in their communities and their leadership roles in promoting humanitarian efforts.