HOUSTON - Rice will make its first bowl appearance since 1961 after accepting a bid Tuesday to play in the New Orleans Bowl.

The Owls, representing Conference USA, will play the Sun Belt Conference champion Dec. 22 at the Superdome in the first bowl game there since Hurricane Katrina. Troy will be Rice's opponent if it beats Florida International this week. A loss would give Middle Tennessee the berth.

Rice (7-5, 6-2 C-USA) made a stunning turnaround from last year's 1-10 season, winning seven of its last eight games after an 0-4 start.

The Owls lost to Kansas in the 1961 Bluebonnet Bowl.

The New Orleans Bowl, sponsored by R+L Carriers, was played in Lafayette, La., last season after Katrina swamped the city around the start of football season.

The Sugar Bowl, set for Jan. 3, also will return to the Superdome for the first time since Katrina.