SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah is headed for a fourth straight bowl game, the longest postseason streak in school history.

The Utes (7-5) accepted an invitation Monday to the Armed Forces Bowl, which will be played Dec. 23 in Fort Worth, Texas, against a team from Conference USA.

"The bowl history that we have here has really just recently just taken off, so I think it's certainly something to be proud of," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.

This will be Utah's 13th bowl game.

Utah's longest streak of bowl appearances had been from 1992-1994, when the Utes played in the Freedom Bowl twice and the Copper Bowl.

Utah matched that streak last year in a win over Georgia Tech in the Emerald Bowl. Two years ago, the Utes were part of the Bowl Championship Series, beating Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl to complete a 12-0 season. The streak started in 2003 when the Utes beat Southern Mississippi in the Liberty Bowl.

Utah has won its last five bowl games, going back to a 10-6 win over Southern California in the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl.

"It's one thing to get to a bowl game, but once you get there, you certainly would like to win and our guys have done a good job of doing that," Whittingham said.

The Armed Forces Bowl will be played at 7 p.m. on a Saturday night, more than a week before the BCS games begin and more than two weeks before the BCS title game on Jan. 8.

The Utes won't get nearly the attention they did two years ago when they cracked the BCS from an unaffiliated conference, but Whittingham said it still gives the extra weeks of practice that are part of the bowl bonus.

And a quick turnaround isn't bad, considering Saturday's 33-31 loss to rival and Mountain West champion Brigham Young on a touchdown pass after time had expired. Utah had beaten BYU four straight years.

"Our guys are excited and are ready to get going. Maybe that's the best therapy for us -- is to get right back on the field and get practicing again," Whittingham said.

Utah's last appearance at Amon G. Carter Stadium was in September 2005 -- a 20-7 loss to TCU that ended the Utes' 18-game winning streak.

The Armed Forces Bowl, formerly known as the Fort Worth Bowl, is sponsored by Bell Helicopter. This is the fourth year it will be played.

TCU accepts invitation to play in Poinsettia Bowl: The TCU Horned Frogs have accepted an invitation to play in the second annual San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, 2006 chairman Rudy Castruita announced Monday. The game will be played on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 6 p.m. MST at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif.

"The entire Poinsettia Bowl family looks forward to welcoming the Horned Frogs and their loyal fans to San Diego next month," Castruita said. "Their exciting brand of football surely will make for what will prove to be a very memorable performance for football fans all around the country."

TCU currently has a 9-2 record, with one regular season game remaining. The Horned Frogs host Air Force on Saturday.

"We are excited to receive the invitation to play in the Poinsettia Bowl," TCU football coach Gary Patterson said. "We look forward to going to San Diego. This is a great destination trip for our fans and alumni."

TCU has won six games in a row to tie for the nation's eighth-longest current win streak. Dating back to the 2005 season, the Horned Frogs have wins in 20 of their last 23 contests. This year's TCU squad features a defense that's ranked in the top 10 nationally in run defense, scoring defense and total defense. The Frogs are also among the MWC leaders in several offensive categories.

The Horned Frogs' appearance in the Poinsettia Bowl marks their 23rd bowl game and eighth in the last nine seasons. Most recently they defeated Iowa State 27-24 in the EV1.net Houston Bowl.

TCU's opponent will be an at-large team to be named later.

Tickets for the 2006 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 619-220-TIXS (8497), or by visiting www.poinsettiabowl.net.

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This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C1.