Why is Appalachian State in the Birmingham Bowl? Here's how the Mountaineers reached the postseason with only five wins in the regular season.

Howse, the Newberry High standout, had been committed to Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks for more than a year before breaking that pledge on Oct. 19. A month later, he committed to Appalachian State and then signed Dec. 3 to play for former USC assistant now Mountaineers head coach Dowell Loggains.