TORONTO (AP) -Ball State accepted an invitation to play Rutgers in the International Bowl on Saturday, ending an 11-year NCAA postseason drought.

The Cardinals will represent the Mid-American Conference in the Jan. 5 game. The Scarlet Knights come from the Big East.

``We are elated to have Ball State accept our invitation,'' said Ken Hoffman, the executive director of the International Bowl. ``We will have two high-powered offenses square off in a game that is sure to be exciting.''

The Cincinnati Bearcats won last year's inaugural International Bowl, rallying from a 24-0 deficit to edge Western Michigan 27-24. The game is the only NCAA Division I football contest played outside the United States.

Ball State ended the regular season with consecutive wins over Northern Illinois and Toledo to finish 7-5 - its best mark since going 8-4 in 1996 - and was 5-2 in its conference for the second straight year.

Rutgers (7-5, 3-4 Big East) concluded its regular season with a 41-38 loss to Louisville (6-6, 3-4). This marks the third straight year the Scarlet Knights have gone on to play in a bowl game, a first in school history.