Troy Calhoun has coached a neutral-site game at Southern Methodist University once before, taking an Air Force team to the Dallas stadium in 2008 because of Hurricane Ike.

The Falcons will have more than three weeks to get ready this time.

Air Force learned Sunday it will face Louisville in the First Responders Bowl at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium at 1:30 p.m. MT on Dec. 28.

“What a remarkable opportunity for us to go play against an outstanding opponent in Louisville and truly have an opportunity to cap off what’s been one heck of a season for us,” Calhoun said.

The Falcons were part of a record eight teams from the Mountain West to receive bowl berths, and they join Utah State (vs. Oregon State of the Pac-12) to draw opponents from a Power Five conference. The Cardinals (6-6) play in the ACC.

Air Force had expressed an interest in playing a Power Five conference, preferably in Texas, since it knew the Mountain West would be looking to fill teams in slots beyond its six games with league tie-ins. And that’s what it was able to secure.

Athletic director Nathan Pine pitched the conference on Air Force’s strong season (the Falcons finished 9-3 and tied with Utah State for the Mountain Division title), status as a national brand and strong following in the state of Texas.

“We have to make sure we articulate our interests, but ultimately it’s going to be worked through the Mountain West,” Pine said late Sunday afternoon. “So we’ve got to be in close communication with that staff throughout the last week and a half to make sure we present ourselves in the right way.

“Until I got the phone call this morning, it was really up in the air.”

This will be the first meeting between Air Force and Louisville, and the first time either has played in the First Responders Bowl.

The season for Louisville has included one-score losses to then-No. 24 Wake Forest and Clemson and a 40-point victory over Duke. The Cardinals have passed for 2,867 yards and rushed for 2,753 yards this season, outscoring opponents by an average of 31.9-27.

Air Force leads the nation with 341.6 rushing yards per game and has a defense that ranks fifth nationally in giving up 288 yards per game.

This will mark Air Force’s second game in the recruiting-rich Dallas area this season, as it played Army in Arlington, Texas in November. The Falcons and Black Knights will return to Globe Life Field again next.

But only once has Calhoun taken a team to SMU, and that was a memorably chaotic experience. The game was slated for Houston but moved to Dallas to avoid the hurricane. Then, the game time was moved up from 12:30 p.m. to 10 a.m. to try and finish before the storm arrived in the Metroplex.

Calhoun recalls the logistical struggles of the change, including coordinating with the hotel to move the pregame meal up a few hours.

It all worked out, and Air Force defeated the Cougars and quarterback Case Keenum – a future Denver Bronco – in a 31-28 thriller.

This time the Falcons will again face a unique schedule. Because of upcoming finals, they’ll practice only twice, Dec. 14 and 15, before releasing the players to their homes before reconvening a week later in Dallas.

This won’t allow for extensive on-field work, but Calhoun said the rest after a rigorous schedule was as important.

“We’re delighted to be a part of this bowl,” Calhoun said, “and we’re going to make it work and we’re going to have a prepared football team.”