By ROBERT CESSNA

Eagle Staff Writer

Texas A&M accepted a bid Sunday afternoon to play Penn State in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.

A&M finished 7-5 this season and 4-4 in Big 12 Conference play, tying Oklahoma State and Texas Tech for third place in the South division. Penn State, 8-4, was 4-4 in the Big Ten Conference and finished in a tie for fifth with Iowa.

The two teams played in the 1999 Alamo Bowl, with Penn State grabbing a 24-0 victory.

A&M won its first three games of the season, climbing to No. 20, before falling at Miami, 34-17. A&M rebounded to beat Baylor and Oklahoma State before losing four of its next five.

The Aggies ended the regular season with a 38-30 victory over Texas.

Penn State, 8-4, won its first three games of the season and climbed to No. 10 in the nation before losing at Michigan (14-9), then lost the following week at Illinois (27-20).

The Nittany Lions rebounded to beat Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana before falling to Ohio State.

Penn State lost its regular-season finale at Michigan State (35-31), which knocked it from the Top 25.

This will be the 500th game for Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno.

"This team has worked hard all season and has been a great group to work with. I'm happy for the squad that their efforts will be rewarded with an opportunity to go to San Antonio," Paterno said.

Paterno holds records for most bowl appearances (33) and postseason wins (22). His career record is 371-125-3.

The A&M-Penn State game was the second-highest attended game in the bowl's 15-year history.

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