Mark Hudspeth and Louisiana-Lafayette celebrate after winning last year's New Orleans Bowl. (USATSI)
Mark Hudspeth and La.-Lafayette celebrate after winning last year's New Orleans Bowl. (USATSI)

Louisiana-Lafayette is headed back to the New Orleans Bowl ... for the third consecutive season.

Despite losing to 31-28 to rival Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, the Ragin Cajuns' accepted a bid to play in the bowl. They beat East Carolina last year and San Diego State in 2011.

"We are excited to receive our third straight bowl invitation and especially excited to be heading back to the New Orleans Bowl," said head coach Mark Hudspeth. "We look forward to another great bowl experience that includes our fans taking over the great city of New Orleans."

La.-Lafayette (8-3) earned a share of the Sun Belt Conference title when Western Kentucky defeated Arkansas State. It can still earn the outright conference title with a win over South Alabama next week.

According to Jerry Palm's Bowl Projections, Louisiana-Lafayette will meet Tulane on Dec. 21.