ESPN has added another event to its ever-growing college sport roster, and will screen the Texas Bowl on New Year's Eve.

The game, which has been played on NFL Network for its first three years, will feature a team from the Big 12 Conference versus the US Naval Academy, should the 'Midshipmen' become bowl eligible.

"This is a significant step in the continuing growth of the Texas Bowl," said Texas Bowl manager Heather Houston. "ESPN is the home of college football year-round, and partnering with them will give the Texas Bowl the chance to be viewed by millions of sports fans across the country."

In its three-year history, the Texas Bowl has donated over US$200,000 cash and over US$5 million in promotional support and publicity to DePelchin Children's Center, the bowl's official charitable  beneficiary. It boasts over 25,000 season ticket holders and sold over 50,000 tickets before its teams were announced last year. It claims to have generated an average of US$25 million per year for the Houston economy.

"ESPN is pleased to bring college football fans the Texas Bowl to Capital One Bowl Week," said Kurt Dargis, senior manager, programming, ESPN. "We look forward to bringing the longstanding tradition of football in Texas and another exciting bowl game to college football fans on New Year's Eve."

Earlier this summer, ESPN agreed a deal worth some US$40 million per year to secure coverage of the Rose Bowl, which will be screened by the broadcaster from 2011.