FORT WORTH (AP)  BYU is guaranteed to end its first season of football independence in a bowl game _ as long as the Cougars get bowl eligible.

The Armed Forces Bowl on Wednesday extended BYU a provisional invitation to its Dec. 30 game against a Conference USA opponent. The game will be played at SMU for the second consecutive year because of renovations at TCU’s Amon Carter Stadium. The bowl started in Fort Worth in 2003 and plans to return in 2012.

BYU is playing an independent schedule for the first time this year after leaving the Mountain West Conference. The Cougars have two regular season games in Texas _ Sept. 10 at Texas and Oct. 28 against TCU at Cowboys Stadium.

The bowl is sponsored by Bell Helicopter.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)