South Alabama will have the shortest trip of any team in this year’s college football bowl season, but Kane Wommack and his team are fine with that.

The Jaguars (6-6) meet Eastern Michigan (6-6) in the 68 Ventures Bowl, which takes place Dec. 23 on the South Alabama campus at Hancock Whitney Stadium. After playing in the New Orleans Bowl against Western Kentucky (a 44-23 loss) a year ago, the Jaguars are more interested in getting a victory this time around than living it up away from home.

“I’m taking it as a blessing, man,” center Reggie Smith said. “As a senior getting to play one more time in our home stadium and just to getting to soak all that in. Being with our fan base, my teammates, being at home, there’s just no better feeling.”

RELATED: Caullin Lacy could still play in South Alabama bowl game

A college football team playing a bowl game in its home stadium is not exactly unprecedented, as schools such as Hawaii (Hawaii Bowl), Boise State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl), Florida Atlantic (Boca Raton Bowl), Miami (Orange Bowl) and UCLA (Rose Bowl) have on at least one occasion — and often several times — played “home” bowl games.

South Alabama isn’t even the only team doing it this year. Memphis will play Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 27 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the Tigers’ home facility.

And yet the Jaguars are in a bit of unusual position nonetheless. Because of the bowl’s alternating-years arrangement as to which team is designated as the “home” team, South Alabama will be the visiting team in its own stadium for the 68 Ventures Bowl.

That means South Alabama will use the visiting sideline and its fans will be grouped in different seating areas than they typically are during the regular season. Most notably, the Jaguars will use the visiting locker room (it’s worth noting that the “visitors” facilities at Hancock Whitney are better than most, given that the stadium is used for the Reese’s Senior Bowl each year).

“We’re getting all the planning done for what I guess will be a ‘staycation’ for us,” Wommack said. “We’re looking forward to all those things, but ultimately, it comes down to getting this team prepared to win in the game. I’m really looking forward to it; I think our players are looking forward to it.

“There will be some different elements to playing in your home stadium as a visiting team. But I think that will be a really interesting dynamic that our guys will get to kind of rally around as well. So we’re very excited for this opportunity.”

In the past, there has been some reluctance on both the part of South Alabama and bowl officials to potentially match up. The Jaguars’ team and fans wanted a real road trip, while bowl officials and the city of Mobile wanted tourism dollars from out-of-town visitors.

The Jaguars have played in three bowls previously — the 2014 Camellia in Montgomery, the 2016 Arizona in Tucson and last year’s New Orleans Bowl. South Alabama athletics director Joel Erdmann said any such concerns that might have existed in previous years about the Jaguars playing a bowl game at “home” are not present this year.

“In the past, there may have been, for various reasons, thoughts about, is it mutually beneficial for us and the bowl game to play in Hancock Whitney Stadium or here in Mobile,” Erdmann said. “And through conversations, we clarified that and we made sure we all understood that if it is mutually beneficial to all parties involved, we’re definitely interested in that.”

Erdmann said the South Alabama team will have a true “bowl game” experience, including staying in a downtown hotel during the days leading up to the game. They will also participate in all the pre-game events that out-of-town teams typically do during 68 Ventures Bowl week.

The top priority, however, will be winning the game. South Alabama is 0-3 all-time in bowl games, but can clinch a second straight winning season (they went 10-3 in 2022) by beating the Eagles on Dec. 16.

“That’s priority A, priority B, C, D, E, F, G, whatever you want to say,” Smith said. “That’s the main priority, to do something the school has never done and to keep setting the program to a higher level than what it was when we got here.”

Nearly two dozen South Alabama seniors will play their final college game in the 68 Ventures Bowl, including Smith, quarterback Carter Bradley, running back La’Damian Webb, defensive linemen Jamie Sheriff and Charles Coleman and linebackers Trey Kiser, Quentin Wilfawn and James Miller. It’s not yet clear if wide receiver Caullin Lacy, a junior who entered the NCAA transfer portal last week, will play in the game, Wommack said Monday.

Also debating not returning in 2024 is safety Yam Banks, a redshirt junior who went through Senior Day activities prior to the final regular-season home game on Nov. 18 vs. Marshall. Banks — who is planning on playing in the bowl game — said Tuesday he will still considering whether or not to turn pro after the season.

“I’m not sure yet,” Banks said. “I’m still waiting on the decision that I’m gonna make. But as of right now, I’m leaning toward declaring (for the NFL draft). But I might play another year.”

The 2023 68 Ventures Bowl — re-named this year with a new title sponsor after several years as the LendingTree Bowl — kicks off at 6 p.m. on Dec. 23. ESPN will provide television coverage.