The Bears, 6-6 this season, are scheduled to play the Red Wolves Thursday night in the Xbox Bowl in Frisco, Texas. This article was originally published on www.si.com as Missouri State Hires ACC Offensive Coordinator As Coach Hours Before Xbox Bowl.

Missouri State is finalizing a five-year deal to hire SMU offensive coordinator Casey Woods as its next head coach, sources told ESPN.

The Mustangs’ OC Casey Woods has emerged as a target for the head coach opening at Missouri State, SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee confirmed Thursday morning. Lashlee said Woods informed him that he’s a part of Missouri State’s search, but the Bears have not yet made a decision.

When Petrino joined his father in Springfield five years ago, he also brought with him two brothers-in-law: L.D. Scott, the Bears’ current defensive coordinator, and Beard, who held the D.C. role under the elder Petrino before becoming head coach.

The Missouri State Bears will make history when they play in the Xbox Bowl on Thursday against Arkansas State, marking the team’s first FBS bowl game appearance.

Depending on the results of Missouri State's coaching search, the Xbox Bowl could be the end of the Petrino family era at MSU. They changed everything

Missouri State takes on the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles after Keith Palek III scored 23 points in Missouri State's 75-57 loss to the Xavier Musketeers.