USC to Play Georgia Tech in Sun Bowl
After a two year post-season ban, USC will take on Georgia Tech in the in the 79th annual Hyundai Sun Bowl. The Trojans will travel to El Paso, Tex. on Dec. 31 to take on their Atlantic Coast Conference opponent.
"We are pleased to have two storied programs coming to El Paso for another exciting Hyundai Sun Bowl," said Gary Hanson, Sun Bowl Association President in a press release. "USC Is one of the most prestigious college football programs in the country and Georgia Tech is coming off a narrow loss in the ACC title game. It should be another Sun Bowl Classic."
The Trojans started off the season as the preseason No. 1, but ended with a 7-5 record. Still, the Trojans are looking forward to taking on the Yellow Jackets.
"After not being in a bowl the past two years, we look forward to playing in a bowl with the tradition of the Sun Bowl," said Head Coach Lane Kiffin in a press release. "Although our season didn't go as well as we hoped, we appreciate the opportunity we now have to play another game and attempt to go out on a winning note."
The Trojans boast a 32-16 all-time bowl record (although one win and one loss were later removed by an NCAA penalty). Their 32 bowl victories are the second most in the nation and they will look to continue their streak in their third appearance at the Sun Bowl.
It will be USC's first Sun Bowl since 1998 (their first appearance was in 1990 in what was then the John Hanckock Bowl), and they will also look to get their first win in 2012. USC lost to Michigan State 17-16 in 1990 and 28-19 to TCU in 1998.
Georgia Tech will be making back-to-back appearances in El Paso, after they lost to Utah 30-27 in overtime last year. Under the lead of head coach Paul Johnson, the Yellow Jackets finished at 6-7 and won the ACC Coastal Division. Georgia Tech lost to Florida State in the ACC Championship Game, falling below .500, but were granted to qualify by the NCAA.
Kick off for the 2012 Hyundai Sun Bowl will be at noon MT and can be seen on CBS.
