NCAA FB

Barkley to play Sun Bowl vs. Ga. Tech

Share This Story

Updated Dec 2, 2012 11:03 PM ET
     
 

Matt Barkley will get one last chance to leave Southern California on a high note, and it will come against Georgia Tech in the Sun Bowl.

COMPLETE BOWL SCHEDULE

From the New Mexico Bowl to the BCS Championship Game, we've got all the matchups here.

The Trojans (7-5), who started the season ranked No. 1, accepted a bid Sunday to the Dec. 31 game in El Paso, Texas. Coach Lane Kiffin said he expects his star quarterback to be able to play by then after missing the season finale against top-ranked Notre Dame with a sprained shoulder.

''He hasn't gone to a bowl game the last couple years, so it's a chance to go to one and finish off strong for him and for the senior class,'' Kiffin said. ''It's a great opportunity for us.''

USC hasn't been able to play in a bowl game the past two seasons because of NCAA sanctions resulting from improper benefits received by former Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

''Especially after two years of sitting at home and not being able to go to a bowl game, we're excited,'' Kiffin said. ''We're excited about a very good bowl and a great matchup, and we're ready to go to work.''

Georgia Tech will be playing in the Sun Bowl for the second straight year. The Yellow Jackets squandered a 24-10 fourth-quarter lead in an overtime loss to Utah in last year's game. They also could have won the game on a field goal at the end of regulation, but missed for the third time in the game.

''Hopefully we'll have a chance to come back and redeem ourselves,'' Tech coach Paul Johnson said.

The Yellow Jackets needed a waiver from the NCAA to play in the postseason because they finished with a 6-7 record following a loss in the ACC championship game. The conference's rules prevented Georgia Tech from falling to a lesser bowl.

2012 COLLEGE FOOTBALL

''We knew that the championship runner-up could not go past the Sun Bowl, and that was pretty much it,'' Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas said. ''I don't think we ever had a discussion about moving down at all.''

''We're very pleased to have them back,'' he added.

Georgia Tech's job this time will be to spoil Barkley's going-away party. It will also be Kiffin's last game coaching with his father, Monte, who resigned as defensive coordinator effective after the bowl.

''There's no question they've got some great players, but we'll have gone through a span here where they'll be the third team in a row we've played that was ranked in the top five at one point or another,'' Johnson said.

''We've gone Georgia, Florida State and now Southern Cal. So, that's three programs in a row with pretty good tradition and pretty good history,'' he added.

The teams haven't met since 1973. The Trojans have won two of the previous three meetings.

WE ARE FIRED UP!

College football fans are some of the most passionate in sports. See them in action.

Georgia Tech will be playing in a bowl for a 15th straight year, tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision, but the last seven have been losses.

USC has 32 bowl victories, the second-most in the country behind Alabama.

''It's great, first off, just to get more practices for our young players, for our future, to have these practices that we've not had over the last two years,'' Kiffin said. ''We're very excited. It's very big for us.''

Tagged: Georgia Tech, USC, Georgia
TEST YOUR COLLEGE FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE WITH COLLEGE PICK'EM!

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by
College Football Pick'em on FOX


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NCAA FB Videos

USC long snapper trick shots Posted: Jun 07, 2013
Watch some great shots by USC commit Zach Smith. The walk-on takes aim at moving...

Big Ten to play in the Big Apple Posted: Jun 04, 2013
Jim Delany talks about the Big Ten's affiliation with the New Era Pinstripe Bowl...

HBO Real Sports: Bill O'Brien Posted: May 20, 2013
Penn State coach and 2012 National Coach of the Year shares the challenges in tu...

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Nike Florida Gators Gridiron 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - Royal Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Florida_Gators/browse/featuredproduct/759777/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_759000/ff_759777_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Florida Gators Gridiron 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - Royal Blue
    Nike Michigan State Spartans Football 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - White http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Michigan_State_Spartans/browse/featuredproduct/760171/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_760000/ff_760171_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Michigan State Spartans Football 2012 Team Issue T-Shirt - White
    Nike USC Trojans Fight On My School T-Shirt - Cardinal http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_USC_Trojans/browse/featuredproduct/761373/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_761000/ff_761373_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike USC Trojans Fight On My School T-Shirt - Cardinal
    Nike Alabama Crimson Tide Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Crimson http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/829709/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_829000/ff_829709_xl.jpg&w=100 64.95 Nike Alabama Crimson Tide Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Crimso..
    Nike LSU Tigers Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Purple http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_LSU_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/829740/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_829000/ff_829740_xl.jpg&w=100 49.99 Nike LSU Tigers Elite Force Coaches Sideline Performance Polo - Purple
    Nike Oklahoma Sooners Legacy 91 Dri-FIT Adjustable Coaches Cap - Crimson http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Oklahoma_Sooners/browse/featuredproduct/830935/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_830000/ff_830935_xl.jpg&w=100 21.95 Nike Oklahoma Sooners Legacy 91 Dri-FIT Adjustable Coaches Cap - Crimson
    adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hot Sideline Jacket - Navy Blue http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish/browse/featuredproduct/861243/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_861000/ff_861243_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 adidas Notre Dame Fighting Irish Hot Sideline Jacket - Navy Blue
    adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers Sideline Hot Quarter Zip Jacket - Scarlet http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Nebraska_Cornhuskers/browse/featuredproduct/861247/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_861000/ff_861247_xl.jpg&w=100 69.95 adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers Sideline Hot Quarter Zip Jacket - Scarlet
    Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Players Locker Room Snapback Hat - Charcoal/Black http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/1087345/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1087000/ff_1087345_xl.jpg&w=100 29.95 Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Players Locker Room Snapba..
    Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Ash http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/1093431/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_1093000/ff_1093431_xl.jpg&w=100 24.95 Nike Alabama Crimson Tide 2012 BCS National Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Ash
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft