UConn accepts bid to Papajohns.com Bowl

STORRS, Conn. - UConn has accepted a bid to play in the Papajohns.com Bowl on Jan. 2, officials from the university confirmed Sunday afternoon.

The Huskies (7-5, 3-4 Big East) will play an opponent from the SEC, South Carolina, in their third consecutive bowl game and their fourth in seven seasons.

"We're extremely excited to play in the Papa John's Bowl," said UConn head coach Randy Edsall. "It will be a new experience for us in terms of that bowl - we've never played in it and we're excited to have the opportunity to play against South Carolina, knowing that they're an outstanding team from the SEC."

Cincinnati earned the Big East's Bowl Championship Series bid with a victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday. West Virginia accepted an invitation to the Gator Bowl following its victory over Rutgers, and Pittsburgh accepted a bid to the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Sunday afternoon.

"This was our hope and this is where we thought we would go and we're glad to be there," Edsall said.

South Carolina (7-5, 3-5 SEC), coached by Steve Spurrier, will be the first SEC opponent UConn has played since the Huskies lost to Vanderbilt in 2002.

"You look at the SEC and it's probably the premier conference in the United States for college football," Edsall said. "I know they're going to be excited to play and play an outstanding team in South Carolina."

UConn defeated Toledo 39-10 in the 2004 Motor City Bowl, lost to Wake Forest in the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl 24-10 and defeated Buffalo 38-20 in the International Bowl in January.

The Huskies were also eligible to play in a bowl in 2003 after finishing the season 9-3, but did not earn an invitation after playing the season as an independent.