SEC Champs To Play Big XII Champs In Bowl Game

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Two of the most powerful conferences in college football have decided to have their conference champions meet in a postseason bowl game starting in 2014.

The Big XII and SEC made the announcement of the matchup Friday afternoon. The champions of both conferences will play, unless one or both are selected to play in the new four-team national championship playoff.

If that happens, another team from the respective conferences would replace the team in the playoff.

"A new January bowl tradition is born," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. "This new game will provide a great matchup between the two most successful conferences in the BCS era and will complement the exciting postseason atmosphere created by the new four-team model. Most importantly, it will provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans with an outstanding bowl experience."

During the 14-year era of the BCS, the Big XII and SEC have had 11 seasons in which each conference finished ranked in the top four of the final BCS standings. Combined, the two conferences have 16 appearances in the BCS National Championship Game. The Big XII ranked second behind the SEC's nine appearances in the big game.

The two conference champions have only played in BCS bowls twice since the inception of the BCS. Both games were national championship games and both times the SEC came out ahead both times.