It’s the SEC & Big Ten through 2020

By ROCKET SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK on August 12, 2013

South Carolina fans cheering on their Gamecocks during the 4th quarter of the 2013 game in which South Carolina won 33-28 (photo Rick Sassone / Rocket Sports & Entertainment Network)

courtesy of the Outback Bowl

Tampa, FLA. — Outback Bowl officials announced today the bowl has extended its contract with the Southeastern Conference for six additional years through the January 2020 Bowl game. The agreement extends an 18-year relationship with the conference to play in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium where they will face a team from the Big Ten Conference. As part of the new agreements, the Outback Bowl will continue its New Year’s Day tradition where it has been the past 25 years.

Back in mid July the Outback Bowl and the Big Ten extended its contract through 2020, so with the announcement today we are guaranteed to see a Big Ten team versus a SEC team for at least six more years.

The match ups over the years have been outstanding.

1/1/96	Penn State	43	Auburn	14
1/1/97	Alabama	17	Michigan	14
1/1/98	Georgia	33	Wisconsin	6
1/1/99	Penn State	26	Kentucky	14
1/1/00	Georgia	28	Purdue	25
1/1/01	South Carolina	24	Ohio State	7
1/1/02	South Carolina	31	Ohio State	28
1/1/03	Michigan	38	Florida	30
1/1/04	Iowa	37	Florida	17
1/1/05	Georgia	24	Wisconsin	21
1/2/06	Florida	31	Iowa	24
1/1/07	Penn State	20	Tennessee	10
1/1/08	Tennessee	21	Wisconsin	17
1/1/09	Iowa	31	South Carolina	10
1/1/10	Auburn (OT)	38	Northwestern	35
1/1/11	Florida	37	Penn State	24
1/2/12	Michigan State (3 OT)	33	Georgia	30
1/1/13	South Carolina	33	Michigan	28

“The Outback Bowl has a rich history with strong ties to the SEC and we are pleased to continue this relationship with such an outstanding post-season game,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “The Tampa Bay area offers a great destination for our schools and their fans and we are excited to continue our relationship.”

“We are extremely happy to announce the extension of our relationship with the Southeastern Conference for six additional years after the upcoming game,” noted Outback Bowl President/CEO Jim McVay. “We look forward to continuing this exciting match-up of the SEC and Big Ten, two of the most outstanding conferences in college football. We truly appreciate our partnership with Commissioner Slive and the Athletic Directors and Presidents of the Southeastern Conference universities.”

Officials have previously announced six-year extensions with title sponsor Outback Steakhouse and the Big Ten Conference.

The Outback Bowl has hosted an SEC vs Big Ten match-up in its game the past 18 years, and 20 years in all, during its 27-year history. The SEC holds a 12-8 advantage in those games, though they lead just 6-5 the past 11 years. The past four games were each decided in the final minute or overtime.

The 2014 Outback Bowl will kickoff at 1 P.M. on January 1^st. Special priority seating Membership packages can be purchased directly through the Outback Bowl office by calling (813) 874-BOWL. Non-membership tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster in September. For more information go to www.outbackbowl.com