NU to Take on South Carolina in Capital One Bowl

Nebraska will make its 48th all-time bowl appearance and its second appearance in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 2 when Nebraska takes on South Carolina at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

The game against the 10-2 Gamecocks is the Huskers' fourth meeting all-time with South Carolina, and the first postseason meeting between the schools. Nebraska holds a 3-0 edge in the series, most recently winning a home-and-home series in 1986 and 1987. The 9-3 Huskers are making their fourth straight bowl trip under Head Coach Bo Pelini and Nebraska's 48 bowl appearances rank in a tie for the fourth-most of any school in the country.

Kickoff for the 2012 Capital One Bowl is set for 1 p.m. EST (Noon CST) on Jan. 2. ESPN will provide the telecast to a national audience. 

The Huskers enter the postseason ranked 21st in the Associated Press Poll and 20th in the USA Today Coaches poll. Nebraska's nine victories marked its fourth straight nine-win season under Pelini, and the Huskers are one of just eight programs with four straight nine-win seasons. A victory in the Capital One Bowl would give Nebraska three consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time since 1999 to 2001.

"We are pleased to earn the invitation to the Capital One Bowl in Orlando," Nebraska Head Coach Bo Pelini said. "Outside of the BCS, the Capital One Bowl is arguably the top bowl game out there. Our team has battled through a lot this year to reach this point, and we look forward to the opportunity to earn a 10th win this season. South Carolina has an outstanding football team, and we know they will present a big challenge for our football team."

South Carolina comes into the Capital One Bowl with a 10-2 record, including a 6-2 mark in the SEC, and is ranked 10th in the AP Poll and No. 9 by the coaches. The Gamecocks' only losses this season were by three points to defending national champion Auburn and on the road at Arkansas. South Carolina's 10-win season is just the second in Gamecock school history, joining a 10-2 campaign in 1984.

Steve Spurrier is in his seventh season as South Carolina's Head Coach and he has compiled a 54-35 record with the Gamecocks. The Capital One Bowl will be the 17th bowl appearance in South Carolina's history, and the Gamecocks have a 4-12 record in postseason play.

Nebraska will receive an allotment of 12,500 tickets for the Capital One Bowl. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at Huskers.com, beginning at 9 p.m. CST on Sunday night. Capacity at Citrus Bowl Stadium is 65,438.

Tickets for the game are $87 and Husker fans may also place ticket orders in person or by phone through the Athletic Ticket Office beginning Monday morning. The ticket office is located in the Stadium Drive Parking Garage and can be reached by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED.

Other Nebraska Bowl Notes                   
--Nebraska has a 24-23 record in bowl games. The Huskers have won 10 of their last 15 bowl games and four of their past six since 2003. Nebraska is 3-1 in bowl games with Pelini as head coach, including his victory as interim head coach in the 2003 Alamo Bowl.

--This year's game will be Nebraska's 19th bowl game in the state of Florida, and its second appearance in the Capital One (Citrus) Bowl. Nebraska faced Georgia Tech in the 1991 Citrus Bowl. Nebraska has also made 16 appearances in the Orange Bowl and most recently played in a Florida Bowl game, winning the Gator Bowl matchup with Clemson following the 2008 season. Nebraska is 8-10 in bowl games in Florida.

--This will mark Nebraska's first matchup with the SEC in a bowl game since a 17-14 loss to Auburn in the 2007 Cotton Bowl. Nebraska is 12-5 all-time against SEC opponents in bowl games, but has lost its last two, including a 2002 loss to Ole Miss in the Independence Bowl. Prior to that, Nebraska won 11 straight bowl games against SEC opponents from 1966 to 1999.

--Nine of Nebraska's 12 opponents in 2011 are appearing in bowl games, including seven of eight Big Ten Conference opponents. Looking ahead, the 2012 schedule features 10 opponents that are playing in a bowl game this season.

--The matchup with No. 10 South Carolina represents the highest ranked team Nebraska has faced in a bowl game since taking on No. 10 Auburn in the 2007 Cotton Bowl.