GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference is remaining tied to the Orange Bowl.
The league on Tuesday announced a 12-year agreement with the bowl beginning after the 2014 season. It says details on the opponent and broadcast partner will come later.
The ACC has sent its champion to the South Florida-based bowl every year since 2006, and this announcement means that relationship will continue when the Bowl Subdivision makes the switch to a four-team playoff in two years.
“As we look ahead to the future of postseason college football, this will further an already beneficial partnership for both organizations,” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said. “The Discover Orange Bowl has a rich history of prestige, is located within the league’s footprint and is a great destination for our student-athletes, alumni and fans. In addition to our continued partnership, we are very pleased to be playing annually on New Year’s Day.”
The Orange Bowl will be played annually at 1 p.m. Jan. 1.
The league anticipates the Orange Bowl hosting at least four semifinal games and says in those years, its champion will play in one of the three other host bowls.
If the ACC champion makes the playoffs, another ACC team will play in the Orange Bowl.
The ACC becomes the fifth major conference to announce a tie with a bowl that expects to be part of the pool of six bowls from which two semifinal sites will rotate. The Big 12 and Southeastern Conference are creating the Champions Bowl for their representatives, while the Big Ten and Pac-12 are committed to the Rose Bowl.
AUTO RACING
De Silvestro gets new Lotus engine
Simona de Silvestro will have a new and hopefully improved Lotus engine this weekend at Toronto. De Silvestro was at Mid-Ohio for testing this week, though she didn’t get time with the new engine. Lotus has added upgrades approved by IndyCar to help the struggling manufacturer. De Silvestro says she believes it will be another month before HVM Racing sees any on-track benefits.
BOXING
No criminality seen in Pacquiao’s loss
The state attorney general in Nevada says she found no illegalities and no criminal wrongdoing in boxer Manny Pacquiao’s controversial split-decision loss to Timothy Bradley in a welterweight title fight last month in Las Vegas. An aide to Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto on Tuesday called the matter closed.
COLLEGE
IPFW names coach administrator
IPFW head women’s soccer coach Margaret Saurin was named the interim senior women’s administrator, IPFW athletic director Tommy Bell announced. Saurin has been the soccer coach since 2007. Prior to becoming the head women’s coach at IPFW, Saurin was an assistant at the University of Akron for three seasons and has been a part of the Ohio Northern Olympic Development program.
FOOTBALL
Ohio tight end commits to IU
Evan Jansen, a tight end from Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, has made an oral commitment to play at Indiana, according to multiple reports. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound Jansen is the second member of IU’s class of 2013.
Former Raiders DE Davidson dies at 72
Ben Davidson, the hulking defensive end who starred for the Oakland Raiders in the 1960s before becoming a famous television pitch man, has died. He was 72. He was being treated for prostate cancer.
MISCELLANEOUS
Big eaters weigh in for hot dog contest
Some world-champion speed eaters attended a weigh-in in the run-up to New York’s annual July Fourth hot dog contest. Defending champions Joey Chestnut and Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas weigh 210 and 100 pounds, respectively. The main event is today in Coney Island.
OLYMPICS
Tarmoh on roster of US track team
Jeneba Tarmoh has made the U.S. track and field team for the London Olympics, joining Allyson Felix, Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin on the 127-athlete roster. Tarmoh was selected as a member of the relay pool after withdrawing from a runoff Monday for the final Olympic spot in the 100 meters.
US skips bid on 2022 Winter Games
The U.S. Olympic Committee will not bid for the 2022 Winter Games but instead explore possible bids for either the 2024 Summer or 2026 Winter Olympics. The USOC board decided to hold off on bidding for the next available Olympics because going for the 2022 Games would create a fast timeline. A bid would be due in the fall of 2013.
