As expected, the 2012 Orange Bowl will pit ACC champion Clemson against Big East champion West Virginia. The Tigers clinched their bid by defeating Virginia Tech, 38-10, in the ACC Championship Game, while it appears West Virginia will end up as the highest BCS-ranked Big East team. The official Orange Bowl website is already selling Clemson-West Virginia merchandise, so it looks official.
The Tigers finished with three late-season losses, but in typical Clemson fashion, they clinched their bid by defeating the Hokies. West Virginia is 9-3 and in a three-way tie for first in the Big East, but will end up with a better BCS ranking than Cincinnati or Louisville.
Here is more information on the 2012 Orange Bowl.
Game date, time: 8:30 pm ET, Wednesday, January 4th
Location: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
TV channel: ESPN/ESPN3
2010 winner and loser: Stanford, Virginia Tech
For more on each bowl game as it’s announced, stay tuned to SB Nation’s 2011 college football bowl game bids coverage. And visit our many college football blogs.