COLLEGE SIGNINGS

The College Football Playoff and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl announced this past Sunday the 2nd-seeded Clemson Tigers will face the third-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl.

Kickoff is scheduled on Saturday, Dec. 29 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 4 pm.

The selection marks Clemson’s fourth consecutive College Football Playoff (CFP) appearance, as Clemson joins Alabama as the only programs ever to earn at least four straight CFP berths.

The Cotton Bowl berth brings Clemson’s bowl history full circle. The game will be only the Tigers’ second all-time appearance in the Cotton Bowl, dating back to the program’s first ever bowl bid.

That year, head coach Jess Neely’s Tigers completed a 9-1 campaign in 1939 with a 6-3 victory against Boston College in the 1940 Cotton Bowl. The victory was a landmark one for Clemson, as in addition to being the program’s first bowl game, it represented the school’s first win against a Top 20 team.

Clemson (13-0) will be making a 14th straight bowl appearance, adding to its current school record that began in 2005. In total, it will be Clemson’s 43rd bowl appearance, with the Tigers entering their upcoming bowl schedule with an existing 22-20 all-time record in bowl play.

The meeting between the Tigers and Irish will be only the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs. Clemson holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series between the schools, including a win in the programs’ most recent meeting in 2015, when Clemson stopped a 2-point conversion attempt in a driving rain storm to secure a 24-22 victory at Memorial Stadium.

Clemson clinched the CFP berth following a 42-10 victory over Pittsburgh in the ACC championship game in Charlotte, N.C. It marked the first time an ACC team had won the conference title four years in a row.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 12-24 pass attempts for 118 yards with a pair of touchdown tosses to Tee Higgins, who finished the game with 36 yards and those two scores on three receptions.

Travis Etienne added 156 yards with two touchdowns on 12 carries, and Adam Choice and Lyn-J Dixon each ran for scores.

From the USC Office of Athletic Communications

The Belk Bowl announced Sunday the South Carolina Gamecocks will face the Virginia Cavaliers in the 2018 Belk Bowl.

Kickoff is set for Saturday, December 29 at noon. The game, celebrating its 17th year, will be televised nationally by ABC.

South Carolina will be making its first appearance in the Belk Bowl, but they have played regular season games in Charlotte three times. They are a perfect 3-0 at Bank of America Stadium, most recently defeating N.C. State, 35-28, to open the 2017 season.

Virginia is making its third appearance in the game and in Charlotte. They have a perfect 2-0 record at Bank of America Stadium. The Cavaliers won the inaugural Belk Bowl in 2002, defeating West Virginia, 48-22, and then beat Pittsburgh, 23-16, in 2003.

“We are pleased to welcome South Carolina and Virginia to the 2018 Belk Bowl,” said Will Webb, Belk Bowl Executive Director. “The Gamecocks and Cavaliers have each enjoyed a great season, and they should have an exciting, competitive game on the field. Both teams have tremendous, enthusiastic fans that should make the 2018 Belk Bowl very memorable. We look forward to hosting the teams and their fans in Charlotte.”

South Carolina finished the season with a 7-5 overall record (4-4 SEC) and tied for third in the SEC East Division. This is their third-straight bowl appearance and they have won five of their last six bowl games.

Virginia finished the season with a 7-5 overall record (4-4 ACC). They finished tied for third in the ACC Coastal Division.

“We’re excited for another trip to the Queen City,” South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp said. “Charlotte has one of the largest, if not the largest, University of South Carolina alumni bases outside the Palmetto state. Bank of America Stadium, where the Carolina Panthers play, is a great venue for a game and we’ve had a lot of success there. I know Will Webb and his staff at the Belk Bowl will make this a memorable experience for our squad, but our goal is to win our eighth game of the season. I expect to see a great contingent of Gamecock fans in Charlotte to help us achieve our goal.”

South Carolina is 21-12-1 all-time against Virginia and won the last meeting 31-7 in 2003.