Sugar Bowl to host SEC, Big 12 champs

The Allstate Sugar Bowl will host the champions of the SEC and Big 12 beginning on Jan. 1, 2015, conference and bowl officials announced in a statement Tuesday.

The game will be played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

The agreement is for 12 years and in the event that the bowl is selected as a semifinal game in the new BCS structure, the game would not host the SEC – Big 12 matchup in that year.

The champions of the two conferences will be in the matchup unless one or both are selected to play in the new four-team model to determine the national championship.  Should that occur, another team from the conference(s) will be selected.

“New Orleans and the Sugar Bowl are synonymous with post-season college football.  For many years, fans have enjoyed the color and pageantry that New Orleans offers,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said.  “The Mercedes-Benz Superdome has hosted many Super Bowls, Sugar Bowls and National Championship Games and having teams from the Big 12 and the SEC in a post-season college football game together only adds to this list.  We look forward to competing against the Big 12 as a new championship tradition begins on New Year’s Day.”

Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby also commented on the decision.

“From the moment this game was announced, there has been tremendous excitement associated with the collaboration between these two conferences.  That excitement is reflected in the bids received to host this game,” Bowlsby said.   “We are thrilled about our long-term association with our SEC colleagues and to be in partnership with the Allstate Sugar Bowl.“

“The result will be, without a doubt, one of college football’s best bowl games on an annual basis, one that brings tremendous national prestige and millions of dollars in economic impact to our city and state over the New Year’s holiday,” said Paul Hoolahan, Chief Executive Officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl.