Outback Bowl Selects Ohio State

Tampa, FL -- Outback Bowl officials extended an invitation today to Ohio State University to play in it's 15th anniversary game on New Year's Day. The Buckeyes finished the 2000 regular season with an 8-3 record and are ranked 20th in the ESPN/USA Today Poll and 21st in the AP Poll. They will play a team from the Southeastern Conference, which probably won't be determined until December 3, the day after the SEC Championship game.

"We couldn't be happier with the opportunity to bring in such a quality team as Ohio State," said Outback Bowl Chairman Chuck Riggs. "The Buckeye fans will have a great time in the Tampa Bay area."

" The Buckeyes are a talented and exciting team," adds Team Selection Chairman Terry Bien. "With our possible SEC options we feel this could be one of our best match-ups ever."

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to come to Tampa for the Outback Bowl. Our fans are looking forward to celebrating the New Year's Holiday by the bay. We are proud to be associated with the Outback Bowl and look forward to playing an exciting game against a Southeastern Conference school," responded OSU Athletic Director Andy Geiger.

"We are delighted to represent the Big Ten at the Outback Bowl. We've been there before and look forward to going again," added Head Coach John Cooper.

Outback Bowl 2001 kicks-off the New Year's Day bowl lineup and will be telecast internationally on ESPN TV at 11A.M. Tickets to the Outback Bowl are $45 each and are available at Ticketmaster outlets throughout Florida, via phone at (813) 287-8844 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. (Only Priority Membership packages will be sold through the bowl office).