Kansas to play in Tangerine Bowl

LAWRENCE, Kan., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Kansas University has accepted a bid to play in the Tangerine Bowl at Orlando, Fla. against North Carolina State on Dec. 22.

It will be the first time the Jayhawks (6-6, 3-5 Big 12) has played in a bowl game since 1995.

"Playing a bowl game in the state of Florida has been a long time in coming for our program," said Coach Mark Mangino. "There's been a certain amount of anticipation among our players and coaches hoping that this opportunity would come."

The Jayhawks rebounded from a 2-10 campaign in 2002, when they failed to win a conference game for the first time since 1987. Their payout for the contest will be $750,000.

KU had lost four in a row before ending the regular season on Nov. 22 with a 36-7 rout of Iowa State to become bowl eligible. They will face one of the nation's top quarterbacks in Philip Rivers.

This season, he was 311-of-438 for an ACC record 4,016 yards and 29 touchdowns.