USC LIKELY HEADED TO PAPAJOHNS.COM BOWL ON JAN. 2

The news was all but confirmed Wednesday: the University of South Carolina will be going to the PapaJohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala. on Jan. 2.

That decision is somewhat disappointing to Gamecock fans, who had been hoping to play in the more prestigious — and better paying — Music City Bowl or Chick-fil-A Bowl after Saturday’s big win over arch-rival Clemson.

But the Chick-fil-A Bowl was a long shot, and SEC East rival Kentucky’s proximity to Nashville, Tenn., made them a better pick for the Music City Bowl. Both Kentucky and USC finished the season 7-5 with a 3-5 SEC record, but the Gamecocks defeated the Wildcats 28-26 in October.

PapaJohns.com Bowl Executive Director Mark Meadows said in an email that he was “excited about the possibility of having the Gamecocks in Birmingham.”

The Gamecocks will face a Big East team in the PapaJohns.com Bowl, likely Connecticut or South Florida.

USC lost to Iowa in last year’s Outback Bowl, 31-10.

Photo: Getty Images