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Two of the nation's top running backs will meet Dec. 31 when Arizona faces Boston College in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl.
Boston College's Andre Williams leads all Football Bowl Subdivision players this season with 2,102 yards rushing this season. Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey, the Pac-12 offensive player of the year, has rushed for 1,716 yards and ranks second nationally with 156 yards rushing per game.
Williams, Carey and Washington's Bishop Sankey are the three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the nation's top running back.
''Maybe the two best backs in the country are squaring off in the same bowl game,'' Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. ''It's very compelling, and I think it will make for great theater.''
The AdvoCare V100 Bowl - formerly known as the Independence Bowl - typically matches an Atlantic Coast Conference team against a Southeastern Conference school, but the SEC didn't have enough bowl-eligible teams to send someone to Shreveport this season. The AdvoCare 100 Bowl instead invited Arizona (7-5) from the Pac-12.
Boston College has been one of the ACC's biggest surprises. The Eagles went from 2-10 in 2012 to 7-5 this season in the first year of Steve Addazio's coaching tenure.
''We're thrilled,'' Addazio said in a university release. ''We're excited. The players are excited and they are all fired up. It's an exciting time for Boston College.''
This marks only the fourth time in the 38-year history of this bowl that it has included a Pac-12 team. Washington beat Tulane 24-12 in 1987. Oregon beat Tulsa 27-24 in 1989 and lost 39-35 to Wake Forest in 1992.
Arizona's coaching staff does have some Louisiana roots. Rodriguez was Tulane's offensive coordinator for two years, including the Green Wave's undefeated season in 1998. Arizona co-offensive coordinator Calvin Magee is a New Orleans native.
''I'm sure we'll see some friends and folks there and maybe have some Cajun food at the same time,'' Rodriguez said. ''More than anything, we're excited to put our program out there and try to win a football game.''
This represents the first time Arizona and Boston College have faced each other.
