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2012 Sun Bowl: USC a 'huge challenge' for Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets are in the Sun Bowl for the second consecutive season, and this year their opponent is a talented Southern Cal team that began the season with the No. 1 ranking.

By Steven Muma
Streeter Lecka

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will face Southern Cal in the 2012 Sun Bowl, which is set for Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. ET. Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson is looking forward to the matchup and said he recognizes the challenge that USC is going to present to his team.

"I know that USC will be a formidable opponent with a lot of tradition, and Coach (Lane) Kiffin is an outstanding coach with some outstanding players, so that’ll be a huge challenge," Johnson said.

The Trojans lost four of their last five games to close out their season in disappointing fashion. They are No. 29 in FBS in total offense and No. 63 in total defense. Quarterback Matt Barkley missed the season finale because of a shoulder injury, but he is expected to play against the Jackets.

Georgia Tech is coming off a loss to Florida State in the ACC title game. The Jackets rank 32nd nationally in total offense and 54th in total defense.

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Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.