The Gator Bowl has tie-ins from the Atlantic Coast Conference ( ACC ) , Big 12 Conference , and Big East Conferences , as well as independent Notre Dame . They have the right to the third pick of a team from the ACC , and have the option to offer the other spot to the second pick from the Big East , the fourth pick from the Big 12 , or Notre Dame . The 2008 game featured the ACC 's Virginia Cavaliers , who finished the 2007 season with an overall record of 9 – 3 ( 6 – 2 in the ACC ) playing the Big 12 's Texas Tech Red Raiders , who finished the 2007 season with an overall record of 8 – 4 ( 4 – 4 in the Big 12 ) . The game was the eighth straight post season appearance for the Red Raiders . Virginia returned to a bowl game after failing to qualify for one following the 2006 season
Big East
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
2008 Gator Bowl