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 2009 game featured the ACC 's Clemson Tigers , who finished the 2008 season with an overall record of 7-5 ( 4-4 in the ACC ) playing the Big 12 's Nebraska Cornhuskers , who finished the 2008 season with an overall record of 8 – 4 ( 5 – 3 in the Big 12 ) . Clemson went to the Chick-fil-A Bowl in 2007 , while Nebraska did not qualify for a bowl game
Big East
Big East Conference (1979–2013)
2009 Gator Bowl