The Associated Press

Notre Dame and Miami are renewing their rivalry earlier than expected, and Michigan is playing on New Year’s Day again.

With the Bowl Championship Series announcing its pairings Sunday night, several teams had already accepted bids to other bowls. Notre Dame and Miami will meet in the Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

The following day, Michigan will play its first postseason game under embattled coach Rich Rodriguez. The Wolverines face No. 21 Mississippi State in the Gator Bowl.

In another SEC-Big Ten matchup, Florida will face Penn State in the Outback Bowl.

Notre Dame and Miami will play each other for the 24th time. They already planned to resume their spirited regular-season series beginning in 2012 at Soldier Field in Chicago.