The Purdue Boilermakers have been selected as the Big Ten Conference’s representative in the 2006 Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, bowl officials announced today. The game will kickoff at 8:00 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 29 and will be televised nationally by ESPN.

“Purdue has been here and represented itself well in the past,” Selection Committee Chairman George Nahas said. “Its game here in 2004 against Georgia was an exciting overtime game and their fans were great.  We have always had a great relationship with the Purdue folks and we look forward to having them back.”

After a midseason slump, Purdue has snapped back into shape and has won its last three as it heads to Hawaii for its final regular season game this Saturday.  Head coach Joe Tiller’s team features one of the top aerial assaults in the nation with a passing offense that averages 286.3 yards per game.  The passing attack ranks sixth nationally while the Boilermakers are 10th in total offense overall.

“Purdue has a chance to be a nine-win team and boasts one of the most exciting offenses in all of college football,” said Florida Citrus Sports Executive Director Steve Hogan. “The Boilermakers have one of the more passionate fan bases and will follow their team to Orlando to see what should be a top bowl matchup against a very good ACC opponent.”

Purdue has never appeared in the Champs Sports Bowl.  Its only other appearance in Orlando came in 2004, an exciting 34-27 overtime loss to Georgia in which the Boilers came back from a 24-0 deficit to push the game to overtime.  Quarterback Kyle Orton helped lead a 17-point fourth quarter rally that ended up just short.

Purdue’s opposition, a representative from the Atlantic Coast Conference, will be determined after that league’s championship game on December 2 in Jacksonville, Fla. There are numerous ACC teams still remaining on the selection committee’s watch list as the regular season draws to a close.