Purdue football to play LSU in Orlando's Citrus Bowl Jan. 2

WEST LAFAYETTE - Purdue's football team will spend the new year in Florida.

The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl announced Sunday the Boilermakers (8-5) will play No. 15 LSU (9-4) at 1 p.m. Jan. 2 in Orlando's Camping World Stadium.

The Boilermakers and Tigers have never faced each other, but LSU has familiarity with Purdue's program. First-year head coach Brian Kelly has six wins over the Boilermakers as head coach at Notre Dame.

Purdue lost its only previous appearance in the Citrus Bowl 34-27 to Georgia in overtime in 2004, then known as the Capital One Bowl.

The Boilermakers are coming off Saturday's Big Ten Championship loss to Michigan. Michigan and Ohio State were selected to for the College Football Playoff. The Rose Bowl selected Penn State to represent the Big Ten.

All three of those teams were ranked in the top seven of the newest USA Today coaches poll.

MORE:Building on championship experience at Big Ten title game should fuel Purdue football

LSU lost Saturday's SEC championship game to Georgia.

Purdue is making its fourth bowl appearance in the past six seasons under head coach Jeff Brohm. The Boilermakers won the Music City Bowl 48-45 in overtime against Tennessee last season, improving to 11-9 in bowl games as a program.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue football to play LSU in Orlando's Citrus Bowl Jan. 2