ACC extends ties with Orange Bowl GREENSBORO, N.C., July 3 (UPI) -- The Atlantic Coast Conference football champion will be guaranteed a spot in the Orange Bowl under a 12-year deal announced Tuesday. The agreement for the New Year's Day game goes into effect for the 2014 season, when the new post-season alignment also begins. A four-team playoff for major college football was announced last week. Should the ACC champion be part of the four-team playoff, a replacement team from the ACC will participate in the Orange Bowl. "The ACC and Discover Orange Bowl have a terrific relationship and, as we look ahead to the future of post-season college football, this will further an already beneficial partnership for both organizations," ACC Commissioner John Swofford said. In addition to our continued partnership, we are very pleased to be playing annually on New Year's Day. The ACC champion has played in the Orange Bowl since 2006.