Matchup: East Carolina (8-4, AAC) vs. Florida (6-5, SEC)
Site: Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.
When: Jan. 3, 1 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Series: Florida, 1-0
Last game: Florida won, 24-17 on Oct. 22, 1983
Common opponents: South Carolina (East Carolina: L 33-23, Florida: L 23-20, OT)
Coaches: Ruffin McNeill (East Carolina); D.J. Durkin, interim (Florida)
Players to watch: East Carolina receiver Justin Hardy is college football's all-time leader in career receptions, and he and quarterback Shane Carden have been a great passing tandem this season. Hardy has 110 receptions for 1,334 yards and nine touchdowns while Carden has thrown for 4,309 yards with 28 touchdowns to eight interceptions. Florida junior linebacker Antonio Morrison has developed into a leader on Florida's improved defense. Morrison has 98 tackles with a sack and interception. Morrison is the anchor of a Gators unit ranked ninth nationally in yards allowed. But the Gators could be without quarterback Treon Harris, after he was cited for operating a vehicle without a valid license . No ruling has been made about his eligibility, though.
Reason to watch: Get SN's take from Bill Bender .