BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Virginia Tech agreed Monday to play Florida State in the Gator Bowl on New Year's Day.

The official bid was to be extended Monday night on the "Hokie Hotline" radio show.

The Hokies (No. 13 ESPN/USA Today, No. 14 AP) will face the unranked Seminoles at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville.

"We are ecstatic to be going to our seventh New Year's bowl in nine years," said head coach Frank Beamer. "This is certainly a compliment to our program and to our great fan support."

Florida State beat Tech 46-29 two years ago in the Sugar Bowl to win the national championship.

For the first time in four years, Florida State will not be playing for the national championship. The Seminoles will be playing in their 20th straight bowl.

Virginia Tech is 8-2 heading into Saturday's game against No. 1 Miami. The Seminoles are 6-4 going into Saturday's game against Georgia Tech.

It's the first time since 1986 that Florida State has lost more than two games in a season and not finished in The Associated Press poll's top five.

"It makes you appreciate how the other 98 percent lives," Florida State athletic director Dave Hart Jr. said.

"I don't believe anyone in college football ever again will have a run like that," Hart said. "It was an unbelievable run. Only UCLA's basketball run under John Wooden is comparable."

The Hokies are 1-2 in the Gator Bowl. They lost to Tennessee 45-23 in 1994 and North Carolina 42-3 in 1997. Last year, they defeated Clemson 41-20.