HONOLULU -- The University of Hawaii football will play in its first Bowl Championship Series game after it was invited to play in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia on Sunday.

The Warriors had to be ranked No. 12 or higher to receive an automatic berth to one of the top BCS bowl games. Hawaii finished the season ranked No. 10 in the BCS poll after a come-from-behind win against Washington. (Read more about the exciting victory.)

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BCS Bowl Schedule

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Georgia (10-2) finished the regular season ranked No. 5 in the BCS poll.

UH was the only Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly IA) team to finish the season undefeated. However, the team's weak schedule was a constant issue with sports analysts.

Western Athletic Conference rival Boise State went undefeated last season with a tougher schedule and received an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma in probably the most exciting BCS game of 2007.

Some analysts thought that the Western Athletic Conference champions would have faced Louisiana State in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Instead, No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia lost their final games and that left the way open for Ohio State and LSU to make it to the National Championship Game, which will also be played in New Orleans.

Georgia comes into the match-up having won the last six games.

"We're going to be the only bowl team that has the opportunity to play an undefeated team in Hawaii, and I know our players will be excited about that challenge," UGA head coach Mark Richt said.

The game will be played on Jan. 1.

Thousands of UH fans flocked to the Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday afternoon to cheer on the team during Fox TV's broadcast of the BCS match-up announcements.

Game Notes: It will be the first time the two teams face each other.

It is the ninth appearance at the Sugar Bowl for the Bulldogs.

It is only the second time Hawaii will play in a bowl game on the mainland.