Purdue has accepted an invitation to the Heart of Dallas Bowl and will face a Big 12 opponent.

The Boilers will take the field Jan. 1 in the Cotton Bowl (noon ET, ESPNU). Their opponent is expected to be announced after the BCS selections tonight.

Assistant Patrick Higgins will serve as Purdue's interim coach for the bowl game after the school fired Danny Hope on Nov. 25. The Boilers won the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl last year and head to back-to-back bowls for the first time since 2006-07. Purdue won its final three games to finish 6-6 and qualify for the postseason.

Big Ten teams are 0-2 in the Heart of Dallas Bowl (formerly TicketCity).