CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Miami will play in San Francisco's Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27.

The Hurricanes (7-5) accepted the invite today and will fly across the country to play California (8-4) — whose campus is a mere 13 miles from the bowl site.

Miami will be playing for the eighth time in California. The most recent was Jan. 3, 2002, when the Hurricanes beat Nebraska in the Rose Bowl for their fifth national championship.

Miami leads the series with Cal 2-1, with wins in 1989 and 1990. Cal prevailed in 1964.

Miami didn't make the postseason last year, struggling to finish 5-7. The Hurricanes ended this season on a two-game losing streak and missed out on a chance to play for the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and potential spot in the Orange Bowl.

But the Emerald Bowl has had a serious eye on Miami for several days, and when finally given the chance, jumped at the opportunity to select the Hurricanes.

"We look at things a little differently than some bowls on the East coast and some of the ACC's other bowl partners," said Emerald Bowl director Gary Cavalli. "Our strategy is to select a Pac-10 team that brings fans and an ACC team with a name that will appeal to the causal Bay Area football fan and the national TV audience. And Miami gives us a lot of national appeal."

Cal accepted its invitation on Saturday night after beating Washington, and Cavalli said he and Golden Bears coach Jeff Tedford chatted for a few minutes about the possibility of the Hurricanes being the ACC representative in the game.

"He told me there'll be a lot of speed on the field," Cavalli said. "I think they're very eager to play Miami. I think this will be a very exciting matchup."