One item in the fine-print of the Cotton Bowl’s agreement to match a Big 12 team with an SEC team allows the bowl to pick Notre Dame once in the next two years instead of an SEC team.

While most speculation still has the Gator Bowl interested in using its option to pick Notre Dame to face an ACC team, this is another option and could impact where the Big 12 teams shake out in the bowls.

It would probably take a Notre Dame victory over Southern Cal to spike the Cotton’s interest because that would give the Irish an 8-4 record. A 7-5 Irish team wouldn’t be the same draw as a Georgia or LSU team to Dallas.

Cotton Bowl president Rick Baker said that if both the Cotton and Gator wanted Notre Dame, the three sides would meet and work out the best scenario for all three. If it worked out that Notre Dame were to come to Dallas, the Gator would likely consider its option on picking a Big 12 team to face a team from the ACC.

This will be the last Cotton Bowl game played in the actual Cotton Bowl at Fair Park. The game moves to the new Cowboys stadium for next year. Notre Dame has had some big moments in Dallas so there might be some historical tug for the Irish, especially if they were to be matched against Texas, a team they beat for the national title after the 1977 season. The Longhorns also won the 1969 national title with a win over Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. Also, Notre Dame’s last bowl victory, all the way back to Jan. 1994, came in the Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M.

How does all this impact Missouri’s bowl options? It could certainly bring the Gator Bowl into play if Notre Dame went to Dallas.

Still, the most likely options remain Fiesta (if Missouri wins Big 12 title game), Holiday in San Diego or Alamo in San Antonio.

The Cotton, which hosted Missouri last year and was pleased with the turnout, is still focusing more on the odd-team out between Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Texas after the BCS bowls are filled.