The Gator Bowl is offering Notre Dame...

The Gator Bowl is offering Notre Dame $3 million to play West Virginia in the New Year’s night bowl game at Jacksonville, Fla.

But the Chicago Tribune reported that “Notre Dame officials told Gator Bowl officials that Notre Dame is not interested in the Gator Bowl this year.”

Sources familiar with bowl negotiations said Notre Dame already has struck a different deal and will play in either the Fiesta Bowl or the Orange Bowl, both scheduled for Jan. 2.

Charles Callaghan, a Gator Bowl spokesman, said that West Virginia would receive the same $3-million offer. ESPN will televise the Gator Bowl.