Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

The Big East has officially announced, to no one's surprise, that it is extending its relationship with the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte from the 2010 through the 2013 season.

The game will continue to have the Big East's third selection, after the BCS representative and the Champs Sports Bowl berth have been determined. The Big East will continue to face an ACC team in the Meineke game.

The bowl began in 2002 with the Big East as a charter affiliate. West Virginia beat North Carolina 31-30 before a capacity crowd of 73,712 in last year's game. Only the BCS title game and Cotton and Fiesta bowls drew larger crowds for bowls last season.

The 2009 game will be played Saturday, Dec. 26 at 4:30 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN.

The rest of the bowl lineup is expected to include the new Yankee Bowl as the fourth selection, with the Papajohns.com and St. Petersburg bowls sharing the fifth and sixth selections.