By ABC-7 Reporter Darren Hunt

EL PASO, Texas -- It looks like it could be a great Christmas for the Sun Bowl. Officials say Santa is on the verge of bringing Notre Dame to El Paso for the first time ever.

Sun Bowl selection committee chairman John Folmer said he has worked out a deal that will bring Notre Dame to El Paso on December 31. And having the Irish in El Paso will mean big things for the Sun City.

"It would be an amazing opportunity just to give El Paso a chance to see what it's like to go to a Notre Dame football game," said Chris Avila, president of the Notre Dame Club of El Paso.

In football terms, basically, Notre Dame has driven the length of the field. It is now fourth and one at the one-yard line and all they have to do is punch it in and Notre Dame is coming to the Sun Bowl.

"When we went into the arrangement with the Big East, we did it solely so we'd have an opportunity for Notre Dame. Period," Folmer said.

He said he is working out a deal with the Big East that should send Notre Dame here, as long as the Irish lose to 29-point favorite USC on Saturday.

"Based on all the rules and the way the NCAA changes are and the things in the handbook, we're gonna have Notre Dame," Folmer said.

And that could mean a huge economic impact for El Paso. "I think when that happens that we'll have to put on extra people to sell the tickets," Folmer said.

According to Avila, "Notre Dame has traditionally been the best traveling team in the nation. There's a huge economic impact that would follow the team."

So who would Notre Dame play in El Paso? Folmer said it looks like PAC-10 third place team California will also visit El Paso for the first time ever this year.