Eva Longoria says she and Mark Sanchez are 'dating'

The Wildcat is out of the bag.  Eva Longoria, the tiny "Desperate Housewives" star confirmed Thursday — what has been the worst kept secret since Michael Strahan paired up with Kelly Ripa on Live! — that she and Mark Sanchez are an item.

It's official.  Now everyone go "awwww."

After being spotted grocery shopping and having lunch together near his Bedminster, N.J. home or hiding behind a blond wig while dining out in Manhattan, Longoria broke the news to "Extra" host Mario Lopez.

"Mark and I are, you know, fine.  We're happy — just dating," she giggled.

Everyone knows the 37-year old actress has a thing for athletes —he just split with NBA star Tony Parker — but claims she's "a big fan of the Jets because they have the best center in the NFL, Nick Mangold."

Yeah right ... a center.  You know Sanchez told her to say that.

Longoria was coy about breaking the the news — and even called Lopez an "a--hole" for holding up a New York Post story about the couple with the headline,"Private Affair" on it.   But she finally spilled the beans in front of cheering fans.

Now that Longoria has the 25-year old Sanchez on her fantasy team, she can expect a lot more front page headlines — especially with the Jets. 

From one Sunday drama to another, Longoria will find out the the sniping on Wisteria Lane has nothing on the dysfunction at MetLife Stadium.