Houston went 5-3 in its final American Athletic Conference season before moving to the Big 12 Conference in 2023. The Cougars are competing in their 15th bowl game in the last 18 seasons – the most in the state of Texas in that span.
Louisiana is heading bowling for a school-record fifth consecutive season. The Ragin’ Cajuns placed 11 on the All-Sun Belt Conference team while making a name for themselves on special teams, leading the league in blocked kicks , kickoff return defense and punt returns .