[2][3] This was the seventh bowl game of the decade for Arizona State, who had finished 3rd in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Rutgers began their season with a loss to #3 Penn State 20-17.
They lost their final game to Colgate at home, but the Scarlet Knights were still invited to their first ever bowl game, played in New Jersey, the same state the team played in.
John Mistler caught 7 passes for 148 yards in an MVP effort as the Sun Devils pulled away in the second half.
[4] Rutgers was not invited to another bowl game until 2005, which coincidentally was against the Sun Devils.