The game pitted the San Jose State Spartans and the Central Michigan Chippewas.
The Spartans went a perfect 7–0 in conference play, with a tie to Louisville in their opener and losses to #20 Washington and California.
It was their first Big West Conference championship since 1987, along with their fourth in nine years.
The Chippewas were co-champions of the Mid-American Conference (with Toledo, who they had beaten, 13–12).
They had only two losses (to Kentucky and Ball State) and one tie (to independent Akron) in their first conference title since 1980.