[3] Notre Dame (9–1–1) was ranked fifth and featured quarterback Rick Mirer and running backs Reggie Brooks and Jerome Bettis.

Notre Dame was chosen by the Cotton Bowl's board of directors, who faced criticism for not selecting the third-ranked Florida State Seminoles.

Board members for the Cotton Bowl said that they considered several factors, including the potential for ticket sales and the wishes of the network.

Board members pointed out the Texas A&M-Florida State matchup at the 1992 Cotton Bowl Classic, saying that they preferred to avoid a rematch in consecutive years.

[9] Artificial turf was removed from the playing surface after the game and natural grass was planted in anticipation of the stadium hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Ironically, Notre Dame also won the first Cotton Bowl Classic played on artificial turf, defeating Texas 24-11 on New Year's Day 1971, ending the Longhorns' 30-game winning streak.