[2] Organizers obtained permission from the Pac-10 to look elsewhere, and on November 16 announced an agreement with the Mid-American Conference, which had five bowl-eligible teams but as yet only two bowls.
Although the SVC invited Fresno State back, the Bulldogs opted for the MPC Computers Bowl, where they would face #18-ranked Virginia from the ACC.
Left without a WAC team, organizers turned to the Troy Trojans of the Sun Belt Conference.
Troy had never played in a bowl game before, having just moved up to Division I in 2001 and joined the Sun Belt in 2004.
[4] Rain could not stop the Huskies from scoring 34 straight points after trailing 14-0 early in the first quarter.