The Nation Game in El Paso, Texas, played on January 31, 2009, at Sun Bowl Stadium.

For the first time in 62 years, however, the Hula Bowl was not a part of the post-season as it was cancelled indefinitely.

NCAA bylaws say that a school with a record of 6–6 in regular season play and at least 5 wins over FBS teams are eligible only after conferences cannot fill out available positions for bowl games with teams having seven (or more) wins automatically eligible, excluding games played in Hawaii and conference championship games in the ACC, Big 12, Conference USA, MAC and the SEC.

The Atlantic Coast Conference sent an NCAA-record ten teams to bowl games this season.

NOTE: Rankings from final regular-season AP Poll of December 7, 2008.