A lack of eligible teams from the Big Ten Conference made a spot available in the game for Marshall.
Line judge Sarah Thomas became the first woman to officiate a college football bowl game.
[4] The 2009 game marked an unexpected renewal of the Battle for the Bell, the rivalry between the two nearby teams (about 80 miles (130 km) apart), which had been on hiatus since Marshall's move from the MAC to C-USA in 2005.
Marshall's Martin Ward was named the game's MVP as he rushed for 72 yards on nine carries and recorded two touchdowns.
Just two years before, more than twice as many people watched Purdue beat Central Michigan in Detroit.