The game featured Stanford's 13th-ranked offense including Toby Gerhart, a Heisman finalist[7][8] who led the NCAA Division I FBS subdivision with 1,736 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, against the seventh-ranked Oklahoma defense.

The Sooners also played in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game against the top-ranked Florida Gators, losing 24–14.

[16] Expectations were high for the Sooners as they were returning their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford as well as their All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham.

[21][22] In a poll of media members covering the Pac-10 prior to the 2009 season, Stanford was predicted to finish in sixth place.

[25][26] However, after a bye week in early November, Stanford knocked off top-10 ranked (and eventual Pac-10 champions) Oregon 51–42 thanks to a school-record 223 yards rushing by Toby Gerhart.

[28] A subsequent loss to California knocked them out of the rankings but a season-closing victory over Notre Dame brought them back into the ratings at number 19.

Sooners wide receiver Ryan Broyles set a Sun Bowl record with three touchdown receptions, quarterback Landry Jones passed for 418 yards and Oklahoma slowed Toby Gerhart just enough to beat Stanford.

Jones took over as Oklahoma's quarterback after 2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford was injured in an opening loss to BYU.

Tavita Pritchard went 8 for 19 for 118 yards and two interceptions filling in for Stanford starting QB, Andrew Luck.