The game was telecast on ESPN2 and the South Florida Bulls defeated the Northern Illinois Huskies 27–3.

In 2001, South Florida's first game as an NCAA Division I-A team was at Northern Illinois; NIU won 20–17 on a last-second field goal.

Carlton Mitchell caught six passes for 94 yards for the Bulls, who won back-to-back bowls for the first time.

[2] It's the third straight year a Big East running back has topped 200 yards in the International Bowl.

Northern Illinois running back Chad Spann carried 20 times for 93 yards, giving him 1,038 for the season.