The bowl matched the sixth selection from the Big 12 Conference, Baylor, versus the sixth selection from the Big Ten Conference, Illinois.
[2] Baylor announced the same day that all but 400 of its 12,000-ticket allotment had been sold and that the athletics department had requested more tickets from the Texas Bowl.
[3] After a disappointing 6-6 season Illinois returns to a bowl game to face Baylor.
Illinois boasts Mikel Leshoure who emerged as the Big Ten's best running back this season, ranking eighth nationally in rushing with 126.1 yards per game.
The game will also mark the Fighting Illini's first appearance in the Texas Bowl.