This game replaced the Cotton Bowl Classic, which moved from its long-time home to Cowboys Stadium in nearby Arlington in 2010, and pitted the Northwestern Wildcats from the Big Ten Conference against the Texas Tech Red Raiders from the Big 12 Conference.

[3] The game was originally labeled "The Dallas Football Classic," but on November 8, 2010, a deal was announced for TicketCity to become the title sponsor of the bowl.

[4] Northwestern was invited to the TicketCity Bowl after posting a 7–5 record in the regular season.

Northwestern has gone 0–2 since losing starting quarterback Dan Persa to a season-ending injury.

They were on a two-game winning streak leading into the bowl game.