On May 20, 2013, the bowl announced that future editions would be held at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.

[2]Under normal circumstances, the 2012 game would have been between the eighth bowl-eligible team from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Army.

In addition, the ACC only had six bowl-eligible teams this season because the Miami Hurricanes, in the midst of an NCAA investigation into allegations of major rules violations, self-imposed a bowl ban.

After defeating the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs to finish their regular season, the Spartans accepted a bid to the Military Bowl on November 30.

San Jose State quarterback David Fales' first play from scrimmage was a 15-yard pass to Noel Grigsby.

Harrison Waid punted the ball 33 yards to Bowling Green's 23 but immediately left the game due to complications of pneumonia.

Running back Anthon Samuel advanced the ball 6 yards for a first down but lost 2 on the next play.

Following an illegal block penalty, 10 yards were taken off BooBoo Gates' kickoff return, and Bowling Green started on their own 29.

Bowling Green could only advance 12 more yards, and Tyler Tate converted a 28-yard field goal to cut San Jose State's lead to 7–3.

Bowling Green's Chris Jones recovered the fumble and returned it 20 yards to the San Jose State 8.

In an 8-play, 68-yard drive with mostly rushing plays, John Pettigrew first converted a 3rd-and-4 with a 34-yard run to advance to San Jose State's one-yard line.

Pettigrew followed with a one-yard TD run, and the extra point kick gave the lead back to Bowling Green, 20–19.

Taking over with 4:22 left, Eskridge rushed twice for 9 yards to the Bowling Green 15, and on 3rd-and-1, Fales completed a 12-yard pass to Ina Liaina.