The 12th edition of the Fight Hunger Bowl, it featured the Washington Huskies, from the Pac-12 Conference, against the BYU Cougars, an independent team.

[4] Washington and BYU both finished the regular season with records of 8–4, and each team faced its own set of circumstances entering the game.

Washington featured a pair of key star players on offense, in Bishop Sankey at running back and Austin Seferian-Jenkins at tight end.

Key performers on the defense included linebacker Shaq Thompson and team captain Sean Parker, a safety.

BYU featured a high-powered offense that centered on dual-threat quarterback Taysom Hill and wide receiver Cody Hoffman.

Defensively, Kyle Van Noy, an All-American who was one of the "best defenders" in program history, headlined a unit that also featured Uani 'Unga, who led the group in tackles.

They were the only team to score in the second half, posting 10 points despite losing both their quarterback and running back due to injury in the fourth quarter.

[5] After defeating the Boise State Broncos for their sixth win of the season on October 25, bowl director Gary Cavalli extended an invitation to play in the game.

[15] Other contributors included wide receivers JD Falslev and Ross Apo, and tight ends Brett Thompson and Kaneaku Friel.

A "work in progress" all season long, the BYU offensive line shuffled players in and out in various positions: Head coach Bronco Mendenhall and offensive coordinator Robert Anae both say they’ve witnessed progress in recent weeks, but there have still been a lot of whiffs, missed assignments, questionable efforts, injuries, rotating lineups, challenges to compete, and advocacy to be more physical.

Senior linebacker Uani 'Unga led the defense in tackles, recording 136 on the season, adding 7 tackles-for-loss (TFL), and 2 forced fumbles (FF).

[18] Joining him in the linebacking corps were All-American Kyle Van Noy, "perhaps the best defender to ever run out of the home-team tunnel at LaVell Edwards Stadium"[19] and led the defense with 16 TFL, junior Alani Fua, who was third on the team with 63 tackles, senior Austin Jorgensen, whose career ended with surgery to repair torn knee cartilage in October,[20] and Spencer Hadley, who returned late in the year after a suspension imposed due to an honor code violation.

[18] Junior Skye Povey, seniors Mike Hague and Blake Morgan, and sophomore Manoa Pikula also contributed to the defensive backfield, though did not start in the last game of the season.

[38] At cornerback, sophomore Marcus Peters achieved second-team all-conference honors;[36] he led the defense with 5 interceptions, also recording 53 tackles and deflecting 14 passes.

After the punt, Washington (WASH) embarked on a 12-play, 71-yard drive that encapsulated 3:57, was highlighted by a 17-yard pass from Keith Price to Austin Seferian-Jenkins that converted a 3rd down and 16, and culminated with an 11-yard touchdown run by Bishop Sankey to open up a 7–0 advantage.

On BYU's ensuing drive, this time one that lasted 10 plays, netting 48 yards, Sorensen kicked a 45-yard field goal to pull the Cougars within four points.

Subsequently, BYU executed 12 plays, en route to Sorensen kicking his third field goal of the quarter as the first half's time expired, thus making the halftime score 21–16.

[46] WASH received the second half's opening kickoff, and Ross returned the kick to the 38-yard line, from which they began a 10-play, 62-yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Price to Seferian-Jenkins that made the score 28–16.

Dave Pasch disseminated play-by-play, former quarterback Brian Griese handled analysis, and recruiting guru Tom Luginbill was the sideline reporter.

ESPN Radio was the primary radio outlet through which the game was broadcast; the announcers on that platform were San Francisco Giants baseball announcer Dave Flemming, who did play-by-play commentary, former Oregon Ducks football coach Mike Bellotti, who was the game analyst, and long-time ESPN anchor and reporter Shelley Smith, who was the sideline reporter.