The Bulldogs accepted their invitation after finishing the regular season 6–6, while the Owls advanced by virtue of winning the C-USA Championship Game over Marshall, 41–24.
This was the second meeting between Rice and Mississippi State's football teams; the Bulldogs won the first matchup in 1975 by a score of 28–14, but were later forced to forfeit that game among others during the 1975 through 1977 seasons for NCAA rules violations.
A plurality of college football analysts predicted that Mississippi State (MSU) would emerge victorious, including Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports,[4] all six panelists from CBS Sports (although four of the six predicted that Rice would cover the 7-point spread),[9] and Randy Chambers, a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
[10] Chambers commented, This should end up being one of the better bowl games of this season ... but for the sake of a prediction, you have to go with Mississippi State.
It's the team that's a lot more balanced offensively and has seemed to have found a rhythm ... Rice has been on fire, winning nine of its last 10, but the lack of competition is a concern.
[10] CBS's Tony Moss concurred, noting, "Rice was a consistent winner this year and Mississippi State became bowl-eligible by the skin of its teeth.
[20]: 2, 11 Senior center Nate Richards attained all-conference accolades, and started all of the games for Rice during the regular season.
[20]: 4 Second team all-conference performer Chris Boswell started at kicker, making 14 of his 21 attempts with a long of 56 yards.
[20]: 11 [25] At end, fifth-year senior Cody Bauer entered the game as the starter; he led the defense with 4.5 sacks on the season to complement 9.5 TFL and 34 tackles.
[23] At cornerback, they featured two all-conference performers – fifth-year senior Phillip Gaines, who achieved first team commendation with a team-leading four interceptions to complement 34 tackles and 4 TFL, and junior Bryce Callahan, who started all 12 regular season games and achieved second team commendation with 32 tackles, 3 TFL, and 3 interceptions.
[20]: 12 [25] The Bulldogs, who, over Christmas, took a five-day hiatus from what was a "distracted" series of practices,[26] finished their preparations for the bowl game looking to match a three-game losing streak that they suffered towards the end of the season with a three-game winning streak including the bowl game.
[31] Senior LaDarius Perkins started at running back, and totaled 495 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the season.
[32] Junior Robert Johnson and sophomore Joe Morrow were the other predominant starters at wide receiver,[11]: 47 with the former of whom finishing second on the team with 33 receptions for 379 yards, and the former of whom finishing sixth on the team with 18 receptions for 211 yards; Johnson caught no touchdowns, while Morrow caught one.
[30] Freshman De'Runnya Wilson made one start at wide receiver, and finished fourth on the team with 23 receptions for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns.
He combines size, power and strength and has been a fixture at left guard for the Bulldogs since his redshirt freshman season.
[11]: 7 : 45 In the secondary, MSU's starters developed over the season, particularly at cornerback,[23] where junior Jamerson Love, sophomore Taveze Calhoun, and Will Redmond all saw significant time.
[11]: 7 Despite the improvement at cornerback, there was concern at safety for the Bulldogs, primarily because of season-ending surgery underwent by leader Nickoe Whitley after their final game; in his absence, redshirt freshman Deontay Evans and sophomore Kendrick Market, the latter of whom was third on the defense in tackles with 60,[36] were the starters.
[11]: 7 Overall, one preview noted MSU's defense had an edge over Rice's because of a strong front seven that, during games against tough opponents, was "battle tested against the nastiest OLs in the country".
[23] ESPN broadcast the game on television, with Bob Wischusen, Rod Gilmore, and Quint Kessenich providing play-by-play, analysis, and sideline coverage respectively.
On ESPN Radio, Beth Mowins provided play-by-play, Joey Galloway analysis, and Paul Carcaterra sideline coverage.
MSU capitalized on the ensuing drive, scoring via a screen pass to Malcolm Johnson; the PAT was blocked.
The Bulldogs capped off the scoring when kicker Taylor Earhart came on and Kicked a 19-yard field goal with 4:45 remaining.