They were led by fourth-year head coach Doc Holliday and played their home games at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

They finished the season 10–4, 7–1 in C-USA play to win the East Division title.

The last times these two teams faced each other was in 2004, a 33–25 win over the RedHawks at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.

The last meeting between Marshall and Middle Tennessee was in 1994, when both schools were still in what was then known as Division I-AA (now FCS).

The last times these two teams faced each other was in 2012, when Southern Miss slipped from the Conference USA championship in 2011 to 0–12 last season.

The last times these two teams faced each other was in 2012, a 38–31 UAB win at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

Tulsa won Conference USA in 2012, and Marshall plays at TU for the second time in three seasons.

The last times these two teams faced each other was in 2011 in the Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl St. Petersburg (Fla.) at Tropicana Field, a 20–10 Thundering Herd win.