The fourth edition of the Pinstripe Bowl, it featured the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (based in nearby New Brunswick, New Jersey) of the American Athletic Conference against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, an independent team.
[4] This will be the Scarlet Knights' second Pinstripe Bowl; Rutgers had previously won the 2011 game, defeating the Iowa State Cyclones by a score of 27–13.
After the success of the previous season which led to a berth in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game (which they lost to Alabama by a score of 42–14), the Irish's expectations were moderately scaled back because of various departures.
However, the Irish still managed a winning season at 8–4 overall, after which bowl director Mark Holtzman extended an invitation to play in the game.
[citation needed] Placekicker Kyle Brindza of Notre Dame set a Pinstripe Bowl record with five field goals in a game.