The eighth edition of the BBVA Compass Bowl (which was originally called the Birmingham Bowl), it featured the Vanderbilt Commodores of the Southeastern Conference and the Houston Cougars of the American Athletic Conference.
Both the Commodores and the Cougars accepted their invitations after earning 8–4 records in their respective season schedules.
[3][4] This was the first BBVA Compass Bowl for both Vanderbilt and Houston, as well as the first time the schools had played each other in football.
The Commodores continued their winning ways under third-year coach James Franklin, finishing the season 8–4 overall and 4–4 in conference play, which was good enough for fourth place in the SEC East.
[4] Statistical leaders for the Cougars are Ryan Jackson, 137 rushes for 655 yards; John O'Kom, 239 passes for 2,889 yards for 26 touchdowns; Deontay Greenberry, who caught 76 passes for 1,106 yards and 10 TDs; Efrem Oliphant and Derrick Mathes had made 123 and 110 tackles respectively during the season.