North Texas had a record of 8–4 (6–2 C-USA) and were tied for second place in the Conference USA West Division.
[4] This was the fifth all-time meeting between the two teams, and the first victory of the series for North Texas.
In a year that saw UNLV achieve its first winning season since the turn of the millennium and the rightful return of the Fremont Cannon to Las Vegas, the Rebels accepted an invitation to the Heart of Dallas Bowl after finishing 7–5 overall and 5–3 in Mountain West Conference Play.
The Rebels, who are 3–0 in bowl games, had won all four previous meetings with the Mean Green.
At season's end, bowl director Brant Ringler extended an invitation to the Mean Green, located only 40 miles to the northwest in Denton, to play in the game.