The tenth annual New Mexico Bowl, it pitted the University of New Mexico Lobos of the Mountain West Conference against the University of Arizona Wildcats of the Pac-12 Conference.

The game featured the New Mexico Lobos against the Arizona Wildcats.

[5] Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez had led the Wildcats to bowl appearances in each of his four seasons with the school.

Overall, Rodriguez entered with a 4–5 bowl record as the head coach at Arizona (2–1), Michigan (0–1) and West Virginia (2–3).

This was the first bowl appearance for the Lobos under fourth-year head coach Bob Davie, who had three previous bowl appearances as the head coach at Notre Dame.