[4] The game featured the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
[5] Sources told ESPN reporter Brett McMurphy that the Red Wolves had officially been invited to the game and accepted.
[6] This was the Red Wolves' second trip to the New Orleans Bowl; they (at the time known as the Indians) had previously played in the 2005 game, losing to the Southern Miss Golden Eagles by a score of 31–19.
Notably, that game was played at Cajun Field in nearby Lafayette because of damage to the Superdome done by Hurricane Katrina.
Holtz had a 3–3 career record in bowl games as head coach at Louisiana Tech, South Florida and East Carolina.