[4] It was one of the 2015–16 bowl games that concluded the 2015 FBS football season.
[3] Houston, in their first year under newly hired Tom Herman, raced off to a 10–0 start and a #13 ranking, but a loss to Connecticut opened up a chance for Navy to swoop in and win the division title.
However, the Cougars beat the Midshipmen handily to win the West Division and qualify for the first-ever American Athletic Conference championship game.
Their victory over Temple the following week gave Houston their first conference title since 2006.
Florida State had started the season 6–0 before a loss to Georgia Tech on the final play of the game dropped them from #9 to #17 ranked.