[3] The 2016 Cactus Bowl marked the game's return to Chase Field, its home from 2000 until 2005, after a ten-year absence during which the game was played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
The move was made due to a reconstruction project at Sun Devil Stadium that rendered the facility unusable during the college football offseason and would see Chase Field host the Cactus Bowl through 2018.
The game featured the West Virginia Mountaineers against the Arizona State Sun Devils.
After finishing their season 6–6, the Sun Devils accepted their invitation to play in the game.
After finishing their season 7–5, the Mountaineers accepted their invitation to play in the game.