In the 2016 championship game, hosted by WKU, the Hilltoppers had defeated Louisiana Tech 58–44.

North Texas claimed its place in the title game on November 11 with a 45–10 win over UTEP.

[4] Florida Atlantic clinched the East division on November 18 after defeating rivals FIU 52-24 in the Shula Bowl.

Florida Atlantic went on to play in the 2017 Boca Raton Bowl, defeating Akron.

If the winner of the C-USA Championship Game was one of the highest in the rankings of the "Group of Five" conferences, the team could have been placed in the College Football Playoff or a "New Year's Six" bowl.