However, with four SEC teams selected for New Year's Six games, the Birmingham Bowl matchup announced on December 2 featured Wake Forest from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), rather than an SEC team, to face Memphis from The American.
[4] The two programs previously met four times, each team winning twice, between 1964 and 1967.
[5] Memphis was defeated in the 2018 American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game played on December 1; they received and accepted a bid to the Birmingham Bowl on December 2.
Wake Forest received and accepted a bid to the Birmingham Bowl on December 2.
[4] The Demon Deacons entered the bowl with a 6–6 record (3–5 in conference).