The game was sponsored by Outback Steakhouse and played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
[6] It was Iowa's sixth time playing in the Outback Bowl, and Mississippi State's first.
Iowa received and accepted a bid to the Outback Bowl on December 2.
It marked the sixth time in Kirk Ferentz's tenure as the Hawkeyes' head coach the team played in the Outback Bowl.
Mississippi State received and accepted a bid to the Outback Bowl on December 2.