This was the eighth meeting between the programs; entering the bowl, Oklahoma led the all-time series 6–1 as Oregon's lone win came in 2006 at home.
As head coach Mario Cristobal left the Oregon program to join the Miami Hurricanes in early December, Bryan McClendon was named interim head coach of the Ducks for the bowl game.
[6] Oklahoma completed their regular season with an overall 10–2 record, 7–2 in Big 12 games.
After starting their season with nine consecutive wins, the Sooners lost two of their final three games, to Baylor and Oklahoma State.
Due to the departure of Lincoln Riley from the Oklahoma program (he was named head coach at USC), former Sooner head coach Bob Stoops was named to lead the team in their bowl game.