[5][6] The game was the second meeting between the schools; the first was the 1979 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, which Purdue won by a score of 27–22.
[7] The Boilermakers entered the bowl with an 8–4 record (6–3 in conference), including an away upset win against No.
[8] The Boilermakers finished in a three-way tie for second place of the Big Ten's West Division.
[9] This was Tennessee's third Music City Bowl; they lost in 2010 to North Carolina, 27–30, but won in 2016 over Nebraska, 38–24.
at Nissan Stadium • Nashville, Tennessee Pound sign (#) denotes national championship game.