The 19th annual Hawaii Bowl, the game featured the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders from Conference USA (C-USA) and the San Diego State Aztecs from the Mountain West Conference.
Middle Tennessee finished tied for fourth in the final Conference-USA standings for the season, posting the same conference record as both UAB and Florida Atlantic.
It was Middle Tennessee's second appearance in the Hawaii Bowl, having previously played in the 2016 edition.
This was San Diego State's second Hawaii Bowl appearance, having previously played in the 2015 edition.
It was also San Diego State's third postseason game in Honolulu; the school played in the 1952 Pineapple Bowl where they defeated Hawaii, 34–13.