The Hilltoppers finished tied for second place in the C–USA regular season standings with North Texas, but lost the tiebreaker based on head-to-head result.
[9] The game's officiating crew, representing the Mountain West Conference, was led by referee Cal McNeill and umpire Rod Tucker.
[2] Scheduled for a 8:00 p.m. CST start, the New Orleans Bowl began at 8:06 p.m. with Jacob Meeks's opening kickoff, returned to the Western Kentucky 25-yard-line.
South Alabama's next drive was the game's first three-and-out, as the Jaguars punted on 4th & 23 after being unable to dig out of a hole created by a 12 yard loss on their first play.
The kick was fair caught at the South Alabama 48-yard-line, and Western Kentucky picked up a pair of first downs before a holding penalty set them back 10 yards.
After a 31-yard rush by Michael Mathison on the Hilltoppers' first play, Dalvin Smith passed to Jaylen Hall for a 25-yard touchdown, increasing Western Kentucky's lead to 21 points.
After the ensuing kickoff, which resulted in a touchback, South Alabama started well with a 7-yard rush by Braylon McReynolds but were set back by a holding penalty from which they were unable to recover.
Two incomplete passes eventually set up a fourth down, and Western Kentucky converted a 23-yard field goal to stretch their lead.
The ensuing kickoff was returned by McReynolds to the South Alabama 24-yard-line, and quickly faced a third down but converted with a pass from Bradley to Devin Voisin for 8 yards.
On 2nd & 6, Bradley's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Kaleb Oliver and returned to the Western Kentucky 30-yard-line, giving the Hilltoppers possession again.
After their next three plays resulted in three yards combined, the Jaguars attempted a 30-yard field goal which was made by placekicker Diego Guajardo to put South Alabama on the scoreboard for the first time.
Western Kentucky got the ball back on their own 25-yard-line with 1:38 left on the clock, and moved down the field reaching South Alabama territory in four plays.
Western Kentucky found themselves in an unusual position on their next drive as they were unable to convert 3th & 10 from their own 36-yard-line, gaining only 9 yards on the play, and Tom Ellard was brought on to punt for the first time, with the kick fair caught at the South Alabama 21-yard-line.
South Alabama was not able to take advantage, though, as they suffered a sack on 3rd & 6 for a loss of 5 yards and punted the ball back to WKU following a three-and-out, ending the third quarter.
A 39-yard rush by Stepp for the Hilltoppers was the last meaningful play of the game, as Western Kentucky kneeled twice to run out the clock and secure their 44–23 victory.