Sponsored by Kellogg's Frosted Flakes breakfast cereal, the game was officially known as the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, after its mascot, Tony the Tiger.
They faced three ranked FBS teams during the season, defeating Syracuse while losing to Tennessee and North Carolina.
Several days before the game, three Pittsburgh players had their flight from Dallas to El Paso canceled on Christmas Day, but were able to make the 600-mile (970 km) trip via a carpool with Joe Golding, head basketball coach of the UTEP Miners men's basketball team, who was making the same Dallas-to-El Paso journey with his family.
[8] UCLA compiled a 9–3 regular-season record, 6–3 in conference play.
They faced four ranked opponents during the season, defeating Washington and Utah while losing to Oregon and USC.