The bowl game was sponsored by Kellogg's Frosted Flakes breakfast cereal.
[6] The Cardinals entered the game with an 8–4 record (5–3 in the ACC), tied for fourth place in their conference.
This was Louisville's second Sun Bowl; the Cardinals previously won the 1958 edition against Drake.
The Huskies entered the game with a 6–6 record (4–5 in the Big Ten), tied for ninth place in their conference.
This was Washington's fifth Sun Bowl; the Huskies were 1–3 in their 4 previous appearances, winning in 1979 and losing in 1986, 1995, and 2002. at Sun Bowl • El Paso, Texas # denotes national championship game; † denotes College Football Playoff semifinal game