South Florida entered the game as the defending Birmingham Bowl champion, their
2016 team having defeated the
South Carolina Gamecocks, 46–39 in overtime. This was the Bulls' third Birmingham Bowl; in addition to their 2016 victory, the
2006 Bulls defeated the
East Carolina Pirates, 24–7 in the
inaugural game when it was known as the PapaJohns.com Bowl.
There was a Birmingham Bowl in January and December of 2015, and none in 2009 or 2019. The game in January 2021 was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
South Florida entered the game as the defending Birmingham Bowl champion, their
2016 team having defeated the
South Carolina Gamecocks, 46–39 in overtime. This was the Bulls' third Birmingham Bowl; in addition to their 2016 victory, the
2006 Bulls defeated the
East Carolina Pirates, 24–7 in the
inaugural game when it was known as the PapaJohns.com Bowl.
There was a Birmingham Bowl in January and December of 2015, and none in 2009 or 2019. The game in January 2021 was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.