The Boilermakers entered the bowl with an 8–4 record (6–3 in conference), including an away upset win against No. 2
Iowa by seventeen points on October 16, and a home upset win against No. 3
Michigan State by 11 points. The Boilermakers finished in a three-way tie for second place of the Big Ten's West Division. This was Purdue's second Music City Bowl; their
2018 team lost that season's
Music City Bowl to
Auburn, 63–14. The Boilermakers had not made a bowl appearance since, but this was Purdue's 20th
overall bowl game in program history.
Tennessee entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (4–4 in conference), including an away upset win against No. 18
Kentucky by three points on November 6. The Volunteers finished in third place in the SEC's East Division. This was Tennessee's third Music City Bowl; they lost in
2010 to
North Carolina, 27–30, but won in
2016 over
Nebraska, 38–24. This was the 54th
overall bowl game for the Volunteers program.
The Boilermakers entered the bowl with an 8–4 record (6–3 in conference), including an away upset win against No. 2
Iowa by seventeen points on October 16, and a home upset win against No. 3
Michigan State by 11 points. The Boilermakers finished in a three-way tie for second place of the Big Ten's West Division. This was Purdue's second Music City Bowl; their
2018 team lost that season's
Music City Bowl to
Auburn, 63–14. The Boilermakers had not made a bowl appearance since, but this was Purdue's 20th
overall bowl game in program history.
Tennessee entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (4–4 in conference), including an away upset win against No. 18
Kentucky by three points on November 6. The Volunteers finished in third place in the SEC's East Division. This was Tennessee's third Music City Bowl; they lost in
2010 to
North Carolina, 27–30, but won in
2016 over
Nebraska, 38–24. This was the 54th
overall bowl game for the Volunteers program.