This was the first Holiday Bowl staged since the 2019 edition, as the 2020 and 2021 editions were canceled due to impact from the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Teams
Based on conference tie-ins, the game featured teams from the
Atlantic Coast Conference and the
Pac-12 Conference. This was the first meeting between the two teams.[7] This was Oregon's fourth appearance in the Holiday Bowl, where they have gone 2-1 in previous appearances in
2000 (won against
Texas Longhorns, also coached by
Mack Brown, 35–30),
2005 (lost against
Oklahoma Sooners 14–17), and
2008 (won against
Oklahoma State Cowboys 42–31). This was North Carolina's first appearance in the Holiday Bowl.
The Ducks entered the game ranked 15th in the
AP Poll (15th in the
CFP Poll), with a 9–3 record (7–2 in conference). The Ducks finished in third place in the Pac-12. Oregon was 3–3 against ranked teams.
The Tar Heels entered the game with a 9–4 record (6–2 in conference). The Tar Heels finished in first place in the ACC's Coastal Division, but lost in the
2022 ACC Championship Game to the
Clemson Tigers, 39–10. North Carolina was 0–1 against ranked teams.
This was the first Holiday Bowl staged since the 2019 edition, as the 2020 and 2021 editions were canceled due to impact from the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Teams
Based on conference tie-ins, the game featured teams from the
Atlantic Coast Conference and the
Pac-12 Conference. This was the first meeting between the two teams.[7] This was Oregon's fourth appearance in the Holiday Bowl, where they have gone 2-1 in previous appearances in
2000 (won against
Texas Longhorns, also coached by
Mack Brown, 35–30),
2005 (lost against
Oklahoma Sooners 14–17), and
2008 (won against
Oklahoma State Cowboys 42–31). This was North Carolina's first appearance in the Holiday Bowl.
The Ducks entered the game ranked 15th in the
AP Poll (15th in the
CFP Poll), with a 9–3 record (7–2 in conference). The Ducks finished in third place in the Pac-12. Oregon was 3–3 against ranked teams.
The Tar Heels entered the game with a 9–4 record (6–2 in conference). The Tar Heels finished in first place in the ACC's Coastal Division, but lost in the
2022 ACC Championship Game to the
Clemson Tigers, 39–10. North Carolina was 0–1 against ranked teams.