The game featured the Fresno State Bulldogs of the Mountain West Conference against the Rice Owls of Conference USA. This was the seventh overall meeting between these two teams, with Fresno State having won all 6 previous games. The last time these two teams had met was in 2004.
Fresno State Bulldogs
Despite finishing their regular season with a 6–7 record, by virtue of winning the Mountain West's West Division title, the Bulldogs became bowl eligible and accepted their invitation to play in the game. This was Fresno State's second Hawaii Bowl; the Bulldogs had previously appeared in the 2012 game, losing to the SMU Mustangs by a score of 43–10 largely due to the efforts of SMU defensive end Margus Hunt.
Rice Owls
After finishing their regular season with a 7–5 record, the Owls accepted their invitation to play in the game, their first appearance in the Hawaii Bowl. Although they began the season with three losses, the Owls won their next six games before losing two of their final three; overall, according to FBSchedules.com, Rice had the 12th easiest schedule in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Pregame buildup
Fresno State
Offense
Featuring reasonable balance between a rushing game that averaged 183.9 yards per game and a passing game that averaged 233.8 yards per game, Fresno State's offense scored an average of 28.1 points per game. The aforementioned rushing attack was led by junior Marteze Waller, a second team all-conference selection whose 1292 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns were complemented by the efforts of senior Josh Quezada and quarterback Brian Burrell, who combined for 801 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Burrell orchestrated a passing attack that frequently targeted first team all-conference selection Josh Harper, a senior who enjoyed "quite the career" at Fresno State having exceeded the 1,000 yard threshold and ranking among the leaders in touchdown receptions nationally; he compiled twice as many receptions as anyone else on the roster. Wide receivers Aaron Peck, Greg Watson, and Delvon Hardaway, running back Josh Quezada, and tight end Chad Olsen also made contributions to the passing game. Right guard Cody Wichmann, who frequently drew comparisons to Logan Mankins, anchored the Bulldogs' offensive line, and was set to make his 50th consecutive start in the bowl game; he earned second team all-conference accolades. Alex Fifita started at left tackle, having earned honorable mention all-conference recognition after proving himself at the position during the season.
Defense
Junior defensive tackle Tyeler Davison anchored the defense, having totaled eight sacks and 12.5 tackles-for-loss, and received first team all-conference recognition. Outside linebacker Donavan Lewis, a senior mainstay of the defense, earned honorable mention all-conference recognition, and received accolade from teammates for always understanding his assignments and playing with heart. One game preview commented, "Fresno State's secondary wasn't always tested in a run-heavy Mountain West Conference, but they gave up 14 touchdowns against zero interceptions in their opening three-game stretch against Power Five opponents." Nevertheless, the aforementioned secondary did place one of its members on the first team all-conference squad, three-time honoree Derron Smith.
Rice
Offense
Relatively similar to Fresno State's, Rice's offensive statistical averages included 223.6 passing yards per game, 170.3 rushing yards per game, and 28.7 points per game. Likely employing an offensive scheme that emphasized ball control, the Owls' offense featured three competent rushers – Jowan Davis and Darik Dillard at running back, and dual-threat quarterback Driphus Jackson. Jackson's top target at receiver was senior Jordan Taylor, the "star of the Owls offense" whose 49 receptions and 781 yards both led the team. Fellow senior Mario Hull led the team with eight touchdown receptions. Offensive lineman Nico Carlson helped lead the senior class at Rice in establishing a winning culture in Rice football; he also earned placement on the second team all-conference team. Andrew Reue and Matt Simonette – two of Carlson's fellow offensive linemen – also earned all-conference recognition as honorable mentions.
Defense
"Fresh off an absolutely embarrassing performance" in which they surrendered 76 points and 677 total yards, Rice's defense looked to rebound by notching a "competent" performance against Fresno State. Continuity was a prevalent theme in the Owls' secondary, in which three of four starters – cornerback Bryce Callahan and safeties Malcolm Hill and Julius White – joined linebacker James Radcliffe as the only defensive players in Rice history to start three bowls in their college careers. Up front, lanky defensive end Brian Nordstrom "came out of nowhere to have one of the best seasons for a defensive end in Rice history," posting an "eye-opening," Conference USA-leading 18.5 tackles for loss to complement 7.5 sacks en route to earning first team all-conference accolades. Callahan also earned second team all-conference recognition while White, Radcliffe, and linebacker Alex Lyons received honorable mention recognition.
