The Rebels finished tied for 4th position in theSoutheastern Conference while the Falcons finished 2nd in theWestern Athletic Conference. This was the first year in which the winner of theCommander in Chief's Trophy received an automatic bid to the Liberty Bowl. The two teams had matched up before in1983.Chucky Mullins (who had been paralyzed in a game just two months ago) visited the Ole Miss locker room prior to the game in his first visit outside the hospital prior to his injury.
