The Independence Bowl would have been Marshall's 21st bowl game, having played in one in each of the last seven seasons, and 19 of them have come since 1997.

Two stints at North Carolina (1988-1997 and 2019-2014) followed. From 1988 to 1997, the Tar Heels had a 69-46-1 record, three 10-win seasons, and made six consecutive bowl games.