After finishing their regular season 7–5, bowl director Richard Giannini extended an invitation for the Blue Raiders to play in the game, which they accepted.[6]
This was the Blue Raiders' seventh bowl game (they are now 3–4 all-time in bowl games thus far) and their first since the 2013 Armed Forces Bowl, where they lost to Navy by a score of 24–6. It was also their third bowl game against a MAC opponent; the Blue Raiders likewise lost both previous meetings, losing in the 2006 Motor City Bowl to Central Michigan by a score of 31–14 and in the 2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl to the Miami (Ohio) by a score of 35–21.
After finishing their regular season 7–5, bowl director Richard Giannini extended an invitation for the Broncos to play in the game, which they accepted.[7]
This was the Broncos' seventh bowl game, where they once again sought their first bowl victory in school history, having previously had an 0–6 all-time record in bowl games. It was also the Broncos' second consecutive bowl appearance (following the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, where they lost to Air Force by a score of 38–24), marking the first time in school history the Broncos have been to back-to-back bowls. In addition, it was the second time the Broncos have faced an opponent from Conference USA in a bowl game, having previously lost the 2008 Texas Bowl to the Rice Owls by a score of 38–14.
^ abGlon, Tim (December 24, 2015). "Bogan runs Western Michigan past Middle Tennessee 45-31 in 2015 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl". bahamasbowl.com. Popeyes Bahamas Bowl Communications. Retrieved December 26, 2015. Bogan was named the Offensive Player of the Game of the game for his efforts, while teammate Grant DePalma was named the game's Defensive Player of the Game.
