On November 28, Georgia-based news organizations reported that Georgia Southern would play in the Camellia Bowl,[8][9] which was confirmed via an official announcement on December 2.[10] They entered the bowl with a 9–3 record (6–2 in conference). The Eagles had previously played in one bowl game, winning the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl over Bowling Green; before 2014, the team competed in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA).
Eastern Michigan received and accepted a bid to the Camellia Bowl on December 2.[10] The Eagles entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference). This was the Eagles' second bowl game in the last three years, having also played in the 2016 Bahamas Bowl where they were defeated by Old Dominion, 24–20.