The game matched the Georgia Bulldogs from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Baylor Bears from the Big 12 Conference. This was the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs; the Bulldogs had won each of the prior four meetings, most recently in 1989.[5]
Georgia entered the game with an 11–2 record (7–1 in conference). They finished atop the SEC's East Division and advanced to the SEC Championship Game, which they lost to LSU, 37–10. As LSU was selected to the College Football Playoff, Georgia was invited as the SEC representative to the Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs were 3–1 against ranked opponents, defeating Notre Dame, Florida, and Auburn while losing to LSU. Their only other loss was to South Carolina.
This was Georgia's eleventh Sugar Bowl (the third-most of any team); they had a 4–6 record in prior editions of the bowl. It was also Georgia's second consecutive Sugar Bowl, following their 2018 team's loss to Texas in the 2019 edition, 28–21.
Baylor also entered the game with an 11–2 record (8–1 in conference). They finished tied with Oklahoma atop the Big 12, with the Sooners then defeating the Bears in the Big 12 Championship Game, 30–23 in overtime. As Oklahoma was selected to the College Football Playoff, Baylor was invited as the Big 12 representative to the Sugar Bowl. The Bears were 0–2 against ranked opponents, falling to Oklahoma twice.