The 2005 New Orleans Bowl featured the Arkansas State Indians (now the Red Wolves) and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. Due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, the game was played at Cajun Field in Lafayette, Louisiana instead of at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. For Arkansas State, the game represented the Indians' first bowl game since the 1970 Pecan Bowl. The team had won the Sun Belt Conference with a 6-5 record. Meanwhile, the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (representing Conference USA) also came in with a 6-5 record.