2001 Motor City Bowl

The 2001 Motor City Bowl was a National Collegiate Athletic Association bowl game in which the Toledo Rockets of the MAC defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats of the Conference USA 23–16. It was played on December 29, 2001 at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.

The Beracats were C-USA runner-ups fresh off the wins from five of their last six games, which included Syracuse and #20 Southern Mississippi. Marshall however was the four-time MAC champion who had also won five of their last six games, one of which was against Western Michigan, who had defeated them earlier in the season, in the MAC Championship Game.

This game marked the first time the Bearcats appeared in the Motor City Bowl. Marshall was a regular in Motown having appeared in the 1997, 1998 and 1999 contests.