SHREVEPORT, La. – The 49th edition of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl kicks off on Tuesday, December 30 at 1 p.m. CST on ESPN, and the matchup is now set, as the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers will face off against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
Coastal finished 5-3 in Sun Belt Conference play and posted a 6-6 overall record during the regular season. In addition to earning a bowl invitation, six Chanticleers received All-Sun Belt Conference honors for their 2025 performances.
Defensive back Xamarion Gordon was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense, while Zeke Campbell earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense. Gordon led Coastal’s defense across the board, finishing the season with team highs in total tackles (71), solo tackles (42), interceptions (3), and fumble recoveries (3). He added five pass breakups—second most on the team—and contributed 2.5 tackles for loss.
Campbell was one of only two Sun Belt defenders to record at least 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He finished sixth in the conference in sacks and added 39 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss, along with a team-high eight quarterback hurries. He recorded at least two tackles in every game this season, highlighted by a season-best six stops against Old Dominion.
Louisiana Tech posted its first winning season since 2019, finishing 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA. The Bulldogs went 5-1 at home and recorded their most road wins in the past five seasons. Tech had nine players earn All-Conference USA honors, led by Co-Defensive Player of the Year Jacob Fields. The Bulldogs also collected nine CUSA weekly awards and four national honors during the season.
LA Tech scored 30 or more points in six games. Defensively, the Bulldogs led the nation with seven defensive touchdowns and ranked third in the FBS with 20 interceptions. Safety Jakari Foster led the country with seven interceptions. The Bulldogs have the No. 1 scoring defense in CUSA (21.3 points per game) and the No. 1 rushing defense in CUSA (142.1 yards per game). Offensively, Tech recorded four 300-yard rushing games and one 400-yard rushing game while finishing with the nation’s 22nd best rushing offense (196.6 yards per game).
This will mark the first meeting between Coastal Carolina and Louisiana Tech.
The Chanticleers will be playing in their first Independence Bowl and their sixth bowl game in school history, with all of those games coming since 2020. The Independence Bowl will be their sixth straight bowl game.
The Bulldogs will be playing in the Independence Bowl for the seventh time in school history. They hold a 3-2-1 record in their previous six Independence Bowl appearances and have split their previous two appearances – losing to Army West Point in 2024 and defeating Miami in 2019. Louisiana Tech posted the lone shutout in Independence Bowl history in 2019 when they defeated Miami, 14-0.
The Sun Belt is making their third appearance in Shreveport's bowl game – looking for their first Independence Bowl victory. This will be the fifth appearance for a Conference USA squad in Independence Bowl history, as they sport a 2-2 all-time Independence Bowl record.
The 49th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl kicks off on Tuesday, December 30 at 1 p.m. CST between Coastal Carolina and Louisiana Tech. Tickets start at $20 and are on sale now at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/Tickets. There is a variety of ticket packages available – including individual tickets, group tickets, Pizza Hut Family 4-Packs, Small Business Fan Packs and more. For ticketing questions, fans can email info@independencebowl.org or call the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at (318) 221-0712.
For information on Independence Stadium rules and the clear bag policy, please visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/stadium-rules/. Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl fans can visit OpportunityLouisiana.com to explore why Louisiana businesses are positioned to win.
#IndyBowl
Click here to access the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Media Kit, which includes photos for media use, official logos, press releases and all Independence Bowl media assets.
ABOUT THE RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL™
Established in 1976, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl™ is college football's 11th most historic bowl game. The 49th edition will kick off on Tuesday, December 30 at 1 p.m. CST on ESPN. Radiance Technologies is the bowl's title sponsor through at least the 2027 Bowl Season. The bowl's conference and television agreements also run through the 2025 bowl game.
The Independence Bowl Foundation is prevalent in the Shreveport-Bossier City area throughout the year, hosting events to help enhance the economic impact and growth of our community. The Mission of the Independence Bowl is to attract and provide quality, nationally recognized football competition oriented to the Ark-La-Tex region. For more information, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com or follow the bowl on Facebook, X and Instagram at @IndyBowl.
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