SHREVEPORT, La. — Coastal Carolina and Louisiana Tech will meet for the first time when they face off in the 49th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Tuesday, December 30. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CST on ESPN.
Coastal Carolina enters the bowl at 6-6 overall and 5-3 in Sun Belt Conference play. Six Chanticleers earned All-Sun Belt honors. Defensive back Xamarion Gordon was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team after leading the team with 71 total tackles, 42 solo tackles, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. He added five pass breakups and 2.5 tackles for loss. Zeke Campbell made the All-Sun Belt Third Team, finishing sixth in the conference with 5.5 sacks and recording two forced fumbles, 39 tackles, and 7.5 tackles for loss.
Louisiana Tech posted its first winning season since 2019, finishing 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA. The Bulldogs earned nine All-CUSA selections, highlighted by Co-Defensive Player of the Year Jacob Fields. Tech recorded nine CUSA weekly awards and four national honors during the season.
The Bulldogs scored 30 or more points in six games and led the nation with seven defensive touchdowns. Their 20 interceptions ranked third in the FBS, with safety Jakari Foster leading the country with seven. Louisiana Tech also led CUSA in scoring defense at 21.3 points per game and in rushing defense at 142.1 yards per game. Offensively, the Bulldogs produced four 300-yard rushing performances and one 400-yard rushing game, finishing with the No. 22 rushing offense in the nation at 196.6 yards per game.
This will be Coastal Carolina’s first Independence Bowl appearance and its sixth bowl game since 2020. Louisiana Tech will appear in the Independence Bowl for the seventh time and holds a 3-2-1 record in its previous six appearances. The Bulldogs defeated Miami 14-0 in 2019, the only shutout in Independence Bowl history, and lost to Army West Point in 2024.
The Sun Belt Conference is making its third Independence Bowl appearance and is seeking its first win in the game. Conference USA teams are 2-2 all-time in the Independence Bowl.
Tickets start at $20 and are available at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/Tickets. Fans may also contact the bowl office at 318-221-0712 or email [email protected] for ticket information. Details on stadium rules and the clear bag policy are available at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/stadium-rules/.