2026 WEEK 3 EDITION
UNDER REVIEW WEEK 2 SCORES Missouri 38, Kansas 21
AP TOP 25
Kansas State 34, Washington State 7
23
Oklahoma State 39, Oregon 31
West Virginia 52, UT Martin 7
Texas A&M 48, Arizona State 20
Colorado 52, Weber State 21
Texas Tech 35, Oregon State 24
Pittsburgh 12, UCF 7
USC 49, Louisiana 30
California 21, Syracuse 18
BYU 28, Arizona 17
Cincinnati 62, Western Carolina 10
Washington 16, Utah State 14
UCLA 28, San Diego State 10
Utah 43, Arkansas 10
TCU 63, Grambling State 7
Iowa 16, Iowa State 13
Baylor 44, Prairie View A&M 3
6
10 13 14
15
19
20 21
1. Texas 2. Georgia 3. Notre Dame 4. Indiana 5. Miami 6. Ohio State 7. LSU 8. Ole Miss 9. Texas A&M 10. Alabama 11. BYU 12. USC 13. Texas Tech
Houston 77, Southern 6
22
14. Penn State 15. Tennessee 16. SMU 17. Utah 18. Iowa 19. Michigan 20. Missouri 21. Oregon 22. Houston 23. Louisville 24. Oklahoma 25. Virginia
BOWL PROJECTIONS PRESENTED BY ESPN – KYLE BONAGURA
ON3 – BRETT McMURPHY
UCF
WEST VIRGINIA
UCLA
CBS SPORTS – BRAD CRAWFORD
COLORADO
WASHINGTON STATE
ESPN – MARK SCHLABACH
WEST VIRGINIA
UCLA
UCLA
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED – BRYAN FISCHER
WEST VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON
WEEKLY PLAYER SPOTLIGHT JESSE LEGREE WIDE RECEIVER FRESHMAN 1
LAST WEEK VS. #23 Texas Tech:
8 receptions for 240 yards, 2 TDs 30.0 yards per reception
2026 Season Stats:
13 receptions for 376 yards (28.9 Y/R), 3 TDs Leads the FBS in receiving yards
InsidE ThE I-BOwL NEWsLETTEr // 2026 Week 3
WHAT TO WATCH FOR GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK ARIZONA STATE
@
KANSAS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 11:00 AM CT // FS1
TULANE
@
KANSAS STATE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 11:00 AM CT // ESPN2
LOUISIANA TECH
@
BAYLOR
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 3:00 PM CT // ESPNU
GEORGIA STATE
@
UCF
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 6:00 PM CT // ESPN+
COLORADO
@
NORTHWESTERN
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 6:30 PM CT // FOX
WEST VIRGINIA
VS
VIRGINIA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 6:30 PM CT // ACC NETWORK
ARKANSAS STATE
@
TCU
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 7:00 PM CT // ESPNU
PURDUE
@
UCLA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 10:00 PM CT // BTN
(1-1)
(1-1)
(1-1)
(2-0)
(2-0)
(2-0)
(1-1)
(1-1)
(1-1)
(2-0)
(1-1)
(1-1)
(1-0)
25
(2-0)
(1-1)
(2-0)
FULL WEEK 3 SCHEDULE Friday, September 18 22 Houston at 13Texas Tech – 7:00 pm on FOX Portland State at 21Oregon – 9:30 pm on BTN Saturday, September 19 Tulane at Kansas State – 11:00 am on ESPN2 Bowling Green at Iowa State – 11:00 am on ESPNU Arizona State at Kansas – 11:00 am on FS1 12 USC at Rutgers – 2:30 pm on CBS Utah State at 17Utah – 2:30 pm on FOX Miami (OH) at Cincinnati – 2:30 pm on ESPN+ Wagner at California – 2:30 pm on ACCN Duquesne at Washington State – 2:30 pm on USA
Stanford at Duke – 3:00 pm on CW Louisiana Tech at Baylor – 3:00 pm on ESPNU Georgia State at UCF – 6:00 pm on ESPN+ Murray State at Oklahoma State – 6:00 pm on ESPN+ Eastern Washington at Washington – 6:15 pm on BTN 11 BYU at Colorado State – 6:30 pm on CBS West Virginia vs. 25Virginia – 6:30 pm on ACCN Colorado at Northwestern – 6:30 pm on FOX Arkansas State at TCU – 7:00 pm on ESPNU Northern Illinois at Arizona – 9:30 pm on TNT Purdue at UCLA – 10:00 pm on BTN Montana at Oregon State – 10:00 pm on USA
@IndyBowl // #IndyBowl50
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INSIDE THE I-BOWL RADIO SHOW INSIDE THE I-BOWL RADIO SHOW EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 1130 THE TIGER! Tune into 1130 The Tiger every Wednesday during football season from 6-7 p.m. for Inside the I-Bowl, presented by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission – the official radio show of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl! Erik Evenson, Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Executive Director, and Art Carmody IV, Lou Groza Award-winning kicker and 2019 Independence Bowl Foundation Chairman, get you set for each weekend of college football – breaking down all the best games of the weekend and everything you need to know about the 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl! The only all-football radio show in Shreveport-Bossier! Check it out every Wednesday during football season!
LISTEN LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY!
INSIDE THE I-BOWL GAME OF THE WEEK Saturday, September 19 11:00 am pm CT FS1
Stat Comparison 1-1 0-0 (Big 12) NR / NR 45.0 (27th) 27.5 (104th) 525.0 (343.0 / 182.0) 221.5 (124.5 / 97.0)
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RECORD 1-1 CONFERENCE RECORD 0-0 (Big 12) RANKING (AP / COACHES) NR / NR POINTS PER GAME 36.0 (49th) PTS ALLOWED/GAME 22.0 (77th) TOTAL YDS (PASSING / RUSHING) 433.5 (255.0 / 71.5) YDS ALLOWED (PASSING / RUSHING) 307.5 (201.5 / 106.0)
InsidE ThE I-BOwL NEWsLETTEr // 2026 Week 3
IN THE COMMUNITY INDEPENDENCE BOWL TO DONATE $26,000 TO LOCAL TEACHERS IN 2026 The Extra Yard for Teachers Big Day was Tuesday, September 15, and the Independence Bowl went BIG for local teachers once again in 2026, announcing a plan to donate $26,000 to local teachers this year through its partnership with the College Football Playoff Foundation's Extra Yard for Teachers. The Independence Bowl Foundation donated a total of $1,000 to two teachers' projects on DonorsChoose. org on the Big Day – Mrs. Redmon from Stockwell Place Elementary School in Bossier Parish and Mrs. Graham from Caddo Parish Magnet High School in Caddo Parish. The Independence Bowl will also donate $1,000 DonorsChoose gift cards to 25 local educators at public schools in Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, Red River and Webster Parishes. Fans can nominate deserving educators from Monday, September 21 through Friday, October 30 by clicking the button below:
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE "Supporting our local teachers and classrooms is deeply personal to me, and the Independence Bowl Foundation is proud to continue our strong commitment to education in Northwest Louisiana," said 2026 Independence Bowl Foundation Chairman Keith Burton. "Teachers shape the future of our community every single day. Partnering with the College Football Playoff Foundation's Extra Yard for Teachers allows us to give back to these dedicated educators and provide them with the resources they need to make a lasting impact on their students." The bowl's partnership with Flying Heart Brewing & Pub made a portion of the $25,000 possible through five Pizza & Pints for a Purpose nights at Flying Heart between May and September. Flying Heart donated a portion of its proceeds from each night to the Independence Bowl’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative, and teachers who presented their teacher ID received 10 percent off pizzas. Through these fundraising nights, Flying Heart contributed $1,278.51 to the Independence Bowl’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative. "Flying Heart Brewing & Pub has been an outstanding community partner for the Independence Bowl and our local educators," said Burton. "Through the Pizza & Pints for a Purpose nights, they've shown true dedication to supporting our area educators and giving back to Northwest Louisiana classrooms. We are grateful for their generosity and continued commitment to our Extra Yard for Teachers initiative." The teachers receiving the donations will be announced in November and recognized at the 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Tuesday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m. In addition to the $1,000 donations, each educator selected will receive tickets to the 2026 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. Partnering with the College Football Playoff Foundation, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl has donated over $142,000 to local teachers and schools since 2021. In 2025, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl donated $40,000 to local educators in Northwest Louisiana. After this year, the Independence Bowl will have donated $168,000 to local teachers and education since 2021.
@IndyBowl // #IndyBowl50
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ON THE DOCKET KICKOFF DINNER FEATURING TYRANN MATHIEU RESCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 29! The annual Kickoff Dinner featuring LSU legend and Super Bowl champion Tyrann Mathieu has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 29 at the Shreveport Convention Center. All tickets from the previously scheduled dinner will be valid for the event on September 29. For fans who did not have tickets to the originally scheduled dinner, individual tickets to the event are on sale for $75 apiece, and a table of eight is $600 and can be purchased by clicking the button below. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for a cocktail hour, and dinner buffets will be available starting at 6:15 p.m. The program will feature a Q&A and will begin at 7 p.m. The Q&A session will conclude with fan-submitted questions. Fans can submit their questions by emailing info@independencebowl.org. The Kickoff Dinner is presented by Hargrove Roofing, Morehead Pools, Shreveport Rubber & Gasket, Wieland and Willis Knighton Health.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS
MUSIC, FOOTBALL & FUN THIS SATURDAY! Join us for our annual Fish 'N Football at Provenance Town Center on Saturday, September 19 from 5-9 pm! Music from The Noah Grant Band will kick us off at 5 pm! LSU-Ole Miss Watch Party on the big screen at 6:30 pm! Free and open to the public, but Foundation members get the VIP treatment with: a catered fish fry by Johnny’s Catfish & Seafood from 5:30-7:30 pm, complimentary drinks from Coca-Cola & Eagle Distributing and access to an exclusive members-only section. Bring the whole family! Games, inflatable and fun for all ages! We will also have a full cash bar for adult beverages for non-members. Thank you to our amazing Fish 'N Football sponsors: Carter Credit Union, Eagle Distributing, KSM Marketing Agency & Xfinity!
CLICK HERE TO RSVP
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InsidE ThE I-BOwL NEWsLETTEr // 2026 Week 3
Shop Now!
HALF A CENTURY OF INDY BOWL JOSH HEUPEL ANNOUNCED AS NO. 13 PLAYER ON ALL-TIME TEAM Josh Heupel has won a National Championship as a quarterback, been to New York as the Heisman Trophy runner-up and won an SEC Coach of the Year award most recently, but he was a standout in the Independence Bowl before all of that and is the number 13 player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Heupel had a banner day at the 1999 Independence Bowl against Ole Miss, the last college football game of the 20th century, ending at 11:03 p.m. on December 31, 1999. Completing 73.6 percent of the 53 passes he threw, his 390 passing yards set the record for most passing yards in a single Independence Bowl. The record would hold until 2018. He also added three touchdown passes, along with one interception, on his way to being named the 1999 Offensive Player of the Game despite Oklahoma falling to the Rebels, 27-25. After spending two seasons at Weber State and one season at Snow College, Heupel transferred to Oklahoma for the 1999 season – Bob Stoops’ first season as head coach of the Sooners. He immediately started lighting up the box scores, as he threw for 3,460 yards and 30 touchdowns in 11 games in 1999. He led the Big 12 Conference that season in pass attempts (500), completions (310), passing yards, passing yards per game (314.5), passing touchdowns and interceptions (15). He was named Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and second-team All-Big 12. Oklahoma built on the 1999 season and its Independence Bowl appearance in 2000, going undefeated and winning the BCS National Championship that season. Heupel once again passed for over 3,000 yards – tossing for 3,392 yards and 20 touchdowns. He earned a laundry list of accolades that season – winning the Walter Camp Award, Archie Griffin Award and Chic Harley Award while also being named the AP College Football Player of the Year, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, a consensus All-American and first-team All-Big 12. He also finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. After his illustrious college career, Heupel was selected in the sixth round of the 2001 NFL Draft, but after two seasons of attempting to make it in the
NFL, he transitioned to coaching. After becoming a highly successful quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, Heupel got his first crack at being a head coach at UCF in 2017. He led the Knights to a 12-1 record in their first season and won the American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game. In 2021, Heupel became head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. After a 7-6 season in his first season in Knoxville, he helped lead the Vols to their most victories in a season since 2001, going 11-2 and winning the Orange Bowl that season. He was named the SEC Coach of the Year. In his first five seasons at Tennessee, Heupel led them to a 45-20 record, two bowl victories and one College Football Playoff appearance. In his eight-plus seasons as a head coach between UCF and Tennessee, Heupel sports a 75-28 record. The next player on the Independence Bowl's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 12, will be announced on Monday, September 21. Players will be announced individually every week, with No. 1 being announced on Monday, December 7.
CLICK HERE TO FULL STORY
@IndyBowl // #IndyBowl50
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HALF A CENTURY OF INDY BOWL WALK THROUGH 50 YEARS OF THREE SHREVEPORT INSTITUTIONS! As the nation celebrates America 250, three organizations in Shreveport – the Independence Bowl, Red River Revel and Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) – celebrate 50 years, and the three legacy organizations have partnered to honor their history with 50-Year Reflection: A Historic Exhibit beginning on Saturday, August 22 at artspace. The milestone exhibit, curated by Bruce Allen, will take visitors through the storied history of all three organizations – celebrating the important people, pivotal moments and unforgettable memories of the past 50 years. Taking place at artspace at 708 Texas Street, the 50-Year Reflection will offer insight into how the Independence Bowl, Red River Revel and SRAC have been intertwined into Shreveport’s culture and helped shape the community. The exhibit will run from August 22 through October 9 and feature rare photographs and memorabilia from the last half century. 50-Year Reflection: A Historic Exhibit is free and open to the public during normal artspace gallery operating hours. For more information about the exhibit, visit artspaceshreveport.com.
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE INDEPENDENCE BOWL MEMORIES WITH US! Another aspect of the Independence Bowl's 50th anniversary celebration, currently open for fan participation, is the Fan Memory Submissions. Fans can submit their favorite Independence Bowl memories by clicking the button below or scanning the QR code:
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR MEMORY
Select memories will be posted online and will be shown during the 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Tuesday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m.
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InsidE ThE I-BOwL NEWsLETTEr // 2026 Week 3
50th Anniversary SPONSORS
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 // 7:30 p.m. CsT RadianceTechnologiesIndependencebOwl.com @InDyBOwL
MEDIA CONTACT:
Erik Evenson – Executive Director M: 404.368.7481 O: 318.221.0712 E: erik@independencebowl.org