JANUARY 2026
UNDER REVIEW
LOUISIANA TECH EARNS RECORD-TYING FOURTH I-BOWL VICTORY
There was something special about Louisiana Tech’s record-setting seventh visit to the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
A blocked field goal by Kenyatta McNeese shifted the momentum to the Bulldogs’ sideline in the middle of the third quarter, and Louisiana Tech built on it, upending Coastal Carolina, 23-14, after scoring the final 20 points of the game in front of a crowd of 30,298 on a Tuesday afternoon at Independence Stadium.
“What an effort in the second half,” said Bulldog head coach Sonny Cumbie, whose program moved into a tie with Ole Miss for the most Independence Bowl victories with four. “The guys didn’t flinch. The first half was about as bad a football as we’ve played in a long while, and these guys made plays. Defensively, it was three-and-out. Then we made plays on special teams and on offense. We wanted to be the last team off the field tonight, and we were able to accomplish that. It was very fitting that Mr. All-American (safety Jakari Foster) finished the game with his eighth interception of the season.”
The Bulldogs shook off a sluggish first three quarters offensively to capture their second Independence Bowl victory since 2019. After being held to 150 yards total offense and two field goals through three quarters, Louisiana Tech piled up 147 yards and its only two touchdowns of the game in the final stanza.
2025 PLAYERS OF THE GAME
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Trey Kukuk
QB, Louisiana Tech
Defensive PLAYER OF THE GAME
Sifa Leota
LB, Louisiana Tech
Utility PLAYER OF THE GAME
John Hoyet Chance K/P, Louisiana Tech
READ FULL STORY
UNDER REVIEW
THIRD CONSECUTIVE GAME WITH ATTENDANCE OVER 30,000
Shreveport-Bossier City and the surrounding Ark-La-Tex area showed up in a big way for the 2025 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, as the paid attendance of the game was 30,298
It is the third straight Independence Bowl to crest the 30,000 in attendance, as the last three games have averaged a crowd of 32,551.
Shreveport-Bossier City's annual bowl game was hosted on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
Shreveport is one of just 36 cities in the United States that hosts an annual college football bowl game.
INDEPENDENCE BOWL VIEWERSHIP UP 55 PERCENT
In addition to the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl topping 30,000 fans for the third consecutive year, the viewership of the game increased by nearly 58 percent from 2024.
The game, which was televised on ESPN, drew 1.8 million viewers with a peak of 2.6 million viewers. It was the highest viewership of the Independence Bowl since 2022.
IN THE COMMUNITY
29 LOCAL EDUCATORS RECEIVE $1,000 DONATION FROM I-BOWL
The Independence Bowl Foundation partnered with the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers for the fifth straight year to provide donations for local teachers, and through this partnership, donated $1,000 to 29 local educators in December 2025.
Educators at public schools from Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, Red River and Webster Parishes were eligible for the donations, and the teachers selected were nominated by fans on the Independence Bowl website.
Through the partnership with Extra Yard for Teachers, the Independence Bowl Foundation has funded $40,000 to local teachers in 2025. The Independence Bowl and Extra Yard for Teachers also teamed up in March to donate $10,000 to Starbase Louisiana to help fund Barksdale Air Force Base’s Starbase branch during federal budget negotiations and donated $1,000 total to two teachers on the Extra Yard for Teachers BIG DAY on September 16, 2025.
The Independence Bowl’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative has donated $142,000 to local teachers and education projects since 2021. The donations over the past five years have funded 164 classrooms and impacted approximately 25,000 students in Northwest Louisiana.
To see the full list of the educators who received funding, click the button below.
MARTIN SPECIALTY COATINGS SPONSORS BIG GAME SHOW CHARITY ROUND
For the second straight year, the annual Big Game Show went bigger than ever. Martin Specialty Coatings sponsored the second annual Charity Round of the Big Game Show.
The Big Game Show, a trivia-style game show played at the Big Game Welcome Party, is always one of the most fun events of Bowl Week. In 2025, the stakes were higher – with $10,000 being donated to the winning team’s charity and $5,000 to the losing team’s charity, which is doubled from last year.
Hannah House Ministries took home the grand prize of $10,000, while Hub Ministries received a $5,000 donation.
READ FULL STORY
Stay in spacious rooms with river views.
Play the hottest slots and table games on our single-level casino floor.
Lounge by the tropical pool or sip drinks at The Busted Coconut.
Catch live shows at Paradise Theater and earn rewards faster with PENN Play.
SCAN HERE TO ESCAPE TO PARADISE
INDEPENDENCE BOWL ALUMNI
FORMER INDEPENDENCE BOWL PLAYERS RACK UP AWARDS IN 2025
Many of the greatest teams, players and coaches have been to the Independence Bowl over the six decades of the game. Just two years ago, while Texas Tech was defeating Cal in 2023, fans may not have known they were watching players who would go on to shape the 2025 college football landscape.
2025 Heisman Trophy winner, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, started at quarterback for Cal. He is the first former Independence Bowl player to win the Heisman Trophy. Mendoza did not have his best day – finishing with 261 passing yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs and 1 fumble, but that was largely in part to Jacob Rodriguez and the Red Raiders' defense.
Rodriguez won the Defensive Player of the Game award in that game and did what he knows how to do best –force turnovers. The 2025 All-American had a fumble recovery and interception.
Mendoza and Rodriguez have dominated the college football awards season in December. Not only did Mendoza win the Heisman Trophy, but Rodriguez also finished fifth in the race. Among the many awards won by the two of them are the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, Chuck Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, AP College Football Player of the Year and many more.
ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENCE BOWL ALUMNI NEWS
Georgia's Garrison Hearst Named Member of 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class
Former Georgia running back Garrison Hearst, who played in the 1991 Independence Bowl vs. Arkansas, was named a member of the 2026 National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame Class.
Hearst rushed the ball nine times for 21 yards and caught two passes for 24 yards in the Bulldogs' 24-15 victory over the Razorbacks.
Two Independence Bowl Alumni Named to 2026 Pro Bowl Rosters
Two former Independence Bowl players were named to the NFL's 2026 Pro Bowl rosters – Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua (BYU, 2021) and New York Giants edge Brian Burns (Florida State, 2017).
Nacua caught one pass for nine yards in the 2021 Independence Bowl vs. UAB, while Burns recorded three tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in the 2017 Independence Bowl vs. Southern Miss.
