2026 WEEK 1 EDITION
UNDER REVIEW WEEK ZERO SCORES
PRE-SEASON AP TOP 25
No. 14 USC 42, San Jose State 26
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
North Carolina 15, TCU 10 Virginia 34, NC State 8 North Dakota State 33, Jacksonville State 7 Eastern Michigan 28, Sacramento State 17 Stanford 37, Hawai'i 27 Florida State 34, New Mexico State 17 Memphis 27, UNLV 21
Ohio State (40) Oregon (14) Georgia Notre Dame (6) Texas Indiana (8) Miami (1) Texas A&M Ole Miss
10. Oklahoma 11. LSU 12. Texas Tech 13. Alabama 14. USC 15. BYU 16. Michigan 17. Washington 18. Penn State
19. SMU 20. Tennessee 21. Utah 22. Iowa 23. Houston 24. Louisville 25. Missouri
BOWL PROJECTIONS PRESENTED BY ON3 – BRETT McMURPHY
PRO FOOTBALL SPORTS NETWORK
WEST VIRGINIA
HOUSTON
CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIA
THE ATHLETIC – SCOTT DOCHTERMAN
WEST VIRGINIA
UCLA
WEEK 1 SCHEDULE Thursday, September 3
Southeast Missouri State at Iowa State – Noon on ESPN+
Bethune-Cookman at UCF – 6:00 pm on ESPN+
Baylor at Auburn – 2:30 pm on ABC
Colorado at Georgia Tech – 7:00 pm on ESPN
Boston College at Cincinnati – 2:30 pm on FOX
Idaho at No. 21 Utah – 8:00 pm on ESPNU
Boise State at No. 2 Oregon – 2:30 pm on CBS Oklahoma State at Tulsa – 2:45 pm on ESPNU
Friday, September 4
Abilene Christian at No. 12 Texas Tech – 6:00 pm on FS1
Long Island University at Kansas – 7:00 pm on ESPNU
Utah Tech at No. 14 BYU – 7:00 pm on ESPN+
No. 7 Miami at Stanford – 8:00 pm on ESPN
Northern Arizona at Arizona – 8:30 pm on ESPN+
Fresno State at No. 14 USC – 8:00 pm on FOX
Morgan State at Arizona State – 9:00 pm on ESPN+ UCLA at California – 9:30 pm on ESPN
Saturday, September 5 Oregon State at No. 23 Houston – 11:00 am on ESPN
Sunday, September 6
Coastal Carolina at West Virginia – 11:00 am on TNT
Washington State at No. 17 Washington – 3:00 pm on NBC
1
InsidE ThE I-BOwL NEWsLETTEr // 2026 Week 1
WHAT TO WATCH FOR GAMES TO WATCH THIS WEEK COLORADO
@
GEORGIA TECH
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 7:00 PM CT // ESPN
OREGON STATE
@
23
HOUSTON
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 11:00 AM CT // ESPN
COASTAL CAROLINA
@
WEST VIRGINIA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 11:00 AM CT // TNT
BAYLOR
@
AUBURN
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 2:30 PM CT // ABC
BOSTON COLLEGE
@
CINCINNATI
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 2:30 PM CT // FOX
OKLAHOMA STATE
@
TULSA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 2:45 PM CT // ESPNU
UCLA
@
CALIFORNIA
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 9:30 PM CT // ESPN
WASHINGTON STATE
@
17
WASHINGTON
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 3:00 PM CT // NBC
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
(0-0)
WEEKLY PLAYER SPOTLIGHT JEREMY PAYNE
LAST WEEK VS. North Carolina:
RUNNING BACK JUNIOR
110 carries for 623 yards, 5 TDs 22 receptions for 207 yards, 2 TDs
25 carries for 142 yards 5 receptions for 27 yards
@IndyBowl // #IndyBowl50
LAST SEASON:
2
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 Awardwinning 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 Thursday, Sept. 3 7:00 pm CT ESPN
Stats & Leaders 9-4 6-2 (ACC) 32.2 (27th) 25.0 (69th) 460.0 262.5 197.5 399.2 235.2 164.0
3
2025 RECORD CONFERENCE RECORD POINTS PER GAME PTS ALLOWED/GAME TOTAL YDS PASSING YARDS RUSHING YARDS YDS ALLOWED PASSING YARDS ALLOWED RUSHING YARDS ALLOWED
3-9 1-8 (Big 12) 20.9 (116th) 30.5 (112th) 328.4 202.8 125.6 425.7 203.2 222.5
InsidE ThE I-BOwL NEWsLETTEr // 2026 Week 1
WE’RE PROUD TO SUPPORT SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY AND THE
The Shreveport-Bossier New Car Dealers Association is comprised of 24 local automobile dealers that have both individually and collectively donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities, worthy causes and community projects in our city.
SHREVEPORT DEALERS Chevyland Holmes Honda Morgan Buick - GMC Shreveport Orr Nissan Shreveport Hebert’s Town & Country Jeep - Chrysler - Dodge - Ram Group 1 Ford - Lincoln Orr Kia of Shreveport Yokem Toyota Morgan Hyundai Audi Shreveport Porsche Shreveport Mercedes - Benz of Shreveport Volvo of Shreveport Land Rover of Shreveport
BOSSIER DEALERS Landers Jeep - Chrysler - Dodge - Ram Red River Chevrolet Harvey Toyota - Lexus Family Mazda - Volkswagen Orr Kia Bossier Morgan GMC Bossier Orr Nissan Bossier Wray Ford Harvey Subaru Holmes Honda Bossier
¡
sbnewcardealers.com
IN THE COMMUNITY MUSIC, FOOTBALL & GOOD TIMES AT FISH 'N FOOTBALL ON SEPTEMBER 19 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 Independence Bowl Foundation members get the VIP treatment with: • Catered fish fry by Johnny’s Catfish & Seafood from 5:307:30 pm • Complimentary drinks from Coca-Cola and Eagle Distributing • Access to an exclusive members-only section. Bring the whole family because there will be games, inflatables, and fun for all ages! We’ll have a cash bar for adult beverages for non-members. Thank you to the event sponsors: Carter Credit Union, Eagle Distributing, KSM Marketing Agency & Xfinity!
CLICK HERE TO RSVP
HELP RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL TEACHERS! The Independence Bowl Foundation and Flying Heart Brewing & Pub are teaming up to support the Bowl's 2026 Extra Yard for Teachers initiative! Flying Heart is hosting five Pizza & Pints for a Purpose nights between May and September. The final one is Wednesday, September 9. On these nights, Flying Heart will donate a portion of the proceeds from each night to the Independence Bowl's Extra Yard for Teachers initiative, and teachers who present their teacher ID will receive 10% off pizzas! Through this initiative, the Independence Bowl has donated $142,000 to local educators since 2021, supporting 164 classrooms and approximately 25,000 students. Join us at Flying Heart for a great night, and help support local teachers!
@IndyBowl // #IndyBowl50
6
HALF A CENTURY OF INDY BOWL VON MILLER ANNOUNCED AS NO. 15 PLAYER ON ALL-TIME TEAM When all is said and done, Von Miller, who is the number 15 player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, could end up one of the greatest players to ever play in Shreveport’s bowl game. Miller, who could one day become just the fifth Independence Bowl alum to be inducted into both the College Football and Pro Football Hall of Fame, registered four total tackles and 0.5 tackles-for-loss (TFL) in the 2009 Independence Bowl for Texas A&M. After collecting 5.5 sacks and 11.5 TFL in his first two seasons on campus, Miller had his breakout season during his junior year in 2009 – the same season he played in Shreveport. Transitioning to more of a hybrid defensive end and linebacker role, the 2009 first-team All-Big 12 and All-American led the nation in sacks with 17 and finished fourth in the country with 21 TFL. His 17 sacks tie him for eighth on the singleseason sacks leaderboard – a statistic that has been an official stat since 2000. Miller was hobbled by an ankle injury the first half of his senior season in 2010, but he still turned in a stellar season – racking up 10.5 sacks and 17.5 TFL. He was named first-team All-Big 12 once again and was named a consensus All-American. Miller earned the prestigious Butkus Award as the best linebacker in the country and also won the Jack Lambert Trophy. After his outstanding collegiate career and winning the Defensive MVP award at the 2011 Senior Bowl, Miller was selected with the second overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. The pick quickly paid dividends for the Broncos, as Miller was named the 2011 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after posting 11.5 sacks and 19 TFL. He was also named second-team All-Pro for his rookie performance – his first of four times being named second-team All-Pro. Miller’s sophomore campaign was the best of his career. He posted career highs in sacks (18.5), TFL (28) and forced fumbles (six). He finished second in voting for NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was named first-team All-Pro for the first time – an achievement he would accomplish two more times. The DeSoto, Texas native recently signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys for the 2026 season, and to this point in his career, he has compiled 138.5 sacks and 177 TFL. In addition to seven appearances on the All-Pro teams, Miller has been named a Pro Bowler eight times and was named to the NFL 2010s AllDecade Team. He is first among active players in career sacks and currently ranks 13th on the NFL’s all-time sack leaders list. Miller could leap to ninth on the list and ahead of Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor with just four sacks this season. He is also tied for second among active players in TFL and tied for fourth on the NFL’s alltime TFL leaderboard. Miller is also the Broncos' all-time franchise sacks leader with 110.5. In addition to his personal success, Miller has also reached the pinnacle of pro football twice, winning two Super Bowls – 50 and LVI. The leader of the Broncos' vaunted defense during the 2015-16 season, Miller tied the record for most sacks in a single Super Bowl with 4.5 sacks in Super Bowl 50 and was named Super Bowl MVP. His next playoff appearance in the postseason came with the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021-22 season after a mid-season trade sent him from Denver to the City of Angels, and Miller took full advantage of the opportunity. In four playoff games on the march to his second Lombardi Trophy, Miller collected four sacks and helped lead the Rams to their first Super Bowl title since 2000.
CLICK HERE TO FULL STORY
7
InsidE ThE I-BOwL NEWsLETTEr // 2026 Week 1
50th Anniversary SPONSORS
HALF A CENTURY OF INDY BOWL GET YOUR OWN PIECE OF INDEPENDENCE BOWL HISTORY! To help celebrate half a century of the Independence Bowl, Craig Routh designed an INCREDIBLE 50th anniversary commemorative painting! You can purchase a signed and numbered, limited edition print for $120 by clicking the button below! Purchase one today and get your hands on a special piece of Independence Bowl history!
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
SPORT YOUR OWN THROWBACK & 50TH ANNIVERSARY MERCH! Fans are now able to sport their favorite Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl 50th anniversary gear, as the official 50th anniversary merchandise and throwback t-shirts are now available on the bowl's online shop. Anyone who would like to purchase official 50th anniversary gear of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl can visit IndependenceBowl.shop. The shop features unique "vault" throwback Comfort Colors tees and a variety of items featuring the 50th anniversary logo, including polos, t-shirts, pullovers, sweatshirts and hats. Check it out by clicking below!
CLICK HERE TO SHOP
@IndyBowl // #IndyBowl50
10
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 artspace gallery 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.
11
InsidE ThE I-BOwL NEWsLETTEr // 2026 Week 1
Shop Now!
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