Independence Bowl and Sun Belt Conference Enter Backup Agreement

Skyline Photo: Kyle Johnson[/caption]

SHREVEPORT, La. and NEW ORLEANS, La. (Nov. 3, 2022) – The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl and Sun Belt Conference announced Thursday that the bowl and conference have entered into a backup agreement, which will be in place through the 2025-26 Bowl Season. 

“As the FBS leader in bowl winning percentage during the College Football Playoff era, we are excited to expand the postseason opportunities for Sun Belt football student-athletes,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. “The Independence Bowl was a natural partner in this expansion, as one of the longest-running bowl games that also falls within our geographic footprint.”

The Sun Belt paces the FBS with a .649 bowl winning percentage during the College Football Playoff era since 2014. The conference has also had a team ranked in the final College Football Playoff rankings for three-straight seasons. The Sun Belt owns four victories over autonomy five programs this season—Old Dominion over Virginia Tech, 20-17; Marshall over Notre Dame, 26-21; App State over Texas A&M, 17-14; and Georgia Southern over Nebraska, 45-42.

The Sun Belt has been represented once previously in the first 45 years of Independence Bowl history, as the ULM Warhawks played in the 2012 Independence Bowl against the Ohio Bobcats of the Mid-American Conference. Southern Miss is currently playing their first season of football in the Sun Belt, but has appeared in the Independence Bowl three times prior to entering the conference—twice as an independent and once as a member of Conference USA.

There are two teams from the state of Louisiana currently in the Sun Belt—the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns and ULM. Other Sun Belt teams from neighboring states include the Arkansas State Red Wolves, Southern Miss Golden Eagles and Texas State Bobcats.

“We are proud to create a new partnership with the Sun Belt Conference as a backup agreement for the next four years,” said 2022 Independence Bowl Foundation Chairman Rob Rubel. “It is an exciting time for the Sun Belt and their footprint aligns very well with that of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. We appreciate Commissioner Keith Gill and Senior Associate Commissioner Travis Llewellyn for working with us.”

The 2022 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl will be the 46th playing of Shreveport’s annual college football bowl game—set to kick off on Friday, December 23 at 2 p.m. CT. The matchup is slated to feature Army West Point against a team from the American Athletic Conference. Public tickets are on sale now and are $30 for endzone bench, $45 for sideline bench and $65 for a limited quantity of sideline chairback seats. There are also a bevy of other ticket packages available—including group tickets, Family 4-Packs, Small Business Fan Packs and the exclusive Chairman’s Club. For more information on tickets to the 2022 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/tickets or call the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at 318.221.0712 or toll-free at 888.414.BOWL.

Fans can plan their trip to Shreveport for the 46th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl at LouisianaTravel.com.

About the Sun Belt Conference

The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) has established itself as a leader among intercollegiate athletics leagues since its move to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 2001. Founded in 1976, the Sun Belt now features 14 dynamic member institutions across 10 contiguous states and boasts broad-based excellence across its 18 sponsored sports, in the classroom and in the communities across the league’s footprint. 

The Sun Belt’s 14 member institutions are App State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana, ULM, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State and Troy.

ABOUT THE RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL™

Established in 1976, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl™ is the nation’s 11th-oldest bowl game, and the 46th edition will be played on Friday, December 23, 2022 at 2 p.m. CT between Army West Point and a team form the American Athletic Conference. The UAB Blazers defeated the No. 13 BYU Cougars 31-28 in the 45th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Saturday, December 18, 2021. The Independence Bowl Foundation announced a one-year extension with Radiance Technologies – ensuring they will be the title sponsor through 2025. The bowl’s conference and team agreements, as well as the television agreement, also run through the 2025 season. Army West Point and BYU are slated to matchup against a rotation of the Pac-12 Conference, American Athletic Conference and Conference USA, which will be televised on an ESPN network.

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, Twitter and Instagram at @IndyBowl.