News & Notes: Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Pulls 2.41 Million Viewers on ESPN

SHREVEPORT, La. (Jan. 24, 2023) – The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl posted impressive viewership numbers for the second year in a row – welcoming 2.41 million viewers to the nail-biter between the Houston Cougars and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns on Friday, December 23, 2022.

With the game coming down to the wire and Houston eventually taking the lead in the final minute, viewers throughout the country were glued to ESPN to see the Cougars defeat the Ragin’ Cajuns, 23-16. The final count was 2,407,494 for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl – on an ESPN network for the 30th consecutive year.

The 2.41 million viewers rank the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl 21st among 43 bowl games played in the 2022 Bowl Season – including all New Year’s Six games, the Cricket Celebration Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship Game presented by AT&T. It ranked 15th among non-New Year’s Six and College Football Playoff games. The Independence Bowl was right in the thick of the ratings, as it was within 600,000 viewers of the seventh spot among non-New Year’s Six and College Football Playoff games.

The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl – played on December 23 – ranked even higher among its pre-Christmas peers. It ranked fourth in viewership among the 17 pre-Christmas bowl games. 

The 2022 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl was the 46th edition of college football’s 11th most-historic bowl game – kicking off at 3 p.m. EST on ESPN on Friday, December 23, 2022. Houston quarterback Clayton Tune found star receiver Nathaniel “Tank” Dell with 20 seconds left for a 12-yard touchdown – sealing their first Independence Bowl victory in program history.

ABOUT THE RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL™

Established in 1976, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl™ is college football’s 11th most-historic bowl game – celebrating its 47th edition in 2023. The Houston Cougars defeated the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns 23-16 in the 46th playing of the bowl in 2022. 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, team, and television agreements also run through the 2025 season. Army West Point and BYU are slated to match up 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.