It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship.
NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest giving us a first-time matchup:
2025 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Matchup: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025
Kickoff: 2 p.m. ET
Stadium: Independence Stadium – Shreveport, La.
TV: ESPN
Game Overview
The Independence Bowl features a first-ever matchup between the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, with both teams looking to cap their seasons with a victory.
It’s one of the most well established bowl games on the schedule, as it stretches all the way back to 1976 and features some incredible former MVPs: Kevin Faulk (1995), Takeo Spikes (1996), Eli Manning (2002) and Jacob Rodriguez (2023).
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Team Overviews
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Conference: Sun Belt
Head Coach: Jeremiah Johnson (Interim)
Record: 6–6
Coastal Carolina is undergoing some significant change, with interim head coach Jeremiah Johnson taking over for new South Florida offensive coordinator Tim Beck.
The Chanticleers lean on a balanced attack, but inconsistencies in pass protection and third-down defense proved disastrous blowout losses to East Carolina, Old Dominion, Virginia, James Madison and South Carolina.
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It’ll be difficult enough to win this game with an interim head coach, but starting offensive linemen Nick Del Grande and Joseph Hanson are both expected to sit out.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Conference: Conference USA
Head Coach: Sonny Cumbie
Record: 7–5
Louisiana Tech will also be without some key players, as starting quarterback Blake Baker, as well as defensive backs Michael Richards and Jacob Fields, will miss this one.
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The Bulldogs finished strong down the stretch to secure bowl eligibility, winning games against Liberty and Missouri State.
Players to Watch
Coastal Carolina
QB Samari Collier
QB Tad Hudson
RB Ja’Vin Simpkins
WR Cameron Wright
DL Ezekiel Durham-Campbell
LB Tray Brown
DB Xamarion Gordon
DB Myles Woods
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Louisiana Tech
QB Trey Kukuk
RB Clay Thevenin
RB Andrew Burnette
TE Eli Finley
LB Mekhi Mason
LB Jadon Mayfield
DB Jakari Foster
Key Notes
Louisiana Tech will join the Sun Belt in 2026.
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Costal Carolina defensive lineman Ezekiel Durham-Campbell transferred in from Louisiana Tech.
Betting Lines
DraftKings Sportsbook: Louisiana Tech -9.5 | O/U 51.5
FanDuel Sportsbook: Louisiana Tech -8.5 | O/U 51.5
BetMGM Sportsbook: Louisiana Tech -9.5 | O/U 51.5
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The Pick: Under 51.5
Featured image via James Snook/Imagn Images
