Independence Bowl to Feature Big 12 and Pac-12 Matchup
The 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl will take place in Shreveport on December 22, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Football
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Shreveport's Independence Stadium is set to host the 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on December 22, 2026. The nationally televised game will feature a competitive matchup between teams representing the Big 12 and the Pac-12 conferences.
Why it matters
This pairing marks the return of a Big 12 team to the bowl game for the first time since Texas Tech appeared in 2023. The contest serves as the focal point for the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Independence Bowl series, which dates back to 1976.
The game is scheduled for kickoff at 7:30 p.m. following the 2025 event where Louisiana Tech secured a 23-14 victory over Coastal Carolina. The Big 12 currently consists of 16 member teams.
The players
Big 12
The Big 12 is a collegiate athletic conference that currently manages 16 member teams.
Pac-12
The Pac-12 is a historic collegiate athletic conference represented here by the Pac-12 Legacy.
Texas Tech
Texas Tech is a university football program that served as the most recent Big 12 representative at this bowl game.
Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech is the collegiate football program that won the 2025 Independence Bowl.
The details
The game will be played at Independence Stadium in Shreveport and will be broadcast to a national audience. This event honors five decades of tradition for the bowl game, which has been a staple of the college football postseason since the inaugural series began in 1976.
Timeline
1976 marks the beginning of the Independence Bowl series.
2023 was the year Texas Tech made the last Big 12 appearance in the bowl.
2025 was the year Louisiana Tech defeated Coastal Carolina 23-14.
December 22, 2026, is the date of the 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
Season Trajectory
This game highlights the ongoing evolution of the college football bowl season and conference realignments. By featuring the Big 12 and Pac-12, the bowl maintains its standing as a significant late-season contest in the regional postseason landscape.
The game start time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Independence Stadium. The inclusion of a Big 12 team ends a two-year drought for that conference at this specific bowl location.
The takeaway
Fans should mark their calendars for this milestone anniversary game that bridges five decades of postseason football. This event reinforces the importance of regional bowl games in the broader college football schedule.
Further reading
For more on local collegiate games, check out the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by USA TODAY.
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