Bowl season marches before the calendar turns to 2026 with the 49th edition of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers squares off against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, who are playing in the Independence Bowl for the second consecutive year. As far as the opt-outs and portal players go, Coastal is losing both offensive tackles, while Louisiana Tech is losing a trio of heavily used players in the back seven. But it is the Chanticleers that find themselves on the wrong side of what Vegas thinks. Is there any reason to think Coastal can prove Vegas wrong?<\/p>\n
Head coach Sonny Cumbie guided Louisiana Tech to its first winning season since 2019, finishing 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA. The Bulldogs had nine players earn All-Conference USA honors. Co-Defensive Player of the Year Jacob Fields led those nine. Another member of the Louisiana Tech secondary, Jakari Foster<\/a>, garnered first-team All-American selections. It was the first time in 13 years that Louisiana Tech has had a player with that distinction. With Fields and Foster headlining the secondary, the Bulldogs led the nation with seven defensive touchdowns and were third in the FBS with 20 interceptions. The Bulldogs boast the number one scoring defense in C-USA (21.3 points per game) and the number one rushing defense in C-USA (142.1 yards per game).<\/p>\n Offensively, Tech recorded four 300-yard rushing games and one 400-yard rushing game. That type of production allowed them to finish with the nation\u2019s 22nd-best rushing offense (196.6 yards per game). The rushing attack is by a true committee. Four players have at least 450 yards rushing this season, with running back Clay Thevenin<\/a> leading the way with 605 yards. It’s noteworthy that quarterback Trey Kukuk<\/a> is starting just his third game of the season, and is the second leading rusher on the team with 488 yards. If Coastal is going to pull the upset, they are going to have to force the Bulldog to throw the ball.<\/p>\n After Jamey Chadwell won at least nine straight games in his last three seasons before taking the Liberty job, Tim Beck has not come close to reaching that in his three seasons. After starting the year 6-3, the Chants ended the season with losses to Georgia Southern, South Carolina, and James Madison. As a result, Beck was fired on November 30th. Defensive Coordinator Jeremiah Johnson will serve as the interim before heading to Kansas State to coach defensive backs. Johnson is familiar with Louisiana Tech as he was the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator for last year’s Independence Bowl. Ryan Beard, previously of Missouri State, has been hired as the next head coach for the Chanticleers.<\/p>\n With all of the coaching changes happening in the background, there are still some big-time players for Coastal that will be playing in the game. Six Chanticleers received All-Sun Belt Conference honors, headlined by defensive back Xamarion Gordon<\/a> (Second-Team All-Sun Belt) and Zeke Campbell (Third-Team All-Sun Belt). Gordon led Coastal\u2019s defense across the board, finishing the season with team highs in total tackles (71), solo tackles (42), interceptions (3), and fumble recoveries (3).\u00a0Campbell was one of only two Sun Belt defenders to record at least 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.<\/p>\n The status of Coastal Carolina quarterback Samari Collier<\/a>, who missed the last two games with an injury, remains unclear. If Collier is unable to go, Tad Hudson<\/a> would make his seventh start of the season. Whoever is under center, the passing game has not been electric. In virtually every passing metric one could find, Coastal ranks in the 100s. Similar to Louisiana Tech, the Chants’ rushing attack is their strength and is done so with multiple ball carries.<\/p>\nChanticleer Coaching Chaos<\/h3>\n
Independence Bowl Prediction<\/h3>\n