Bulldogs vs. Chanticleers: A High-Stakes Showdown in the Independence Bowl
Louisiana Tech (7–5) officially learned its postseason destination Sunday afternoon: a showdown with Coastal Carolina (6–6) in the 49th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
Kickoff is set for December 30 at 1:00 p.m. in Shreveport, Louisiana, with national coverage on ESPN and local radio on KXKZ 107.5 FM.
Oddsmakers have Louisiana Tech favored by 8.5 points, and the total set at 50.5.
A Look at Coastal Carolina’s 2025 Season
The Chanticleers’ season was a roller coaster, featuring impressive conference wins mixed with several lopsided losses. They finished the regular season at 6–6 overall and 5–3 in Sun Belt play.
2025 Schedule Results
- @ Virginia — L, 48–7
- vs Charleston Southern — W, 13–0
- vs East Carolina — L, 38–0
- @ South Alabama — W, 38–20
- @ Old Dominion — L, 47–7
- vs ULM — W, 23–8
- @ App State — W, 45–37
- vs Marshall — W, 44–27
- vs Georgia State — W, 40–27
- @ Georgia Southern — L, 45–40
- @ South Carolina — L, 51–7
- vs James Madison — L, 59–10
Key Chanticleer Personnel
Offense
- QB Tad Hudson: 56% completion, 990 total yards, 6 TD, 5 INT
- RB Ja’Vin Simpkins: 624 total yards, 2 TD
- WR Cam Wright: 24 receptions, 274 yards, 1 TD
- WR Robby Washington: 24 receptions, 231 yards, 2 TD
Defense
- S Xamarion Gordon: 71 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 3 INT
- LB Tray Brown: 46 tackles, 9 TFL, 2.5 sacks
- S Myles Woods: 43 tackles, 3 INT
- DE Zeke Campbell: 39 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks
Special Teams
- K Kian Afrookhteh: 15/17 FG, long of 44
- KR Malcolm Gillie: 26.1 yards per return, 1 TD
We’ll dive deeper into team metrics—points per game, yards per game, third-down efficiency, and more—in the coming weeks.
Coaching Change Adds Drama
Following the end of the regular season, Coastal Carolina parted ways with head coach Tim Beck, who finished his three-year tenure with a 20–18 record and bowl eligibility every season.
Defensive coordinator Jeremiah Johnson will serve as the interim head coach for the bowl game. Bulldog fans may remember Johnson well—he was Louisiana Tech’s defensive coordinator in 2024, when the Bulldogs ranked 26th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 21 points per game.
Countdown to Kickoff
Stay locked in with us over the next three weeks as we get you fully prepared for the massive Independence Bowl matchup between the Bulldogs and the Chanticleers.
