Also, head over here for the fully updated bowl season calendar as it fills in, from the New Orleans Bowl through the Rose Bowl. We’ll also add picks, scores, and more to that calendar over time.
2016 Independence Bowl, NC State vs. Vanderbilt: Date, time, location, and everything to know
The game is just one three bowls played on Dec. 26.
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The 2016 Independence Bowl will be played the day after Christmas in Shreveport, where last year’s version of the bowl was one of the more exciting offensive shows of the season. Virginia Tech pulled off a 55-52 edging of Tulsa, and the winning team in this game has scored at least 40 points five times since 2009.
The Independence Bowl has shuffled through a couple of names over the years. Its current sponsor is Camping World, but it’s previously had the backing of titans of industry such as Poulan Weedeater, Sanford, MainStay Investments, PetroSun, AdvoCare and Duck Commander. It’s a very bowl-game bowl game, if you will.
It’s one of just three bowls on the day after Christmas, and it’ll be the only one happening during the evening hours, before the country’s top bowls start up a few days afterward. Here’s just about everything you could possibly want to know about how this game will work:
Date and time: Dec. 26, 5 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Location: Shreveport, La.
Stadium: Independence Stadium
Last year’s score: Virginia Tech 55, Tulsa 52
Last year’s attendance: 31,289
Teams with the most all-time appearances: Ole Miss, 5
Teams with the most all-time wins: Ole Miss, 4
NC State (6-6, 3-5 in ACC)
NC State began the season 4-1, with a road loss to East Carolina during Week 2. The Wolfpack then went into Death Valley to take on No. 2 Clemson, and NC State didn’t go down without a fight. The Wolfpack nearly upset the Tigers and even forced overtime, but Clemson was able to pull it out, 24-17. NC State then proceeded to lose its next three games against Louisville, Boston College, and Florida State. The wins over Syracuse and North Carolina to end the regular season were enough to send the Wolfpack to a bowl.
NC State’s offense is led by quarterback Ryan Finley, who’s thrown for 2,820 yards and 15 touchdowns. Running back Matthew Dayes has also been productive for NC State this season, rushing for 1,119 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The last time NC State got a bowl victory was in 2014, when the Wolfpack beat UCF, 34-17, in the St. Petersburg Bowl. Dave Doeren has a 1-1 bowl record as NC State’s head coach.
Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5 in SEC)
The Commodores had a really, really nice third season under Derek Mason. The Commodores had back-to-back ranked, 9-4 finishes under James Franklin in 2012 and 2013, but they’d fallen off hard in Mason’s first two years. They clawed back this year, getting to bowl eligibility with the help of surprising league wins against Georgia and Tennessee.
The team’s a long way from perfect, obviously. The defense is fine, but the offense is pretty mediocre. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur had a hard time moving the ball at all, although running back Ralph Webb went to almost 1,200 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. It’s an offense with some interesting pieces, but not a particularly good one overall.
Keep your eyes on junior linebacker Zach Cunningham, one of the most underrated defensive players in the country. Cunningham has 119 total tackles, and nobody else on the roster has more than 75. He’s incredibly active and a big deal for the ‘Dores.
See More:
