Independence Bowl to Celebrate 50th Anniversary With Big 12 vs. Pac-12 Matchup

Just over two months remain until the 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, set to kick off Tuesday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m. CST at Independence Stadium, and the golden anniversary game’s primary tie-ins have been announced: the Big 12 Conference is set to face a Pac-12 Legacy team.

“We are beyond excited to announce the Big 12 vs. Pac-12 Legacy primary tie-ins for the 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl,” said Keith Burton, 2026 Independence Bowl Foundation Chairman. “These conferences create an intriguing matchup for local and regional Independence Bowl fans and national college football fans to enjoy the Independence Bowl wherever they are. We cannot wait to provide local and traveling fans with the southern hospitality we are known for and celebrate 50 years of our bowl game.”

The 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl hits the field Tuesday, December 22, in primetime at 7:30 p.m. CST on ESPN. Fans can join the celebration of the Independence Bowl’s half-century by purchasing tickets at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/tickets. Ticket packages include individual and group tickets, Pizza Hut Family 4-Packs, Small Business Fan Packs and premium options.

The Big 12 Conference, in its 31st college football season, is off to a historic start. The Conference has placed its most teams in the AP Top 25 in October league play in over a decade and boasts its best non-conference record since becoming a 16-team league. The league’s postseason competition begins with the Big 12 Football Championship on Friday, December 4 at 7 p.m. CT on ABC at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“Growing the Big 12’s postseason opportunities for our institutions is important for our football programs, and it enhances the student-athlete experience within the Conference,” said Big 12 Chief Football and Competition Officer Scott Draper. “We look forward to seeing the Big 12 competing in the 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl in December as part of an exciting postseason to cap our football season.”

With four current Big 12 teams in the Pac-12 Legacy bowl selection process, available Big 12 teams include Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, UCF and West Virginia.

“The Big 12 has been an important part of the Independence Bowl’s fabric throughout our 50-year history, appearing in the game the second most of any conference in college football,” said Burton. “We thank them for being great partners of the Independence Bowl throughout the years and are proud to have them as a primary partner for our 50th edition.”

The Big 12 has appeared 13 times in the Independence Bowl’s first 49 editions, featuring eight different teams. The last Big 12 team to play in the Independence Bowl was Texas Tech in 2023. Head coach Joey McGuire’s Red Raiders defeated California 34-14.

This story initially appeared as a Big 12 press release.