JOURNAL SPORTS

The viewership numbers are in for the 2022 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl and they are quite impressive – for the second year in a row.

The nail-biter between the Houston Cougars and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns drew 2.41 million viewers, ranking the contest 21st among 43 bowl games played in the 2022 Bowl Season – including all New Year’s Six games, the Cricket Celebration Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship Game presented by AT&T.

With the game going down to the wire and Houston eventually taking the lead in the final minute, viewers throughout the country were glued to ESPN to see the Cougars defeat the Ragin’ Cajuns 23-16. When Houston quarterback Clayton Tune found star receiver Nathaniel “Tank” Dell with 20 seconds left for a 12-yard touchdown, the Cougars had sealed their first Independence Bowl victory in program history.

The Dec. 23, 2022, game ranked 15th among non-New Year’s Six and College Football Playoff games and finished fourth in viewership among the 17 pre-Christmas bowl games.

The 2022 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl was the 46th edition of college football’s 11th most-historic bowl game.