The game was contested starting on Sunday, December 28, 2008, with a 7:15 p.m. CST kickoff, telecast on ESPN. the contest pitted the 2008 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team against the 2008 Northern Illinois Huskies football team.[2] Both Louisiana Tech and Northern Illinois were chosen because both of the contracted conferences – the Big 12 Conference and the Southeastern Conference – failed to produce enough bowl eligible teams as both had a pair of schools in the 2009 Bowl Championship Series. Prior to the game, citing financial difficulties stemming from the financial crisis of 2007–2008, PetroSun pulled out as title sponsor.
Both participants were football-only members of the Big West Conference in the mid-1990s. This was the 7th football game between Louisiana Tech and Northern Illinois and the first since 1996. Tech now holds a 6–1 edge over Northern Illinois.
The game was Louisiana Tech's 4th appearance in the Independence Bowl and the first appearance since 1990 when Tech tied Maryland 34–34. The Bulldogs now hold an overall record of 2–1–1 in the Independence Bowl. The victory over Northern Illinois marked the first bowl game victory by the Bulldogs since their 1977 Independence Bowl victory over Louisville.
This was Northern Illinois' 1st appearance in the Independence Bowl and the 4th overall appearance in Division I FBS Bowl Games. Their previous appearances in bowl games include the 1983 California Bowl (20–13 victory over Cal State-Fullerton), 2004 Silicon Valley Classic (34–21 victory over Troy), and 2006 Poinsettia Bowl (37–7 loss to TCU).
| Scoring summary
|
| Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
| Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
La. Tech
|
NIU
|
| 1
|
1:56
|
11
|
69
|
5:50
|
NIU
|
Kyle Skarb 8-yard touchdown reception from Chandler Harnish, Mike Salerno kick good
|
0
|
7
|
| 1
|
1:43
|
|
|
|
La. Tech
|
Phillip Livas 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Brad Oestriecher kick good
|
7
|
7
|
| 2
|
13:40
|
5
|
42
|
2:05
|
La. Tech
|
Daniel Porter 11-yard touchdown run, Brad Oestriecher kick good
|
14
|
7
|
| 3
|
11:54
|
8
|
49
|
3:06
|
La. Tech
|
30-yard field goal by Brad Oestriecher
|
17
|
7
|
| 3
|
7:31
|
10
|
66
|
4:23
|
NIU
|
20-yard field goal by Mike Salerno
|
17
|
10
|
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
10
|
17
|
|
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
| Bulldogs
|
7
|
7
|
3
|
0 |
17 |
| Huskies
|
7
|
0
|
3
|
0 |
10 |
| Statistics |
La. Tech |
NIU
|
| First Downs |
12 |
17
|
| Total offense, yards |
236 |
339
|
| Rushes-yards (net) |
31–92 |
31–153
|
| Passing yards (net) |
144 |
186
|
| Passes, Comp-Att-Int |
12–27–0 |
20–41–2
|
| Time of Possession |
26:48 |
33:12
|
| Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
| La. Tech |
Passing |
Ross Jenkins |
12/27, 144 yds
|
| Rushing |
Daniel Porter |
18 car, 78 yds, 1 TD
|
| Receiving |
Patrick Jackson |
1 rec, 34 yds
|
| NIU |
Passing |
Chandler Harnish |
20/40, 186 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
|
| Rushing |
Chad Spann |
14 car, 79 yds
|
| Receiving |
Matt Simon |
6 rec, 44 yds
|