The Miami football team lost their only other appearance in the Independence Bowl, 24-21 to South Carolina in 2014 in their second and last bowl appearance under Al Golden. Miami will play Louisiana Tech who will travel up I-49 to Shreveport with a 9-3 record. The teams will have a sense of familiarity with each other.
Miami defensive coordinator Blake Baker who is in his first year with the Miami football program spent the four previous seasons in Lafayette, Louisiana with Louisiana Tech in the same position. Baker was preceded as the Bulldogs DC by Miami head coach Manny Diaz.