Dec. 4, 2016
Nashville – Vanderbilt has accepted an invitation to face North Carolina State of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 41st Camping World Independence Bowl on Monday, Dec. 26 in Shreveport, La.
It will mark the first postseason bowl appearance for Vanderbilt under Head Coach Derek Mason, who directed the Commodores to a 6-6 record capped by consecutive victories over Ole Miss and Tennessee.
Kickoff for the Vanderbilt-NC State matchup is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT. It will be televised by ESPN2.
The Camping World Independence Bowl will be Vanderbilt’s eighth bowl appearance in its history and fourth in the last six years.
“Vanderbilt is pleased and very excited to accept an invitation to play in the upcoming Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport on Dec. 26,” Vanderbilt Athletics Director David Williams II said. “Vanderbilt University is proud that our football program will be making its first postseason appearance under Derek Mason. We will work extremely hard to make the bowl a very successful event in every way. We are looking forward to playing a tremendous opponent in NC State.”
It will mark Vanderbilt’s first appearance in the Camping World Independence Bowl, which is staged in Shreveport’s Independence Stadium.
The Commodores are 4-2-1 all-time in bowl games. The wins have come against Houston in the 2013 BBVA Compass Bowl, NC State in the 2012 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Boston College in the 2008 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl and Auburn in the 1955 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.
Tickets may be purchased by going to Vanderbilt Bowl Central.
Vanderbilt played its best football toward the end of the year, concluding the regular season on a 4-2 run. The stretch included league wins against Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee. The Commodores feature one of the SEC’s most improved offenses and a defense that held conference foes to a 20.2-point average. Individually, the Commodores are led by all-time rushing leader Ralph Webb and quarterback Kyle Shurmur on offense and standout linebacker and Butkus Award finalist Zach Cunningham on defense.
NC State is 6-6 this season, and 3-5 in the ACC. This will mark the fifth postseason appearance for the Wolfpack in Head Coach Dave Doeren’s six-year stint at the school.
The Independence Bowl will mark just the third meeting between Vanderbilt and NC State. The Commodores hold a 2-0 series advantage: a 38-24 win in the 2012 Music City Bowl and a 7-0 regular season victory in 1946.
