The #19 AP-ranked Army Black Knights (11-2, 9-0 AAC) played in the postseason for the first time since 2021, defeating the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, 27-6, its 12th win of the season, the most wins in a season in school history.
QB Bryson Daily rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries, with the third score breaking the record for most rushing touchdowns from a quarterback in FBS history with 32. Daily was named Independence Bowl Offensive MVP for his performance.
As the feature back for the first time this season, RB Hayden Reed ran 20 times for 114 (5.7 avg.) yards and a touchdown.
Army’s offense held the ball for 40:08 of game time while converting on four-of-five fourth-down conversions.
LB Kalib Fortner was named Independence Bowl Defensive MVP with a team-high seven tackles including a third down sack and pass breakup.
Army’s offense wasted no time on its first possession as RB Hayden Reed broke off a run up the middle for 15 yards and slot back Noah Short got loose on the edge for 17 yards. QB Bryson Daily capped off the drive with his NCAA-leading 30th rushing touchdown of the season, from 15 yards out for the Black Knights to take a 7-0 lead. It was an eight-play, 80-yard drive for Army.
The Bulldogs converted one first down on the ensuing drive before punting into the end zone for a touchback.
Daily then plunged forward on a fourth-and-short from Army’s own 29-yard line to keep an eventual touchdown drive alive. Aided by a 16-yard rush from RB Tyrell Robinson, the drive was capped by a 12-yard touchdown run by RB Hayden Reed to make it 14-0 in the first quarter, his first rushing score of the season.
Louisiana Tech responded to Army’s 14 unanswered points by converting on a 27-yard field goal by K Drew Henderson. The field goal was set up by an Evan Bullock 27-yard pass to Eli Finley.
Army drove down for its third consecutive touchdown drive to begin the game, chewing up 12:21 of game clock as Daily converted a pair of fourth downs on the ground to continue to move the chains. He capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to match the FBS record for rushing touchdowns from a quarterback in a season.
Army got a stop on defense to end the half with DL Deshontez Gray and LB Kalib Fortner getting home for sacks as the Black Knights took a 21-3 lead into halftime.
Army scored a touchdown on all three of its drives in the first half.
Early in the fourth quarter, Daily found the end zone for the third time on the night, his 32nd of the season, breaking the NCAA record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback, formerly held by Keenan Reynolds (Navy, 31). The score was set up on a 52-yard reception by TE David Crossan, the first reception of his career. On the play, Daily eclipsed 1,000 passing yards on the season, the second Army QB to have 1,000 rushing and passing yards in a season (Kelvin Hopkins Jr., 2018).
With the score 27-6 after a failed two-point conversion for Army, the Bulldogs drove down into the red zone for the third time, having a first-and-goal from the two-yard line. After getting three consecutive stops, CB Jaydan Mayes intercepted Bullock’s pass on fourth down.
Louisiana Tech got the ball back twice in the final ten minutes as Army ran the clock out, as the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs each time.
Army finished with 325 yards rushing while allowing just 60 yards on the ground.
With the win, Army captured its 12th victory of the season, the most ever in a single season in program history and tied for the most wins in a season by a service academy with Air Force (1985 and 1998).
Army is 16-2 in its last 18 games dating back to last season.
Jeff Monken is 5-1 in bowl games at Army. Army is 8-3 all-time in bowl games.