Report: BYU will face UAB in the Independence Bowl

UAB wide receiver Trea Shropshire (11) celebrates a touchdown against UTSA with teammate offensive lineman Colby Ragland (53) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in San Antonio. | Eric Gay, Associated Press

BYU went 6-1 against Power Five opponents during the regular season, but finds itself taking on a Group of Five school in the postseason.

The Cougarswill play Conference USA’s UAB in the Independence Bowl, Action Network’s Brett McMurphy reported Sunday.

Late surprise here: BYU vs. UAB in Independence Bowl, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ

Live updates of every bowl matchup. Follow along here:https://t.co/qNeB1xqENu

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 5, 2021

The game will be played Dec. 18 at 1:30 p.m. MST at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, and will be televised on ABC.

BYU takes a 10-2 record into the bowl season. The Cougars have been idle since winning 35-31 at USC in their regular-season finale, and will have the opportunity to jump into the top 10 in the final rankings — BYU is No. 12 in the latest Associated Press poll released Sunday.

UAB finished second in the C-USA’s West Division behind league champion UTSA. The Blazers went 8-4 during the regular season and enter the postseason having won three of their past four games.

UAB is playing in its fifth bowl in school history, and fourth in the past five years. The Blazers were 0-2 against ranked opponents during the regular season — losing 56-7 to College Football Playoff participant Georgia and 34-31 against C-USA champion UTSA.