As first checking, one may calculate the Drag average force from numerical simulations and compare it to correlations from the literature (as a function of the Reynolds)
You need not only to compare your result with the experiment, but also to have a comparison with DNS. If you are applying a wall modeled LES, I would strongly suggest to also try or compare the results with a wall-resolved LES.
Here are ERCOFTAC classic database which might be suitable for your validation: