A record three 5-7 teams to go to bowls this year

[WilsonHog]

It could happen. There are 80 bowl spots to fill this year, and 71 teams that have qualified. Fifteen more sit at 5-6, and three more at 4-6. Based on the number of current bowl spots available, 63% of FBS teams will play in a bowl game this year.

Too many?

Another example of "everyone gets a trophy?"

Further evidence that the main motivating factor is money?

I enjoy bowl season, but I would be lying if I said I watched - or even cared about - every game (the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl?). However, while part of me thinks that a 6-6 record should not qualify a team for the postseason, I sure enjoyed watching us beat the Longhorns in the Texas Bowl last December.

But 5-7?

[DeltaBoy]

IT the same way with State VS Playoffs in Ark and Texas.

[WilsonHog]

IT the same way with State VS Playoffs in Ark and Texas.

True. We played a team in the first round a couple of weeks ago that was 2-8.

[Hollywood_HOGan45]

I agree. There are too many bowls but while we complain about all the bowls that are on, those kids that sweat their butts off in August and all throughout the season so we can be entertained are getting a reward for their blood/sweat/tears.

[ricepig]

Well, they aren't going to cancel the bowls, what do you expect them to do? The only solution is to cut back on the number of bowls, but they are going the other direction, 3 new ones this year, or at least next year??

[RME]

Well, they aren't going to cancel the bowls, what do you expect them to do? The only solution is to cut back on the number of bowls, but they are going the other direction, 3 new ones this year, or at least next year??

Could always hope for several more programs to make the jump the FBS if they meet the requirements

[ricepig]

Could always hope for several more programs to make the jump the FBS if they meet the requirements

Just have the SunBelt to keep expanding.......

[Razorfox]

What is the purpose of bowl games?  Until that question is actually answered, then this is pure opinion based on nothing objective.

[RME]

Just have the SunBelt to keep expanding.......

I mean, beggars can't be choosers. They're not gonna cut bowl games and lose money, so adding more teams is a way to counter 5-7 teams making bowls.

Look at App State...yeah they're Sun Belt, but recently became FBS and are 8-2 this year.

[HogimusMaximus]

Too many...dont want no consolation prize though some fatcats in the media will take it.

[ErieHog]

Well, they aren't going to cancel the bowls, what do you expect them to do? The only solution is to cut back on the number of bowls, but they are going the other direction, 3 new ones this year, or at least next year??

Why?

This is always one of the silliest arguments in sports.

Sports fans arguing actively for less of the sport they support with their viewing time and fan dollars.

Do you know why bowls continue to proliferate?  Because people support them, and they're economically sustainable.

You want to cut down on bowls?  Stop watching them on ESPN.  Make their next bowl TV contract significantly less lucrative

[hogsanity]

If the bowls were part of the playoff, then yes there would be too many. 41 bowls, counting the NCG, 80 teams get invites, but 38 of those game are just glorified exhibitions. If cities and sponsors want to shell out the cash to bring in fans to help the local economies, and if ESPN wants to pay out rights fees, so what.

As of today, there are 71 teams with 6 or more wins, 17 more still have a chance to get to 6 wins. So it is likely that a couple of 5-7 teams are going to have to get out in bowls. Big deal, a 5-7 Neb or VT is better than a 6-6 or 7-5 cusa or aac team to start with. I wish they would go back to letting the bowls pick whoever they want. If some bowl want a 3-9 team because they are  nearby and will bring a bunch of fans, they should be able to bring them in. How many fans will a 6-6 MAC team bring to Birmingham or some other far away city from their campus?

[ricepig]

Why?

This is always one of the silliest arguments in sports.

Sports fans arguing actively for less of the sport they support with their viewing time and fan dollars.

Do you know why bowls continue to proliferate?  Because people support them, and they're economically sustainable.

You want to cut down on bowls?  Stop watching them on ESPN.  Make their next bowl TV contract significantly less lucrative

Where did I say I wanted to cut back? I was only offering suggestions to Tom on what to do if some didn't want 5-7 teams.

[RME]

If the bowls were part of the playoff, then yes there would be too many. 41 bowls, counting the NCG, 80 teams get invites, but 38 of those game are just glorified exhibitions. If cities and sponsors want to shell out the cash to bring in fans to help the local economies, and if ESPN wants to pay out rights fees, so what.

As of today, there are 71 teams with 6 or more wins, 17 more still have a chance to get to 6 wins. So it is likely that a couple of 5-7 teams are going to have to get out in bowls. Big deal, a 5-7 Neb or VT is better than a 6-6 or 7-5 cusa or aac team to start with. I wish they would go back to letting the bowls pick whoever they want. If some bowl want a 3-9 team because they are  nearby and will bring a bunch of fans, they should be able to bring them in. How many fans will a 6-6 MAC team bring to Birmingham or some other far away city from their campus?

Disagree. How can you look a coach or a team who went 6-6 in their respective conference in the face and say, "Yeah, but sorry, we're gonna take this 3-9 team because they may travel better."

I understand it's allllll about $$$. But to take a 3-9 team over a 6-6 team is silly, I don't care who the two teams are.

[hogsanity]

Disagree. How can you look a coach or a team who went 6-6 in their respective conference in the face and say, "Yeah, but sorry, we're gonna take this 3-9 team because they may travel better."

I understand it's allllll about $$$. But to take a 3-9 team over a 6-6 team is silly, I don't care who the two teams are.

Why is it silly? Just because they made up the arbitrary rule about having to have 6 wins does not mean a 6-6 team is actually better than a 5-7 or even 4-8 team. If New MExico St goes 6-6, and the only bowl slot for them is in Boise, but wyoming is sitting at 5-7, and will sell 4 times as many tickets, why shouldn't that bowl be able to invite Wyoming?

Now, I know with the tie in contracts, and the current rules, it is not going to happen, but I would not have an issue with it if it did.

[atekido]

I don't mind the bowl matches as it allows for teams that normally don't play each other to get matched up.  Even if they are crap bowls the bowl season is the closest thing there is to seeing which conference is actually better all around.

[Hogarusa]

reward seems to be the sexy word in bowl threads.  Because free room and board, swag, and school just isnt cutting it

[Whiskeyhog]

I remember when six wins didn't even guarantee a bowl.  I am not even that old. 

[Hogarusa]

What is the purpose of bowl games?  Until that question is actually answered, then this is pure opinion based on nothing objective.

Money, thats it.  There is no other purpose

[hogsanity]

I don't mind the bowl matches as it allows for teams that normally don't play each other to get matched up.  Even if they are crap bowls the bowl season is the closest thing there is to seeing which conference is actually better all around.

Even that is a bad comparison. Often the 7th or 8th best sec team gets the 2nd or 3rd best team from another league.

Now, if the bowls were done to match up the acc 7 with the sec 7, or the big 10 5th against the big 12 5th, then you could compare leagues.  I do like seeing teams play that rarely, if ever, play each other, that is why i am hoping for a AR/Pn St game this year, but I don't look at it as a way to compare conferences.

[Seminole Indian]

I remember when six wins didn't even guarantee a bowl.  I am not even that old.

Six wins does not guarantee a bowl now.

[RME]

Why is it silly? Just because they made up the arbitrary rule about having to have 6 wins does not mean a 6-6 team is actually better than a 5-7 or even 4-8 team. If New MExico St goes 6-6, and the only bowl slot for them is in Boise, but wyoming is sitting at 5-7, and will sell 4 times as many tickets, why shouldn't that bowl be able to invite Wyoming?

Now, I know with the tie in contracts, and the current rules, it is not going to happen, but I would not have an issue with it if it did.

It may be arbitrary, but again, it is a rule. And if NM State meets the requirements of that rule, I think they would've earned a bowl game. They had a better season than Wyoming, they won more games, so the players deserve it. I'm not sure NM State and Wyoming is the best example, either. If we were talking about a bowl in Boise and discussing taking a 5-7 Boise State team over a 6-6 NM State team, then maybe. But again, given their respective schedules and conferences, I think NM State would deserve to be there over Boise State.

What if the Music City Bowl decided to take a 4-8 Tennessee team over a 6-6 Arkansas team, simply because they were 100% certain that Nashville could sellout with Tennessee fans? Boy wouldn't that cause some ruckus...


But, hypothetical situations can kill a discussion so...my solution is to try and have more schools meet FBS requirements

[WilsonHog]

Well, they aren't going to cancel the bowls, what do you expect them to do? The only solution is to cut back on the number of bowls, but they are going the other direction, 3 new ones this year, or at least next year??

The original plan called for teams with high APRs to get a bid at 5-7, but those teams have already qualified.

Here are the 5-6 teams right now:

Buffalo
East Carolina
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Old Dominion
San Jose St.
Tulsa
Virginia Tech
Washington 

And the 4-6 teams:

Georgia State
Kansas State
La-Lafayette
Texas

And one at 5-5:

South Alabama

[superior_wang]

if you arent .500 please dont go to a bowl game. there are far too many crap bowl games as there is.

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

It doesn't bother me. Our players should make sure to let Mizz know this during the game and maybe they will be less motivate to play as hard

[Seminole Indian]

if you arent .500 please dont go to a bowl game. there are far too many crap bowl games as there is.

There may be a deserving team in the bowl that needs someone to play. Why penalize them.

[ricepig]

if you arent .500 please dont go to a bowl game. there are far too many crap bowl games as there is.

So, what about the charity that a lot of these bowls support in those cities, tough titty??

[jkstock04]

What did your record have to be 30 years ago in order to get to a bowl?

[superior_wang]

So, what about the charity that a lot of these bowls support in those cities, tough titty??

could care less about shreveport or memphis. seem like bigger pine bluffs to me.

[Hogwild]

Six wins does not guarantee a bowl now.

LA Tech had 9 or 10 wins a very years ago and didn't make a bowl.  Va Tech should the lose to UVA will still make a bowl with 5 wins.

[JaketheSnake]

NCAA and the Arkansas AAA should make it to where it really means something to make it to the postseason. 

[superior_wang]

NCAA and the Arkansas AAA should make it to where it really means something to make it to the postseason.

absolutly!


reminds one of Ol Hootie gettin a boner because omg he was Bowl Eligible. Hell San Diego State is bowl eligible.

[WilsonHog]

I wonder if individual donors would be willing to make up the loss of revenue to the schools that would result if bowl revenue from the conferences was reduced?

[Grizzlyfan]

Money, thats it.  There is no other purpose

The correct answer is to satisfy demand.

[HogimusMaximus]

The correct answer is to satisfy demand.

Some people didn't pass intro Econ.

[Hogarusa]

There may be a deserving team in the bowl that needs someone to play. Why penalize them.

How does one define a deserving team?

[ricepig]

I wonder if individual donors would be willing to make up the loss of revenue to the schools that would result if bowl revenue from the conferences was reduced?

Do the conferences really make any money on the lower tier bowls? And to answer your question, the minions of HV would expect Jerry and the Walton's to pay any shortage in revenues.

[hogsanity]

LA Tech had 9 or 10 wins a very years ago and didn't make a bowl.  Va Tech should the lose to UVA will still make a bowl with 5 wins.

ALL teams that meet the 6 win criteria will make a bowl. 5-7 teams can only go if their are still spots empty after all teams eligible via the 6 win criteria have been placed. At least that is what was said during the VT game last weekend.

[Boardon Hamsay]

Yep, way too many bowls. Don't get me wrong, I love watching college football in general but a couple 5-7 teams facing off in the "Dothan Alabama Mud Flap and Roast Beef Bowl" is getting a bit saturated.

Now, I would be in favor of a "Man Vs. Wild Bowl" or a "Survivorman Bowl". My vision would entail having the two worst and/or winless teams face off in some god awful location (Aussie Outback, Namibian desert, Barrow, AK, etc.) for the purposes of fighting for sheer pride and a win. Could be a great watch with the proper venue and planning.

[Atlhogfan1]

ESPN has helped to create about 4-5 too many bowls.  36 is a good number.  Usually the amount of bowl eligible teams can get into the mid 70s where only a few may be left out like a 6-6 or 7-5 Sun Belt or MAC team.  The Bahamas Bowl or Boca Raton Bowl shouldn't exist.  Detroit has a bowl.  What team or fan base deserves that?  I don't want to see bowl tradition done away with but the limits need to return. 

[ErieHog]

ESPN has helped to create about 4-5 too many bowls.  36 is a good number.  Usually the amount of bowl eligible teams can get into the mid 70s where only a few may be left out like a 6-6 or 7-5 Sun Belt or MAC team.  The Bahamas Bowl or Boca Raton Bowl shouldn't exist.  Detroit has a bowl.  What team or fan base deserves that?  I don't want to see bowl tradition done away with but the limits need to return. 

There is zero need to decrease bowls;  when there is one, we will know from the interest of viewers, and revenue generation of the bowl games themselves.

[Atlhogfan1]

There is zero need to decrease bowls;  when there is one, we will know from the interest of viewers, and revenue generation of the bowl games themselves.

ESPN and $ as I said.  I disagree.

[ErieHog]

ESPN and $ as I said.  I disagree.

Where is the harm in having more football,  more bowl practices, and more exposure?

[hogsanity]

ESPN has helped to create about 4-5 too many bowls.  36 is a good number.  Usually the amount of bowl eligible teams can get into the mid 70s where only a few may be left out like a 6-6 or 7-5 Sun Belt or MAC team.  The Bahamas Bowl or Boca Raton Bowl shouldn't exist.  Detroit has a bowl.  What team or fan base deserves that?  I don't want to see bowl tradition done away with but the limits need to return. 

How about a tier of bowls for the bottom 24 teams in fbs? 12 bowls, the losers are kicked out of fbs for a period of at least 3 seasons.

[HogimusMaximus]

Where is the harm in having more football,  more bowl practices, and more exposure?

Do we want this team to be more exposed.

[ricepig]

Do we want this team to be more exposed.

To practice, sure. The guys who have red-shirted all year will benefit from the scrimmages/practices. I know you were being facetious, but it's only a benefit for us.

[ErieHog]

Do we want this team to be more exposed.

Absolutely.  Every rep matters, especially as we will lean on our defense hard next year.

[HogimusMaximus]

To practice, sure. The guys who have red-shirted all year will benefit from the scrimmages/practices. I know you were being facetious, but it's only a benefit for us.

plus 1

[Atlhogfan1]

Where is the harm in having more football,  more bowl practices, and more exposure?

I don't see a harm.  I love bowls for the reasons you mentioned and more.  But they are less earned IMO and I think we should maintain some standards.  If not, just create 64 bowls and make it a regular season holiday finale.  Make interesting matchups and just give everyone one last game because we are getting closer to it anyway.  The additional practice and exposure should be at least some kind of reward for teams achieving something. 

[Boardon Hamsay]

How about a tier of bowls for the bottom 24 teams in fbs? 12 bowls, the losers are kicked out of fbs for a period of at least 3 seasons.

Interesting idea. You could take this thought process and expand it to where say, the top 4 or 8 teams in terms of NCAA rules violations face off every other year or maybe every 4 years in a playoff format. Winners gain some schollies back or have probation periods reduced and losers have their lost schollies and probation periods upheld. You might even get repeat offenders into the "2 year Death Penalty Bowl". Sadly, that would probably be a better way of penalizing schools than the current, subjective "NCAA Wheel of Penalty" type process.