Let's Debate: Unless

[The Peeper]

your team is in the playoff picture, other bowls have lost their appeal. I know you get extra practice but other than that, where's the appeal? It ends up costing the university money, you risk injuries, they are during the holidays when you're already spending tons of money and are hard to work into the schedule. Where do you stand?

 

[patdog]

They’re glorified exhibitions. But I don’t see them going anywhere. ESPN loves the cheap programming that draws better than anything else they'd be showing in those time slots.

That said, I want to to play a glorified exhibition this December.

 

[onewoof]

hot take - bowl games are simply practice for next season and rewards to the players to get gifts and visit some places and eat well for a few days.

hotter take - first 2 rounds of the playoffs are closer to a meaningless bowl game than the final 4 teams... soon fans will realize their team has no realistic chance to win it all and they have spent thousands just to have a little fun football season and false hope.

 

[dawgstudent]

The other thing is it keeps your team busy throughout transfer season.

 

[golferdog]

I still love the bowl games. I still believe it's great for your program and a nice reward for the players. You get to play a team you wouldn't normally play. The downside of not being in the playoff is that some players will opt out. Other than that I like the games.

 

[bulldoghair]

your team is in the playoff picture, other bowls have lost their appeal. I know you get extra practice but other than that, where's the appeal? It ends up costing the university money, you risk injuries, they are during the holidays when you're already spending tons of money and are hard to work into the schedule. Where do you stand?

Well then who cares or not if we win a 6th game this year. Phuck it. Just bench our good possible returning players now so they won’t get injured, and let’s try again next year for the playoffs.

 

[skip dog]

To me, the bowl games have lost their luster. There is just too many of them.....BUT, I still enjoy going to see STATE play

 

[8dog]

They lost their luster a while back. The practice thing is overrated. But it’s a reward for the players. Probably get to go somewhere every never have been. Swag, activities. But that’s about it.

 

[bulldoghair]

In all honesty, my opinion is that the NIL payment contracts should include the pay for play in bowl games.

 

[Allday.sixpack]

In all honesty, my opinion is that the NIL payment contracts should include the pay for play in bowl games.

They do

 

[The Peeper]

The other thing is it keeps your team busy throughout transfer season.

assuming they don't opt out................

 

[gtowndawg]

Anthony Dixon said they're "Fun. Fun. Fun."

 

[L4Dawg]

your team is in the playoff picture, other bowls have lost their appeal. I know you get extra practice but other than that, where's the appeal? It ends up costing the university money, you risk injuries, they are during the holidays when you're already spending tons of money and are hard to work into the schedule. Where do you stand?

There is nothing wrong with bowls. It's more football.

 

[bulldoghair]

They do

Well there sure is a ton of opt outs every year. Just look back at last years non playoff bowl games. So I don’t think they do. Because If they do then they shouldn’t get paid. The pay structure should be toward the backend to ensure finishing the job.

 

[Dawg Raid]

It’s good to keep your team away from poaching schools if you can

 

[thekimmer]

Bowl games have always been like this if you were not in the top 4.

 

[biodawg]

I still love the bowl games. I still believe it's great for your program and a nice reward for the players. You get to play a team you wouldn't normally play. The downside of not being in the playoff is that some players will opt out. Other than that I like the games.

Agree. Any CFB is better than no CFB. If I have an opportunity to watch a bowl game featuring Central Michigan vs Air Force on a random Wednesday afternoon, I’m in.

 

[Perd Hapley]

your team is in the playoff picture, other bowls have lost their appeal. I know you get extra practice but other than that, where's the appeal? It ends up costing the university money, you risk injuries, they are during the holidays when you're already spending tons of money and are hard to work into the schedule. Where do you stand?

In general, you are correct that there is no appeal. The bowl game scene has pretty much been dead as hell for nearly 20 years.

However, the underlined portions above are either not true or are way overblown.

The university still gets a huge payout from the bowls to cover costs. They actually turn a small profit from it, they certainly don’t lose money.

And the injury risk is really no different than a high school recruit getting hurt in the state playoffs. The best players will often sit out, or in some cases enter the portal so they won’t play anyway. And in the portal environment, there’s also injury risk to players in the CFP or bowls for other teams that may be on YOUR team next year. But in general the worst thing that can happen injury wise is probably a torn ACL, and they’ve got that down to like a 7-9 month recovery these days. Still plenty of time for those guys to be ready for the following year.

 

[kired]

With the expanded playoffs, the remaining bowl games are the NIT for college football. People may watch if their team is playing or they have nothing better to do, but it won’t be something to brag about.

No ones gonna rush out to buy one of those Liberty Bowl champions shirts from Reeds

 

[aTotal360]

I've never really cared to watch other teams, period. Especially with college sports. I exclusively watch State games and that's about it.

I am 100% in favor of "useless" bowl games. Gives players and fans a little reward at the end of the season. Besides my loser, b1tchass, rustic, State fans friends being involved, it's usually a great trip.

 

[johnson86-1]

your team is in the playoff picture, other bowls have lost their appeal. I know you get extra practice but other than that, where's the appeal? It ends up costing the university money, you risk injuries, they are during the holidays when you're already spending tons of money and are hard to work into the schedule. Where do you stand?

As a fan, I want our team to participate in them, both because it means we won at least six games and also because I want players rewarded and for the extra practices for people committed to coming back the next year.

If the NIL deals are structured in a way that almost all players will play going forward, then I'll probably start caring about winning them again.

But Dawgstudent's concern about having coaches busy during the transfer period is legitimate. But you'd hope that being busy is a better sell with potential recruits than being free because you couldn't win six games. But regardless I don't think that's enough of a concern that I'd actually be against bowl games. Worst case scenario is I don't pay attention and it doesn't cost me anything. Most likely it's some entertainment that is available when there's nothing else going on, and maybe occasionally there are games to really care about.

 

[johnson86-1]

hot take - bowl games are simply practice for next season and rewards to the players to get gifts and visit some places and eat well for a few days.

hotter take - first 2 rounds of the playoffs are closer to a meaningless bowl game than the final 4 teams... soon fans will realize their team has no realistic chance to win it all and they have spent thousands just to have a little fun football season and false hope.

Before this year, I would have agreed that being in the playoffs for all but about four teams is basically the equivalent of getting the automatic bid from the SWAC in the NCAA. The bid is the reward and you're just going to the post season to get smoked. But this year I'm not sure there aren't ten teams that can win. If OSU gets upset, I feel like there are ten teams that can legitimately win.

 

[Bulldog45]

Proven players opt out.
Players who didn’t get as much playing time get to play and get film to boost their NIL value and options to transfer.
Get gifts and the chance to go somewhere - now they get paid and can buy their own headphones and go on a trip.

 

[Monmorning QB]

College football in general has lost its appeal. Back in the 60’s or so every college football team lined up against its Saturday opponent and tried to beat their brains out. There was more parity so outcomes were often in doubt until the final whistle. If you won more than you lost you might find yourself with a bowl game invite. There were way fewer back then. You celebrated the reward and then lined up against your opponent and tried to beat their brains out. Win or lose, the team held its collective heads high and were proud of a “good” season. Now, money has become such an open part of college football. NIL and transfer portals have denigrated the sport. Only making a postseason playoff spot is of importance now. Lose a playoff game and you may not feel that you had a “good” season. Far too much emphasis is on being national champion, however arbitrary that may be, even with playoffs. It’s getting to where nothing else is “good” enough. Bowls now are like participation ribbons. Not worth much at all. I find that to be sad.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

your team is in the playoff picture, other bowls have lost their appeal. I know you get extra practice but other than that, where's the appeal? It ends up costing the university money, you risk injuries, they are during the holidays when you're already spending tons of money and are hard to work into the schedule. Where do you stand?

They are meaningless TV fodder. The extra practice is a vestige of a former era. At that point you've been practicing for like 16 weeks, it's pointless. They do not help teams.

The playoff is what matters now. They need to increase it to something to mirrors all the other levels of football and be done with these postseason exhibitions. It's time. December is better spent recruiting. I know the portal is in January now but you know they are talking. Plus you have other areas that need attention.

 

[Villagedawg]

Yes. They are glorified exhibition games, but they are fun to watch. There are even some of them that are good games. They have always been glorified exhibitions from the beginning. I agree with onewoof, the first two playoff rounds are essentially the same thing.

 

[FlotownDawg]

Bowls lost their luster when they started having so many that they had to invite teams with 5-7 records because there weren't enough bowl eligible teams to fill the bowl slots. There used to be about 15-20 bowl games. Now there are about 40-45. ESPN owns almost all of them, because it's a cheap way to fill timeslots during the holiday season. I still like bowl games because it's an opportunity to watch more football and see teams play against each other who wouldn't normally play. But the importance of bowl games and the bragging rights teams get from winning one has dropped to a negligible amount.

 

[615dawg]

I think if we go to a 24 or 28 team playoff as being discussed, the bowl games will go away.

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I still like them, but I’m one of those fans who actually like watching sports. It seems more and more fans want less sports.

 

[onewoof]

Before this year, I would have agreed that being in the playoffs for all but about four teams is basically the equivalent of getting the automatic bid from the SWAC in the NCAA. The bid is the reward and you're just going to the post season to get smoked. But this year I'm not sure there aren't ten teams that can win. If OSU gets upset, I feel like there are ten teams that can legitimately win.

Last year: Arizona State. Boise State. SMU. Indiana. Tennessee.

We forget that these teams were "in the mix" last year. They had no chance. Same will be true this year. 2 or 3 teams will have legitimate chances, then 1-2 teams will have what we call "double sluggers" chances to beat someone twice on a neutral field, which does not happen. If they were playing at home, then a strong maybe to beating two teams in a row better than them.

There is a short list already for this season of the 2-3 teams that have legitimate chances, it is becoming clearer each weekend. There is no parity in college football when you get to the teir 1 teams, particularly because of quality depth in the roster.

This year it will be Texas A&M, Ohio State, Bama or Georgia. End of discussion. Even if these teams have 2 losses going into the playoffs, these are the contenders. Like mentioned before, this is not a made for TV Disney special.

 

[Dawgg]

I mean… I like them and watch most of them.

Plus, I don’t know the starting lineups of most teams, so if players opt out, I’m kind of oblivious to it unless the announcers really harp on it. I’m not sure the Bahamas Bowl or Idaho Potato Bowl or Mobile Bowl has less meaning today than it did when it started, but watching like Western Michigan play, ya know, Jacksonville State or whoever on a random Tuesday afternoon isn’t the worst way to spend 2 and a half hours.

I love college football and we only get it for a few short months every year. Can’t complain about there being more of it.

Also, I’d argue that most bowl games have largely always been “meaningless” outside those fanbases.

 

[Lucifer Morningstar]

This is not to criticize anyone, but there are some takes on this issue that are pretty much saying you never played football without having to say it. As a guy that played college ball and has coached at the 6A high school level for 15 years, the appeal to a bowl game is obvious. Any football guy knows it is another chance to play the game that you love with your brothers. Now, sure, in our modern NIL era, many stars sit out of bowl games, but for the guys that are not going onto the next level, like me, it is another chance to be in the sun playing the game you love with the people that mean something to you. Just one Devil's take.

 

[Wesson Bulldog]

There is nothing wrong with bowls. It's more football.

I was fixing to say, bowl games plug the gaps between end of regular season and the championship game. It gives you something to watch besides Hallmark Christmas movies and all that crap. I'll watch as many of the bowl games as I can I don't care who's playing it.

 

[Perd Hapley]

This year it will be Texas A&M, Ohio State, Bama or Georgia. End of discussion. Even if these teams have 2 losses going into the playoffs, these are the contenders. Like mentioned before, this is not a made for TV Disney special.

I fixed it for you.

 

[johnson86-1]

Last year: Arizona State. Boise State. SMU. Indiana. Tennessee.

We forget that these teams were "in the mix" last year. They had no chance. Same will be true this year. 2 or 3 teams will have legitimate chances, then 1-2 teams will have what we call "double sluggers" chances to beat someone twice on a neutral field, which does not happen. If they were playing at home, then a strong maybe to beating two teams in a row better than them.

There is a short list already for this season of the 2-3 teams that have legitimate chances, it is becoming clearer each weekend. There is no parity in college football when you get to the teir 1 teams, particularly because of quality depth in the roster.

This year it will be Texas A&M, Ohio State, Bama or Georgia. End of discussion. Even if these teams have 2 losses going into the playoffs, these are the contenders. Like mentioned before, this is not a made for TV Disney special.

I think you're right that the champion will come from those four, but it's because not all four of them are going to be upset. In the past, you basically had 2 teams, maybe 3, that basically weren't going to lose unless it was to another team in that top 2 or 3 teams or unless it was a massive upset. I think there's a pretty good chance that one or more of those teams listed will get put out by somebody other than those four teams. I wouldn't be shocked if two of them got put out by somebody not in that four. Not more likely than not good chance, but no crazy upset is required.

For evidence, UGA went to overtime with UT. Beat UF by 4.
Bama beat Missou by 3. USCe by 7 with a late comeback. And of course lost to a 4-4 (1-4) FSU team
I think OSU is legit? No murderer's row of a schedule but they've dominated ok teams, which is more than any team other than A&M can say.

Good teams have scares or bad losses every year, so maybe there is that big of a gap between those four and the rest that will be evident later in the season, but right now it just doesn't seem like a massive gap between particularly UGA and Bama and some of the other playoff contenders.

 

[The Peeper]

However, the underlined portions above are either not true or are way overblown.

The university still gets a huge payout from the bowls to cover costs. They actually turn a small profit from it, they certainly don’t lose money.

They absolutely do lose money, many of them do and have for years.

 

[GloryDawg]

In some cases, like ours the bowl game could be beneficial.

 

[onewoof]

They absolutely do lose money, many of them do and have for years.

As roster costs go up, costs for traveling to multiple locations for playoff games adds to the losses, several of the schools are going to take the Jerry Jones approach. Prefer not to go to any playoff games, but if we do, one and done, preferably at home or the next game after that.

All college programs lose money as well unless they win it all and get the "#1 Natty 8-10 month lift" in enrollment, donations and merchandise sales. But college programs have big donors that realize they are throwing money away in a sense with no measurable ROI other than a fuzzy math brand spend.

In the NFL, the Cowboys as a #1 sports brand already, do actually lose money going deeper into the playoffs. Jerry figured that out years ago.

 

[OG Goat Holder]

Yes. They are glorified exhibition games, but they are fun to watch. There are even some of them that are good games. They have always been glorified exhibitions from the beginning. I agree with onewoof, the first two playoff rounds are essentially the same thing.

"fun to watch" is one thing, but I still don't understand how you all watch when there's absolutely no meaning attached to them. Literally no one cares who won or lost, and if they do, they are just causing their own mental health damage for no reason at all.

I mean the Savannah Bananas are fun to watch, but if it meant losing valuable recruiting time for something that mattered, would you do it? That's the lens you must view this - from our football program.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

So I take it we won't see you in Birmingham. **