Are college bowl games meaningless, today?

[Doc Dan]

I remember when there were five bowl games: Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl (with a great parade), and the Sun Bowl. In order to get into a bowl game the football team had to be top tier. It was meaningful to be invited to a bowl game.

Nowadays there are 43 bowl games! Teams with a 50/50 record are playing. There are such bowl games as the Wasabi Bowl (!), the HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, the Cricket Celebration Bowl, and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, to name a few. I realize that it is all about money, but in my mind, this is like giving a trophy to every kid so none will be left out.

[MacLaren]

Dan, I voted no. But, that's only because imo, it gives some unknown player one last chance to shine & maybe to be seen by an N.F.L. Coach or Exec.

[Doc Dan]

I get that and it is a good point. But, really? Forty-three bowl games? Let's say the top 43 teams all go to a bowl game. That means 43 more teams that are pretty bad also go to a bowl game. Maybe they should cut it back to the top 26 and 13 bowl games, or something.

[MacLaren]

I get that and it is a good point. But, really? Forty-three bowl games? Let's say the top 43 teams all go to a bowl game. That means 43 more teams that are pretty bad also go to a bowl game. Maybe they should cut it back to the top 26 and 13 bowl games, or something.

Lol, that's a good point too!

[yablanowitz]

Maybe we need a few more. After all, there are more than 86 college football teams. Wouldn't want anyone to be left out. And they should reverse the order of the players, start with the fourth string and work their way backward to the normal starters so everyone gets a chance to play.

I haven't watched football in thirty or forty years.

[shunsui]

I think only the championship playoff rounds would be considered what the old bowl games were. All the others are just rewards for the school programs and fodder for cable TV during the holidays. I think they should raise the number of wins to be bowl eligible and reduce the number of bowls a bit. Then again, it's pretty easy to put on a bowl game in town and televise it. Make a lot of students and alumni happy. I suppose Las Vegas won't object.

[akapennypincher]

When I was young only 4, Orange, Sugar, Cotton, and Rose. Today like 28, it’s about .

[TkoK83Spy]

Everyone gets a blue ribbon these days!

[MacLaren]

One of my favorite bowl games is the Sun Bowl in El Paso. That's one I would LOVE attend.

[MacLaren]

When I was young only 4, Orange, Sugar, Cotton, and Rose. Today like 28, it’s about .

Your exact right. It is all about money. But, what ain't in this Country? Right?
I just try not to think about it.

[akapennypincher]

When I was young only 4, Orange, Sugar, Cotton, and Rose. Today like 28, it’s about .

Your exact right. It is all about money. But, what ain't in this Country? Right?
I just try not to think about it.

Money is not bad thing when you trying to buy groceries,

The swell in Bowl Game is like participation trophy, everyone get one meaning nothing.


Have friends who were in Army when Berets were earned, not issued to every soldier.

[TomAiello]

I think only the championship playoff rounds would be considered what the old bowl games were.

This. The non playoff bowl games are kind of meaningless, and a lot of seniors just skip them, so they don't even tell you anything about the quality of the teams.

I think that the expanded play off will help, too, because there will be more first round play off games, and a lot more teams whose seniors have an incentive to stick around for them. I'd much rather see 6 bowl games that really count than the current 2. And the rest are just kind of bonus fun games. I honestly could do without them, but it makes a cool trip for some of the kids who've been playing hard all season, so why not, I guess?

[Doc Dan]

When I was young only 4, Orange, Sugar, Cotton, and Rose. Today like 28, it’s about .

Unless you were born before 1935, there were 5 bowl games. You left out the Sun Bowl.

There are not 28, today. There are 43!

[akapennypincher]

Could be so as I recalled 4, but your right.

[jdw]

Bowl games outside of the playoffs are pretty much meaningless as far as national esteem and recognition go but I think that they still mean something to the players, especially at the smaller schools. For a lot of them it’s their last college hurrah and for others it gives them more time to develop.

Edit: The CFP takes definite priority and I am glad to see an expanded play off. I am a Sooner fan so I know what it’s like to get hammered in the playoffs and how it can affect a program.

[JessieJim]

I think yes because you can go to university as the best player.

[rgc]

I voted no, but, there are too many of them and 6 and 6 teams should not go bowling. It has become a $ thing and also everyone is a winner type attitude that has gotten us here. Someone on twitter made the statement that only 8 win teams should go bowling . . . I kind of agree with that but it is never going to happen. I will still watch a couple around New Years but even I (who watches collage football only and all day Saturday) will not watch them all.

[MacLaren]

Yeah, I watch the main bowls and then just a few other that I like - especially the Bowl

[ykspydiefan]

As a kid we only had 2 channels growing up. Bowl games were a big deal, day long TV with a parade and all.

Now bowl games are a hard juxtaposition between every kid getting a ribbon(when that kid is "college material.") And, the street level people being left behind in America, and many countries not to pick one. For me it is staggering the money that gets blown on parties and sport.

[MacLaren]

Well, there were some really great games yesterday - in particular
N.Carolina vs Oregon &
Kansas vs Arkansas