**2025/2026 Bowl Games Thread**

[shoot-the-three]

I'd be ok with bowl games drying up.

 

[StinkyMcFadden]

Notre Dame tears are the best

 

[newsbreaker]

I'd be ok with bowl games drying up.

Yeah, I hate getting to watch more football over the holidays. It sucks and I don’t care for it.

 

[HerkyHopeful]

Fuck ND. They've benefitted more often than not by being out of a conference. Who cares if they get kicked in the nuts for once

 

[CamelTones]

That likely seals the move to 16 or more teams in the playoff, maybe as soon as next season.

Still a bad look, they found out today that they have no power or protection because they aren't in a conference. Either join a conference or this is what happens.

They are protected starting next year. It’s time to end the bowl system and just expand the playoff. We’re operating in a world where the rules are different for a team that won’t join a conference.

 

[newsbreaker]

That’s idiotic. They aren’t special. Go to the 4-4-2-2-1 and let them pray for one of three spots.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

Fuck ND. They've benefitted more often than not by being out of a conference. Who cares if they get kicked in the nuts for once

I care. I’m finding it rather enjoyable.

 

[Debit One]

That’s idiotic. They aren’t special. Go to the 4-4-2-2-1 and let them pray for one of three spots.

Agreed.

Why do they merit a protection that no one else receives?

 

[douglasbader]

They are protected starting next year. It’s time to end the bowl system and just expand the playoff. We’re operating in a world where the rules are different for a team that won’t join a conference.

I don't understand why the bowl system has to end. You can expand the playoff and have both. Why do all the bowls need to end because a couple Big XII teams and Notre Dame opted out? There are still 50 or whatever schools more than happy to play in them. Fans are happy to watch. They make money. Teams get extra development time.

There is no need to throw out the baby with the bath water.

 

[douglasbader]

Also, they aren't even actually protected under that MOU. The committee would just rank them #13 behind Miami, Texas and Vandy.

Notre Dame got fucked, and will continue to get fucked because they refuse to join a conference.

 

[shoot-the-three]

Yeah, I hate getting to watch more football over the holidays. It sucks and I don’t care for it.

I will watch Iowa and a few other matchups but overall the bowl season is pretty blah. Nothing screams bowl season like two backup quarterbacks going at it in a quarter full stadium.

 

[douglasbader]

I will watch Iowa and a few other matchups but overall the bowl season is pretty blah. Nothing screams bowl season like two backup quarterbacks going at it in a quarter full stadium.

I mean, I've shit on the whole NIL and hate a lot of this stuff, but I've come to the realization that this is better than nothing. What else are you going to be watching from Dec. 13th-Jan 5th?

 

[CurdMan]

Bowl season rules. Sitting around the fireplace watching football with good food and a beer in hand just before and after Christmas rules. Some of my favorite days of the year

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Fucking love the hawaii bowl on Christmas Eve every year

 

[Verbal]

Have to figure out a way to disincentivize declining invitations. Probably not realistic with the current portal calendar. There will be a bowl or two that ends up being cancelled due to large numbers of opt-outs/transfers.

 

[Lil Scamp]

I eat a lot

 

[douglasbader]

Yeah, fuck off with all this @CamelTones (love ya, buddy). It would take one Holiday season without bowls for people to go "this sucks".

When you've kicked off work on Monday the 22nd watching Washington State vs. Utah State on a blue field in Boise, you will love it. A week later when you're watching Tennessee vs. Illinois on a Tuesday and Vandy vs. Iowa on a Wednesday, you will love it.

 

[StinkyMcFadden]

Have to figure out a way to disincentivize declining invitations. Probably not realistic with the current portal calendar. There will be a bowl or two that ends up being cancelled due to large numbers of opt-outs/transfers.

If you had a coaching change, no penalty.

If it's because you're sad, you sit out next year, too.

 

[douglasbader]

Have to figure out a way to disincentivize declining invitations. Probably not realistic with the current portal calendar. There will be a bowl or two that ends up being cancelled due to large numbers of opt-outs/transfers.

Maybe, but having 1 or 2 low level bowls cancel and the rest go on is still the best option over not having any of them.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

Have to figure out a way to disincentivize declining invitations. Probably not realistic with the current portal calendar. There will be a bowl or two that ends up being cancelled due to large numbers of opt-outs/transfers.

Not eligible for the CFP the next year if you decline a bowl invite.

Who knows how you enforce it.

 

[douglasbader]

If there were no more bowls, you miss out on things like Utah beating the piss out of Nebrantska in a few weeks.

 

[newsbreaker]

Yeah, fuck off with all this @CamelTones (love ya, buddy). It would take one Holiday season without bowls for people to go "this sucks".

When you've kicked off work on Monday the 22nd watching Washington State vs. Utah State on a blue field in Boise, you will love it. A week later when you're watching Tennessee vs. Illinois on a Tuesday and Vandy vs. Iowa on a Wednesday, you will love it.

Those two weeks of random bowls with random outcomes is great. Nonstop entertainment.

 

[Thrawn II]

That’s idiotic. They aren’t special. Go to the 4-4-2-2-1 and let them pray for one of three spots.

we must end the carve out for one school based on history and perceived commercial value and extend them to everyone else instead

 

[newsbreaker]

we must end the carve out for one school based on history and perceived commercial value and extend them to everyone else instead

All week: Football is being ruined by committees of old men!

Sunday afternoon: Using standings just guarantees access to people based on history!

 

[ddevries]

That’s idiotic. They aren’t special. Go to the 4-4-2-2-1 and let them pray for one of three spots.

I think this is the optimal format now.

 

[CamelTones]

Yeah, fuck off with all this @CamelTones (love ya, buddy). It would take one Holiday season without bowls for people to go "this sucks".

When you've kicked off work on Monday the 22nd watching Washington State vs. Utah State on a blue field in Boise, you will love it. A week later when you're watching Tennessee vs. Illinois on a Tuesday and Vandy vs. Iowa on a Wednesday, you will love it.

I love bowl season but the games mean absolutely nothing anymore. Half the teams are not even playing with the same roster or coaches that got them there. The nostalgia of hearing Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried call an Alamo Bowl are gone.

I’m not clamoring for less football. They need to figure out how to make the games feel somewhat important again. College football used to own New Years Eve and Day which was also created by a very clear and defined bowl pecking order for each conference. So you got awesome matchups in the Citrus Bowl, Outback Bowl etc.

 

[douglasbader]

I love bowl season but the games mean absolutely nothing anymore. Half the teams are not even playing with the same roster or coaches that got them there. The nostalgia of hearing Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried call an Alamo Bowl are gone.

I’m not clamoring for less football. They need to figure out how to make the games feel somewhat important again. College football used to own New Years Eve and Day which was also created by a very clear and defined bowl pecking order for each conference. So you got awesome matchups in the Citrus Bowl, Outback Bowl etc.

Enough out of you.

 

[Stu Beagle]

Surprised bowls don’t include NIL type of incentives yet

 

[CamelTones]

Surprised bowls don’t include NIL type of incentives yet

As of now the generated revenue is distributed to the Big Ten who then shares it with each conference member. $6.4 million is paid to the Big Ten for Iowa playing in the Reliaquest Bowl. I’m sure at some point there will be an NIL element to this.

 

[Creed]

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Fuck ND. They've benefitted more often than not by being out of a conference. Who cares if they get kicked in the nuts for once

because those nuts were likely cupped by a priest not long ago

 

[maintain242001]

what’s Drake doing give them a call

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Agreed.

Why do they merit a protection that no one else receives?

really?

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Yeah, fuck off with all this @CamelTones (love ya, buddy). It would take one Holiday season without bowls for people to go "this sucks".

When you've kicked off work on Monday the 22nd watching Washington State vs. Utah State on a blue field in Boise, you will love it. A week later when you're watching Tennessee vs. Illinois on a Tuesday and Vandy vs. Iowa on a Wednesday, you will love it.

this board made it like 3 days with no sports during the pandemic before going batshit crazy

 

[L. Wade Childress]

As of now the generated revenue is distributed to the Big Ten who then shares it with each conference member. $6.4 million is paid to the Big Ten for Iowa playing in the Reliaquest Bowl. I’m sure at some point there will be an NIL element to this.

i hope iowa state cross country gets money taken away via NIL for the football team skipping the bowl

 

[Talkin' Goat]

As of now the generated revenue is distributed to the Big Ten who then shares it with each conference member. $6.4 million is paid to the Big Ten for Iowa playing in the Reliaquest Bowl. I’m sure at some point there will be an NIL element to this.

Pretty sure this is reduced by the amount Iowa spends to get everyone there (band, cheer, etc.). So the douche ends up with something less than that to distribute to the conference. Still a positive for this bowl, but not necessarily for some of the lower paying ones.

 

[StinkyMcFadden]

Pretty sure this is reduced by the amount Iowa spends to get everyone there (band, cheer, etc.). So the douche ends up with something less than that to distribute to the conference. Still a positive for this bowl, but not necessarily for some of the lower paying ones.

 

[Cheer 4 the Hawks!]

Fuck you Cold Sore

 

[gable_guy]

Surprised bowls don’t include NIL type of incentives yet

I think this is what they have to do. Instead of putting the pool of money to the conference to split evenly - distribute it to the school who determines the split. Similar to the NFL's playoff share.

Get rid of conference bowl affiliations. The mystery of "I wonder if it will be Tampa Bay or Nashville" is boring. The tradition is dead.

 

[RiotFan]

Fuck you Cold Sore

He's just pissed he had to "work" over the holidays.

 

[Shawneemicks]

Get to a 36ish team super conference as quickly as you can. One with contracts for players. A calendar that makes sense & commissioner (Shawnee)

 

[Saul Berkley]

I love bowl season but the games mean absolutely nothing anymore. Half the teams are not even playing with the same roster or coaches that got them there. The nostalgia of hearing Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried call an Alamo Bowl are gone.

I’m not clamoring for less football. They need to figure out how to make the games feel somewhat important again. College football used to own New Years Eve and Day which was also created by a very clear and defined bowl pecking order for each conference. So you got awesome matchups in the Citrus Bowl, Outback Bowl etc.

Did the Alamo Bowl ever really mean anything? I don't get this whole "the bowls used to mean something" The Alamo Bowl has always been a bunch of 7 or 8 win teams. Nothing has changed in that regard.

 

[Saul Berkley]

Fuck it. Let's play in that one as well. Can we play two bowl games?

 

[newsbreaker]

Did the Alamo Bowl ever really mean anything? I don't get this whole "the bowls used to mean something" The Alamo Bowl has always been a bunch of 7 or 8 win teams. Nothing has changed in that regard.

There was a time, during our lifetimes, where there were few bowls and not every regular season game was televised. Getting your team in a showcase, on TV, was a big deal.

Now we’ve got 5-7 teams turning down bids, and teams blowing up in December. It’s definitely different.

 

[The Dad]

I fapped vigorously over the 1996 and 2001 Alamo Bowls. Especially 2001.

 

[Stu Beagle]

On wiki, just realized LSU had to vacate 2014 outback win against Iowa

 

[The Dad]

In the mid-late 90s I remember watching Michigan playing in the Citrus and Outback bowls and thinking “god damn, it would be nice to someday get to that level”.

 

[Thrawn II]

In the mid-late 90s I remember watching Michigan playing in the Citrus and Outback bowls and thinking “god damn, it would be nice to someday get to that level”.

I think there was a year where Michigan (?) jumped Iowa in the standings pecking order off of brand name that generated pre-Internet OUTRAGE!

 

[Wanderer]

On wiki, just realized LSU had to vacate 2014 outback win against Iowa

Would have been nice if someone told us!

 

[Thrawn II]

The nice thing with bowls was that everyone could sort of reach a level where they were happy with their season. Iowa could shoot for a NYD game with the BCS as a stretch goal. Iowa State could shoot for anything with NYD as the dream.

You don’t have that anymore, which is fine, stuff changes, but I do think it’s made people less happy with their teams.