I don't get the angst against bowl games.

#1
Volnanza

Volnanza

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#1
So the playoffs have removed the bowls from having a significant effect on the championship and many now say they don't want to watch. I find this curious since the VAST majority of bowl games never had any impact on the championship anyway. It's always been the big 5 that hosted the meaningful games (Sugar, Cotton, Rose, Fiesta, and Orange). Maybe, the bowls will go back to what they were originally for, a reward to a team that had a good year. You know, for fun. I'm sure most of the players would be down for that. I think the fans would like that.
 
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#2
#2
It’s dumb. We have fans that say bowl games don’t matter and are meaningless. That’s absurd. I would be willing to bet the bowl game matters to the coaches and players. Also the extra bowl practices and game help the overall team.

Is a bowl game on the same level as a playoff game? Obviously not. But it’s funny how those same people who say bowl games don’t matter will use a coaches bowl record as a gauge to their success.
 
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#3
#3
the stupid playoff, that was intended to "solve" all the problem, has diminished the relevance of the bowls. In the past the non-championship bowl game was significant as it would determine the #3, #4, #8, etc..... now this 12 team playoff makes the non championship/playoff games helps determine #13, #14, etc.

And if you've never been to a bowl game then you really should attend at least one. Its a vacation with a game thrown in the middle. There is nothing better than waking up in Florida to 80 degree weather at the first of the year and going to see your favorite team playing.
 
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#4
#4
GreveHaller said:
the stupid playoff, that was intended to "solve" all the problem, has diminished the relevance of the bowls. In the past the non-championship bowl game was significant as it would determine the #3, #4, #8, etc..... now this 12 team playoff makes the non championship/playoff games helps determine #13, #14, etc.

And if you've never been to a bowl game then you really should attend at least one. Its a vacation with a game thrown in the middle. There is nothing better than waking up in Florida to 80 degree weather at the first of the year and going to see your favorite team playing.
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This. With all the opt outs it can be rather disappointing. But if we get a good weather bowl I will certainly go have a good time. Just enjoy the last game, the opportunity for more practice, and the chance for development for young players.
 
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#5
#5
In hindsight, last year, I would have preferred a bowl game. I hated how Tennessee lost on the road in mid December and was completely out of the college football discussions for the next month.

Yes, you cannot win the championship without being in the playoffs, but quietly fading in the first round on a cold field in Ohio is hardly any more satisfying than playing in Florida on NYD.
 
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#7
#7
Volnanza said:
So the playoffs have removed the bowls from having a significant effect on the championship and many now say they don't want to watch. I find this curious since the VAST majority of bowl games never had any impact on the championship anyway. It's always been the big 5 that hosted the meaningful games (Sugar, Cotton, Rose, Fiesta, and Orange). Maybe, the bowls will go back to what they were originally for, a reward to a team that had a good year. You know, for fun. I'm sure most of the players would be down for that. I think the fans would like that.
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Speaking for myself it's not angst it's indifference.
 
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#8
#8
EastTNVol6240 said:
This. With all the opt outs it can be rather disappointing. But if we get a good weather bowl I will certainly go have a good time. Just enjoy the last game, the opportunity for more practice, and the chance for development for young players.
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Bingo. I think it's the opt outs that have killed the bowl game hype, not the playoff.
 
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#10
#10
It feels like yesterday was Labor Day weekend and here we are, the sport we talk about 365 days a year is gone. I try to consume as much college football as I can when I can. What am I supposed to do over the holidays? Sign me up for the wgaf.org bowl with the 11am kickoff on a Tuesday after Christmas.
 
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#11
#11
For players,extra practices,new signees-practices in college for the first time,extra work for next year.Also,each bowl has gifts for the teams playing.A thought that each player has something to denote each one's hard work for last season.Bowl games may have lost a little luster from the past:but,locale and rewards for our Vols.
 
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#15
#15
Volnanza said:
So the playoffs have removed the bowls from having a significant effect on the championship and many now say they don't want to watch. I find this curious since the VAST majority of bowl games never had any impact on the championship anyway. It's always been the big 5 that hosted the meaningful games (Sugar, Cotton, Rose, Fiesta, and Orange). Maybe, the bowls will go back to what they were originally for, a reward to a team that had a good year. You know, for fun. I'm sure most of the players would be down for that. I think the fans would like that.
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Agree - there have only been a few that mattered since 1998 which is when the BCS started.
 
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#16
#16
NEO said:
It’s basically a scrimmage now with your young players getting reps against other young players from a different team.

The opt outs have made it meaningless.

No angst, but it’s basically pre season NFL but reversed.
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Apologies to NEO, but my multi-quote wouldn't work so I'm using his to respond to several others that also mentioned the effect of opt-outs. ;)

Yes, with opt-outs, a bowl game is no longer the finale of the 2025 season. But my argument is that it's only a negative if we continue to think about them as that. Instead, they should be relished as the glorious beginning of the 2026 season!

Bowl games are every fan's first chance to see the foundation on which the staff will be building in the weight room, position rooms, and portal. It's certainly the first chance to see our backup (and likely starter) QBs playing to win rather than mopping up in an already decided game.

Our appreciation for bowl games will be much higher if we embrace that any Tennessee bowl game appearance replaces the Orange & White game, since it has ceased, understandably and wisely, to be an actual game.

Extra practices are the actual reward. The bowl game itself is a wonderful, celebratory debut of next season.
 
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#17
#17
GreveHaller said:
the stupid playoff, that was intended to "solve" all the problem, has diminished the relevance of the bowls. In the past the non-championship bowl game was significant as it would determine the #3, #4, #8, etc..... now this 12 team playoff makes the non championship/playoff games helps determine #13, #14, etc.

And if you've never been to a bowl game then you really should attend at least one. Its a vacation with a game thrown in the middle. There is nothing better than waking up in Florida to 80 degree weather at the first of the year and going to see your favorite team playing.
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I don't believe the CFP issues a final ranking. The AP and Coaches poll do and Ole Miss who was not in the playoffs did end up #11 in the AP poll.

One could also argue that the polls are useless.
 
#18
#18
Volnanza said:
So the playoffs have removed the bowls from having a significant effect on the championship and many now say they don't want to watch. I find this curious since the VAST majority of bowl games never had any impact on the championship anyway. It's always been the big 5 that hosted the meaningful games (Sugar, Cotton, Rose, Fiesta, and Orange). Maybe, the bowls will go back to what they were originally for, a reward to a team that had a good year. You know, for fun. I'm sure most of the players would be down for that. I think the fans would like that.
Click to expand...

The same bowls that had any impact on the NC before have even more of an impact now because they are playoff games.

The rest of them mean exactly the same thing they did before playoffs. Nothing has changed.

I’m convinced this is just proof someone is always going to b**** about something.
 
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#21
#21
Well, it doesn't matter, but I think it is fair to say that people watched them more in the past and maybe teams wanted to play in them more. That might be true. There are many factors in the decreasing popularity. The idea that national championships made the bowl games irrelevant could be imaginary. That is true.
 
#22
#22
I think bowl games are now opportunities for 2nd, 3rd and new enrollees to showcase their skills and start competing for a starting job. Many of the starters see the bowl game as an opportunity to get injured for little/no return. Fans love going to warmer climes and watching their teams play - almost like fans of MLB go to the games in FL, AZ or NV in winter to see what's in store for the upcoming season.

Even the shrine games (East vs. West, etc.) have their opt outs b/c players with high projections view them the same way. Many who play in those games are looking to get "noticed" by the scouts.
 
#24
#24
Bowl games are meaningless.

Extra practices are not.

The most important thing for fans is if your team doesn’t make the CFP then hope they win enough games to make it to a nice warm destination for the bowl game.
 
#25
#25
hbjordan said:
One thing about opt outs- now that everyone is on the payroll shouldn't the expectation be to show up for work? If the checks are clearing, you should probably be there.
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Who cares about opt outs for a meaningless bowl game?

With the CFP it’s more important to get the returning players all the reps you can in these bowl games to build for next season.
 
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