Bowl opt outs.

[stolitonic]

I’ve been on the West coast about three years now and it’s crazy how three hours affect the games themselves. Have you gotten used to it yet?

This was over 20 years ago man. I finished at UT right after 9/11 when the economy was kinda tanking and all the jobs I got offered were out west. Oddly enough, got a call offering me a job in FL when I was driving out. I was somewhere in Kansas I think.

Can honestly say, I miss it out there.

I used to llllllloooooooovvvvveeeee CFB season living in NV man. Pretty much going from 9 Am until midnight when the Pac12 games were winding down. Even when UT had a night game, ended at the perfect time to go out for the night ha ha

I've been in Texas for over 15 years now. Other than having to deal with the TU and A&M fans-it's not bad.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Yeah, I kinda miss that game also.

I remember a cew years when there was the random UT player. That always seemed like a big deal for some reason lol

I think it was a big deal for the wrong reason, if you played in the Blue-Grey Game it usually meant you didn't go to a bowl game because back then I think there were not any before Christmas or if so just like 1 or 2. The only time I remember a Tennessee player in it was 1988 because we went 5-6 and didn't qualify for a bowl.

 

[thehill98]

I think it was a big deal for the wrong reason, if you played in the Blue-Grey Game it usually meant you didn't go to a bowl game because back then I think there were not any before Christmas or if so just like 1 or 2. The only time I remember a Tennessee player in it was 1988 because we went 5-6 and didn't qualify for a bowl.

Yes, it was generally for players whose team couldn’t go to a bowl. That’s why there were a few years in the nineties when Auburn and Bama were on probation they made up the majority of their teams. And it seemed like the punter for Vandy always made it, with a few of their defense players sprinkled in from time to time.

 

[Wireless1]

6-6 teams shouldn't go bowling. I'd argue anyone under 8 wins shouldn't. Change that and the value of the bowl increases.

With the major conferences going to 9 conference games, it'll be harder and harder to get to 6 wins...... it's a math problem, the SEC will have 144 losses guaranteed for 384 regular season opportunities for a win.... in the past we were only guaranteed 128 losses... so at least one more SEC team will be assured a losing record.

 

[Hairy Vols]

With the major conferences going to 9 conference games, it'll be harder and harder to get to 6 wins...... it's a math problem, the SEC will have 144 losses guaranteed for 384 regular season opportunities for a win.... in the past we were only guaranteed 128 losses... so at least one more SEC team will be assured a losing record.

I still stand by what I said.

 

[SubVet676]

With the major conferences going to 9 conference games, it'll be harder and harder to get to 6 wins...... it's a math problem, the SEC will have 144 losses guaranteed for 384 regular season opportunities for a win.... in the past we were only guaranteed 128 losses... so at least one more SEC team will be assured a losing record.

16 teams, 12 games = 192 games. For most SEC teams, 2 of those 3 OOC games are gimmes, so...

16 teams, 9 SEC games = 144 total games. So 72 wins and 72 losses among the 16 SEC teams. 72 / 16 = 4.5 loss average.

This year, 2025, there were 128, as you said. So 64 wins and 64 losses. 64 / 16 = 4 loss average.

9 teams finished at or above 4 losses, and 7 below. Or a 56 / 44 split.

Good teams will still be good; lower half sucks up most of those extra 8 losses.

Odds say 2026 is at or close to the same as 2025. Doesn't mean one more SEC team with a losing record. Just means one or more lower half teams might have a worse SEC record.

 

[Hoosier_Vol]

Ive become a fan of getting rid of the bowls. Playoffs or nothing. I know it wont happen because its about $ but 95% of these bowl games have NO ONE in attendance!

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Ive become a fan of getting rid of the bowls. Playoffs or nothing. I know it wont happen because its about $ but 95% of these bowl games have NO ONE in attendance!

Yeah but that's been the case for 20-30 years. Most of the bowls are in front of mostly empty stadiums. Outside of the NY6/Playoff Bowls, I'd say maybe 5-6 bowls get decent to good attendance.

 

[Plecoptera]

Yeah but that's been the case for 20-30 years. Most of the bowls are in front of mostly empty stadiums. Outside of the NY6/Playoff Bowls, I'd say maybe 5-6 bowls get decent to good attendance.

Yeah, as long as the TV and advertisement money keeps flowing there will be a lot of bowls. Personally, I love lots of bowl games. I get to see some teams that I usually don't see and I have something to watch in the evenings.