Howe and Dochterman talked on their latest podcast how the non-playoff bowls are struggling for relevance, and how they will play more towards looking ahead to the next year as opposed to culminating the current season. With that in mind, what if instead of scattering these bowls throughout the holiday season, they moved them to the spring? Instead of spring games, programs that earned bowl-eligibility get to travel someplace warm and play a different team to wrap up their spring practices. Crazy?
Future of non-playoff bowls
- Thread starter CP87
- Start date
HawkGold
Well-Known Member
Just let them die. RIP
With the playoffs getting expanded those lower bowls will be all but toast I would think. I mean maybe they'll be some but I don't suspect they'll be 20 some odd lower ones anymore. I don't see where the $ will come from. TV ratings were probably low this yr and attendance obviously has been. Once the new playoff format has been done a couple yrs it'll be interesting to see how it goes
trj
Well-Known Member
The bowls would consider paying the players before they would move to the Spring.
trj
Well-Known Member
They have lost relevance and attendance are at an all-time low, but people are still watching.
Rose Bowl: 10.187 million viewers
Sugar Bowl: 9.135 million viewers
Orange Bowl: 8.590 million viewers
Gator Bowl: 5.766 million viewers
Cheez-it Bowl: 5.395 million viewers
Alamo Bowl: 4.778 million viewers
Cotton Bowl: 4.165 million viewers
Holiday Bowl: 3.969 million viewers
Liberty Bowl: 3.914 million viewers
Music City: 2.966 million viewers
ESPN and everyone else are desperate for content, plus the only "lock" in TV ad revenue right now is sports, so these bowl games aren't going away anytime soon.
trj
Well-Known Member
People that care about college football live in the Midwest and the South, you don't want to give them options by playing games in the Spring. College football will lose in that scenario.
I think it depends on when expanded playoffs start each season. If they take off 3 weeks like now, there will be lots of TV spots open for bowls. If they start earlier, then maybe a few bowls still happen between Christmas and New Years Day.
Either way I'm guessing total bowl games drop by 1/2 or 2/3.
Either way I'm guessing total bowl games drop by 1/2 or 2/3.
KCHawkeye
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I don't know. When is the NFL draft? Some players will want to be getting ready for it. Of course, there are some players holding out of bowl games anyway.
Seth53
Well-Known Member
Not so fast please re: total bowl demise
(And nobody holds more disdain for the current oversaturation of bowls than me)
The NIT is alive and well despite the NCAA's multiple expansions.
TV will still promote the hell out of the minor bowls.
FB fans have an insatiable appetite for lights/cameras/action.
(And nobody holds more disdain for the current oversaturation of bowls than me)
The NIT is alive and well despite the NCAA's multiple expansions.
TV will still promote the hell out of the minor bowls.
FB fans have an insatiable appetite for lights/cameras/action.
tailgater371
Well-Known Member
How many bowl games "mattered" back when the polls decided the NC? 2 to 4 maybe? People that like to watch CFB and their teams will watch. I don't know why it is different now with a playoff. We have always had bowl games that didn't matter.
But it wouldn't be for graduating players, but rather for the next year's guys. Heck, you could even incorporate the early-enrollees. A big part of the impetus is that many seniors and early-enrollees are not participating anyway, so let's make it a look ahead. Get those portal transfers, early-enrollees, redshirt freshman involved.
But the big difference is the number of opt-outs these days, as well as the athletes that are in portal-transition during the bowl period.
hawkinn3
Well-Known Member
Treat them like free to play video games. All the tickets should be free and split 50/50 between the schools to give out as they see fit. Make these games fan appreciation events. But Barta in a dunk tank full of piss, I’d pay $20 for 3 shots at that.
Even preseason NFL games make money because networks LOVE live content so the bowls aren’t going anywhere.
Even preseason NFL games make money because networks LOVE live content so the bowls aren’t going anywhere.
