Do Bowl Games Matter?

[brewcity77]

I know they generate revenue, I know teams still like going and fans still like attending, but listening to the discussion this morning on the radio, it really seems like the BCS has devalued the importance of the individual bowl games and I imagine will only devalue it further in the coming years as they go to a playoff.

All I heard about this morning was gimmick plays, halfback options, and fake punts. It sounds like these are really just glorified exhibition games where the coaches don't care much if they win or lose, they just want to pull something out of the bag of tricks. I don't remember this always being the case. In the past, I loved New Year's and it seemed like every bowl played that day mattered, but between not knowing half the teams, having no idea which bowl is which anymore because they have sponsor names all over them, and the coaches not treating them like meaningful games, what's the point?

I understand people wanting a true champion. That's why March Madness is the greatest annual sporting event in the world, because of the unpredictability and certainty of a single-elimination tournament. But the more college football tries to get a true champion, the more they get away from what made the sport so entertaining in the first place. I don't know...maybe I'm off base, but it just seems like with the advent of the BCS, all the other bowls have sort of a "ehh, whatever" feel to them. I mean if you go to the Rose Bowl ranked #3 in the country, there is no chance you will finish #1, while just a decade or so ago it was a realistic hope.

I am really starting to think that the more football emphasizes a tournament, whether it's 4, 8, or 16 teams, the less important these sponsored exhibitions will become. Who cares about the Famous Beef O'Meineke's Pinstripe.com Bowl when neither team is really playing for anything? And as the playoff inevitably expands, will these bowls, even the Grandaddy of them All, simply become irrelevant as they take the scraps that are left behind?

[JD]

In short, i think only the BCS games matter.  I'm not even so sure about that, maybe just the National Championship nowadays.  But yes, i see what you're saying.

National Championship, Orange, Rose, Fiesta, i think those are the only main ones.

[AirPunches]

Getting in the bowls might matter some, but IMO once ur there it doesn't make a damn bit of difference if you win or lose.

[GGGG]

There are some other bowls each year that are compelling.  Chick-Fil-A usually put on a good show.  Cotton too.

The reason most bowls now exist are to provide programming for ESPN during the week between Christmas and New Years.  They provide a better audience than anything else they put on.  Admittedly, I will generally check out the games during that week...and have the Sugar Bowl on right now.

[4everwarriors]

'Bout as much as pre-season, closed basketball scrimmages. So for Kenosha Warrior, the tension generated is equal to fiscal cliff negotiations.

[ChicosBailBonds]

It was great seeing Louisville knock off #3 Florida tonight.

Great to see the B1G go 2-5 or whatever in their games again.  They have been so completely brutal in the last decade.

[forgetful]

Bowls don't matter.  Many of the top players are suspended by this point.  Coaches leave.  The games mean nothing except for the national championship.  Most players look at it as an extended party instead of an actual game.

I mean a team with 5 losses that was unranked played in one of the top bowls.  If it wasn't for the fact that the games take place over the dead holiday season I don't think many people would bother watching.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Bowls don't matter.  Many of the top players are suspended by this point.  Coaches leave.  The games mean nothing except for the national championship.  Most players look at it as an extended party instead of an actual game.

I mean a team with 5 losses that was unranked played in one of the top bowls.  If it wasn't for the fact that the games take place over the dead holiday season I don't think many people would bother watching.

I'd say a lot of teams I saw play yesterday, their players were busting their arses and leaving it all on the field.  Not sure why you say they don't matter.  Some bowl games, absolutely, but let's not paint to broad a brush.  There is a lot of pride in winning the Rose Bowl, Sugar, etc.

[forgetful]

I'd say a lot of teams I saw play yesterday, their players were busting their arses and leaving it all on the field.  Not sure why you say they don't matter.  Some bowl games, absolutely, but let's not paint to broad a brush.  There is a lot of pride in winning the Rose Bowl, Sugar, etc.

Do they want to win.  Yes.  But the players are there for the party win or lose.  The season ended a month ago.  This is an exhibition.

[Chili]

I'd say a lot of teams I saw play yesterday, their players were busting their arses and leaving it all on the field.  Not sure why you say they don't matter.  Some bowl games, absolutely, but let's not paint to broad a brush.  There is a lot of pride in winning the Rose Bowl, Sugar, etc.

Arizona took pride in winning the New Mexico Bowl but it doesn't mean it mattered. The only game that matters is the National Championship Game as that actually has a legitimate goal in crowning the champion. The rest are post season exhibitions like the Pro Bowl or Senior Bowl.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Arizona took pride in winning the New Mexico Bowl but it doesn't mean it mattered. The only game that matters is the National Championship Game as that actually has a legitimate goal in crowning the champion. The rest are post season exhibitions like the Pro Bowl or Senior Bowl.

We agree to disagree.  Unless you are saying that winning a NCAA tournament game doesn't matter because only winning the title counts?  A Rose Bowl championship matters..it is a BIG deal.  Same for the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, etc.  Even some of these lesser bowls, for some teams it's a big deal and it does matter.  For other bowls, I agree they are a waste and don't matter.  I just don't agree that it's one bowl game and that's it. 

[forgetful]

We agree to disagree.  Unless you are saying that winning a NCAA tournament game doesn't matter because only winning the title counts?  A Rose Bowl championship matters..it is a BIG deal.  Same for the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, etc.  Even some of these lesser bowls, for some teams it's a big deal and it does matter.  For other bowls, I agree they are a waste and don't matter.  I just don't agree that it's one bowl game and that's it. 

Winning an NCAA tournament game allows you to proceed towards the NC game.  A bowl game results in ... well nothing except maybe pride in a job well done.  

A bowl game is like the non-conference holiday tournaments.  There are some out there that think that winning the Great Alaska Shootout means you need a banner in the stadium, many more that think the championship doesn't matter as much.  Heck, at least the non-conference holiday tournaments can build your resume for the post season.  

[brewcity77]

There have been some entertaining games, and I'll admit I loved watching Louisville throttle Florida, but when gadget plays and fake punts become the norm it says the coaches don't really care. There were more fake punts Tuesday than you usually see in an entire season.

And there's no comparison to the NCAA Tournament as hypothetically any team involved could win the title if they get on a 6 or 7 game winning streak.

I feel like these games used to matter more. Like you really saw teams and coaches there with something to prove and not just putting on a show. Is that the faulty memory of my youth trying to convince myself the bowls were once something better, or were they always just exhibitions with more flash than substance?

[tower912]

Winning a lower tier bowl game is like winning an Alaskan Shootout.   

[ATL MU Warrior]

There have been some entertaining games, and I'll admit I loved watching Louisville throttle Florida, but when gadget plays and fake punts become the norm it says the coaches don't really care. There were more fake punts Tuesday than you usually see in an entire season.

And there's no comparison to the NCAA Tournament as hypothetically any team involved could win the title if they get on a 6 or 7 game winning streak.

I feel like these games used to matter more. Like you really saw teams and coaches there with something to prove and not just putting on a show. Is that the faulty memory of my youth trying to convince myself the bowls were once something better, or were they always just exhibitions with more flash than substance?

I think historically there were more bowls that mattered because more teams had a shot at winning the NC by winning and hoping somebody else lost.  Under the current structure that's gone...the only one that really matters to winning the NC is the last one.  All the others are essentially meaningless.

[hairy worthen]

We agree to disagree.  Unless you are saying that winning a NCAA tournament game doesn't matter because only winning the title counts?  A Rose Bowl championship matters..it is a BIG deal.  Same for the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, etc.  Even some of these lesser bowls, for some teams it's a big deal and it does matter.  For other bowls, I agree they are a waste and don't matter.  I just don't agree that it's one bowl game and that's it. 

I agree with you except your NCAA tournament game is a bad analogy. Winning a tournament game gets you one step closer to the championship, winning a lesser bowl games means you win a lesser bowl game.

Hopefully it will change with a playoff system and the bowls will be more relevant.

[brewcity77]

I think it will be the opposite. I think a playoff will make the bowls less relevant. Especially once they expand beyond 4, which seems inevitable. When the PAC-12 and B1G champs are both in the playoffs and the Rose Bowl is taking two completely random teams, will there be any meaning left? If the Rose Bowl is between the unranked third best team from the PAC-12 and a 1-loss CUSA team because they were the best non-playoff team, will anyone care, or just want to put the Grandaddy in a retirement home?

[hairy worthen]

I think it will be the opposite. I think a playoff will make the bowls less relevant. Especially once they expand beyond 4, which seems inevitable. When the PAC-12 and B1G champs are both in the playoffs and the Rose Bowl is taking two completely random teams, will there be any meaning left? If the Rose Bowl is between the unranked third best team from the PAC-12 and a 1-loss CUSA team because they were the best non-playoff team, will anyone care, or just want to put the Grandaddy in a retirement home?

Maybe so,  I was thinking that the bowls would be similar to a NCAA tournament game and actually mean something. There would be more interest because the winner advances. Not true for the lesser bowls.

[GGGG]

Maybe so,  I was thinking that the bowls would be similar to a NCAA tournament game and actually mean something. There would be more interest because the winner advances. Not true for the lesser bowls.

I think it makes even the semifinals less relevant as well.  While I wouldn't label bowl games "exhibitions," because I think they are far from meaningless, traditionally they have been about the destination.  What I think is going to happen is that fans aren't going to travel twice....to a semifinal bowl game in one city, and then a championship game in another city a week later.  I think there is a huge risk that the semifinal bowls are going to be sparsely attended.

[Chili]

We agree to disagree.  Unless you are saying that winning a NCAA tournament game doesn't matter because only winning the title counts?  A Rose Bowl championship matters..it is a BIG deal.  Same for the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, etc.  Even some of these lesser bowls, for some teams it's a big deal and it does matter.  For other bowls, I agree they are a waste and don't matter.  I just don't agree that it's one bowl game and that's it. 

Apples to oranges here. Like others have stated, winning an NCAA Tournament game gets you one step closer to a National Championship. I see the bowl games like the other NCAA Post Season Tournaments. Winning the Rose or Orange is like the NIT and most other bowls are like the College Basketball Invitational or College Invitational Tournament. And after the playoff system is implemented the major bowls will all drop down a peg or two as well.   

[Goose]

They matter if you like to make a wager. Thankfully I do not.

[ChicosBailBonds]

OK, bad analogy on my part, but if people really think winning the Rose or Orange is like winning the NIT...wow....equally bad analogy on your part.

Again, I think too many people here suffer from the fact we have basketball eyes on and not what most other people in this country that are from football perspectives have.

95,000 people and big ratings for watching the Rose Bowl.  Even before the BCS, there were plenty of times the Rose Bowl was a game between #6 vs #9 or whatever, with no national championship at stake.  It still was a game with great importance that people watched. 


No question some bowl games are meaningless.  I would not categorize the Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta into those slots.

[Hards Alumni]

OK, bad analogy on my part, but if people really think winning the Rose or Orange is like winning the NIT...wow....equally bad analogy on your part.

Again, I think too many people here suffer from the fact we have basketball eyes on and not what most other people in this country that are from football perspectives have.

95,000 people and big ratings for watching the Rose Bowl.  Even before the BCS, there were plenty of times the Rose Bowl was a game between #6 vs #9 or whatever, with no national championship at stake.  It still was a game with great importance that people watched. 


No question some bowl games are meaningless.  I would not categorize the Rose, Orange, Sugar, Fiesta into those slots.

Totally agree.  The big name classic games always have meaning.  Anything less than the BCS bowl games are just for fun.  They matter if its a small school that doesn't get to bowl games often; usually big for the coach since he gets national recognition and can float his name for big schools.

[GGGG]

Totally agree.  The big name classic games always have meaning.  Anything less than the BCS bowl games are just for fun.  They matter if its a small school that doesn't get to bowl games often; usually big for the coach since he gets national recognition and can float his name for big schools.

"Meaningless" is in the eye of the beholder.  The Rose, Orange, Sugar, etc. are considered less meaningless because more people care about them.  But I don't think that fans of Kent State would call the Motor City Bowl "meaningless."

[ChicosBailBonds]

There have been some entertaining games, and I'll admit I loved watching Louisville throttle Florida, but when gadget plays and fake punts become the norm it says the coaches don't really care. There were more fake punts Tuesday than you usually see in an entire season.

I take the opposite view.  The reason you see more trickery is because the teams have 30+ days to prepare rather than the traditional 7 days.  The fact that the coaches are putting them in the gameplan shows they want to get any edge they can.

Also consider most of these coaches get a handsome bonus for winning these bowl games, I would say they absolutely care.  Some get $100K for winning a bowl game.  Alvarez would have earned $50K for winning the Rose.