POLL: "Lower level bowls", which should the new Big XII avoid?

[Turn2]

No doubt the Big XII bowl ties could be in flux in the upcoming years. The Indy Bowl, and for some the bowl offerings in general come under some heat this time of year. Which of the lower tier bowls would you find least desirable for future ties? This list isn't all-inclusive, but was built on these criteria:
* Bowl payout
* Likelihood of a Big XII selection or tie-in
* Stadium
* Destination (things to do)
* General perceived prestige
* Destination weather
* General travel feasibility

These are the 2023 match-ups for the listed bowls:
Camellia Bowl - Arkansas State vs. NIU
Fenway Bowl - SMU vs. Boston College
LA Bowl - Boise State vs. UCLA
Arizona Bowl - Toledo vs. Wyoming
Armed Forces Bowl - James Madison vs. Air Force
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - Utah State vs. Georgia State
New Mexico Bowl - New Mexico State vs. Fresno State
Birmingham Bowl - Troy vs. Duke
Military Bowl - Tulane vs. Virginia Tech
Independence Bowl - Texas Tech vs. Cal

I have avoided listing bowls for popular winter destinations like Florida, New Orleans or Myrtle Beach, but feel free to dis any bowls here you'd like. Just not the Liberty .

 

[CoachHines3]

Going to Bowl games in Montgomery, Birmingham, and Albuquerque sounds awful

 

[Al_4_State]

I'd love to see us grab that Arizona Bowl in Tucson. Armed Forces ain't bad for a lower tier bowl. Easy drive for our fans, decent town.

Everyone rips on Boise, but it's a cool town and there's great skiing up the road.

 

[Turn2]

I'd love to see us grab that Arizona Bowl in Tucson.

That one has a low payout, for sure. But I bet that could be remedied if the Big XII was interested in that warm destination.

 

[stewart092284]

The bowl game system is on life support so IDK how much it matters. But honestly, I'm happy with any and all bowl games

 

[Al_4_State]

The bowl game system is on life support so IDK how much it matters. But honestly, I'm happy with any and all bowl games

Bowl games are going to continue to exist for the 50 something teams with winning records not in the playoffs. Some of them will die, but there will continue to be quite a few.

 

[stewart092284]

Bowl games are going to continue to exist for the 50 something teams with winning records not in the playoffs. Some of them will die, but there will continue to be quite a few.

Correct. But more and more will die. Between transfers, portal, and opt outs... its going away.

Which is sad to me personally. I'm a geek and sad and have no life. But there were 4 events I used to live for


1) Release of the pre season magazines
2) Saturday's in general
3) Championship week - I'd watch everyone I could on tv
4) Bowl season - every single bowl I could arguably watch I watched.


Hell - I watched Virginia's spring game. Why? IDK. I have problems

 

[MeanDean]

I checked all but two. Then when I tried to vote it said limited to 4. They're all pretty much ****, though.

 

[HFCS]

LA Bowl at Sofi would be AWESOME and not just because I live in LA.

If you don't think that would be a good time you're doing it wrong or have been brainwashed about CA whether you just go to the game or you spend 3-4 days in Socal. LA Bowl is also early enough it doesn't impact any holiday family plans.

We should really try to get LA Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Vegas Bowl and maybe even Sun Bowl from the Pac deals that will be gone.

 

[Al_4_State]

Correct. But more and more will die. Between transfers, portal, and opt outs... its going away.

Which is sad to me personally. I'm a geek and sad and have no life. But there were 4 events I used to live for


1) Release of the pre season magazines
2) Saturday's in general
3) Championship week - I'd watch everyone I could on tv
4) Bowl season - every single bowl I could arguably watch I watched.


Hell - I watched Virginia's spring game. Why? IDK. I have problems

Tons of people watch on TV and more importantly, bet on them.

Bowl games have lost their casual prestige, but they still make a lot of money.

 

[JayV]

I'd go anywhere. Prefer the biggest payout for the department. If a destination sucks I'll find something interesting on the way there or on the way back to enjoy (that's more difficult if you fly, but I don't).

 

[Al_4_State]

LA Bowl at Sofi would be AWESOME and not just because I live in LA.

If you don't think that would be a good time you're doing it wrong or have been brainwashed about CA whether you just go to the game or you spend 3-4 days in Socal. LA Bowl is also early enough it doesn't impact any holiday family plans.

We should really try to get LA Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Vegas Bowl and maybe even Sun Bowl from the Pac deals that will be gone.

I would love to play in the Holiday Bowl. SD is awesome.

No interest in anything LA related.

 

[stewart092284]

Tons of people watch on TV and more importantly, bet on them.

Bowl games have lost their casual prestige, but they still make a lot of money.

True. But as the playoff expands - and will expand again at some point -

they will be less and less valuable.

 

[MugNight]

I want Bowls that allow us to play peers. Regional B1G schools like Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue, etc. Other P5s like VT, Pitt, NC State, Mizzou, South Carolina, etc.

It’s annoying playing elevated G5s.

 

[Rabbuk]

I don't want to go to any of those places except maybe Tucson

 

[jdcyclone19]

The date is more important than most locations for me.

 

[KidSilverhair]

I used to be a big bowl fan - I still pay some attention these days, but it’s fading. I mean, people seem to hate the poll-system national champion, but at least some of those bowls then meant something for the top 4 or 5 teams trying to move up. Now they’re little more than a few extra weeks of practice and maybe a short trip somewhere warm - if you’re lucky.

Here‘s why my interest is fading:

* The playoff system is making the bowls into unattractive consolation prizes
* Opt-outs are making bowls into glorified spring games
* The fact there are too many bowls means not all that many people actually go in person

Theres nothing sadder than tuning into a late December bowl game between a couple of 8 or 9 win teams and seeing the stadium one-third full. Sure, they’re a made-for-ESPN event now, but it doesn’t help the experience to see rows of empty seats and hear piped-in crowd noise.

I don’t know if there’s an answer. I imagine there will always be a place for the NY6 games … but on the other hand, when the top 11 or 12 teams are slated for the playoff and out of the bowl picture, what are the bowls even for?

Look at this year, with a 12-team playoff: the Fiesta loses Oregon; the Orange loses both FSU and Georgia; the Peach loses both Penn State and Ole Miss; the Cotton loses both Mizzou and Ohio State. You say, sure, but teams like Oklahoma/LSU/Notre Dame/Iowa/etc get to move up … yet the SEC doesn’t have enough 6-win teams to fill their allotment already, and Minnesota/JMU/Jacksonville State had to be made bowl teams because of the shortage … so now you’re looking at seven more 5-win teams going to bowls?

 

[HouClone]

I checked locations that won't be within driving distances of Big 12 schools or alumni. Thus, with our new additions, I kept California, Arizona, New Mexico. Alabama ones are a check but with only 4 choices, I kept the higher status one, Birmingham.

 

[Turn2]

True. But as the playoff expands - and will expand again at some point -

they will be less and less valuable.

Tell that to the Chambers of Commerce.

 

[qwerty]

Pinstripe. Let B1G have it since they are all about the NYC market anyway.