Maryland

For the past few years, plenty of discussion has occurred about the College Football bowls and selections. This year we have 39 total bowls not counting the College Football Playoffs. Now, I’ll preface this by saying I understand this is all about the all mighty dollar and TV deals with the NCAA but is it an advantage or disadvantage to have this many bowls every season? I think it is a major disadvantage.

The conversation begins mid-season where you hear about so many teams and coaches fighting for that 6th win to become bowl eligible. A six win season doesn’t mean you have a “winning” season either as several teams are bowl eligible with 6-6 regular season records.

Gilden New Mexico Bowl
New Mexico (8-4)
Texas San Antonio (6-6)
Payout per team – $456,250

Auto Nation Cure Bowl
University of Central Florida (6-6)
Arkansas State (7-5)
Payout per team – $1,350,000

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Southern Mississippi (6-6)
Louisiana Lafayette (6-6)
Payout per team – $500,000

Miami Beach Bowl
Tulsa (9-3)
Central Michigan (6-6)
Payout per team – $1,000,000

Hawaii Bowl
Middle Tennessee (8-4)
Hawaii (6-7)
Payout per team – $650,000

Saint Petersburg Bowl
Miami (OH) (6-6)
Mississippi State (5-7)
Payout per team – $537,500

Quick Lane Bowl
Maryland (6-6)
Boston College (6-6)
Payout per team – $1,200,000

Camping World Independence Bowl
NC State (6-6)
Vanderbilt (6-6)
Payout per team – $1,150,000

Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
Army (6-5)
North Texas (5-7)
Payout per team – $800,000

Northrop Grumman Military Bowl
Temple (10-3) Ranked 24th
Wake Forest (6-6)
Payout per team – $1,000,000

Motel 6 Cactus Bowl
Boise State (10-2)
Baylor (6-6)
Payout per team – $3,350,000

New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Pittsburg (8-4) Ranked 23rd
Northwestern (6-6)
Payout per team – $1,800,000

Foster Farms Bowl
Utah (8-4) Ranked 19
Indiana (6-6)
Payout per team – $837,500

Birmingham Bowl
South Florida (10-2)
South Carolina (6-6)
Payout per team – $900,000 to South Florida & $1,000,025 South Carolina???

Autozone Liberty Bowl
Georgia (7-5)
TCU (6-6)
Payout per team – $1,437,500

Nova Home Loans Bowls
Air Force (9-3)
South Alabama (6-6)
Payout per team – Not Determined

So you now have 20 teams who, in my opinion, are unworthy of any bowl or payout and an estimated $20,718,775 in payout money to these teams. These are 16 bowls that could be cut in half to 8 and feature teams with winning records and possibly better quality games for college football fans to watch in December.

So much arguments have been made about big conference teams scheduling obvious unworthy opponents and how this practice should be stopped in college football. So with that argument, why would the NCAA promote and throw this kind of money at worthless bowls with undeserving teams?

Wouldn’t college football be better off as an overall institution of sports to insure the quality of games rather than piling up as much as they can in bowls and money? I’m sure an extra $20 million could be used to sweeten the actual good bowls and/or be used to address other needs like possibly a more intelligent and well trained referee staff and replay system than the debacle that exists now.

A 6 win team doesn’t deserve a bowl PERIOD. Only team with a 7 win season and winning overall record should get a bowl. This would allow coaches and teams to stop settling once they hit the 6 mark and strive to do better during each regular season.

Stop the settlement, make them EARN it!!!