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Topic: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Topic: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

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greencat
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Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 2,665

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Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/7/2025 8:59:41 PM

They needed some 5-win teams to fill bowl slots but some programs that finished with five assumed they were done for the year and hung up their jock straps so to speak.

Teams that have declined a bowl so far....

Florida State.
Auburn.
UCF.
Baylor.
Kansas.
Rutgers.
Temple.

and of course, butt-hurt Notre Dame. (must be nice not to need bowl $$$)

Excuse the pun...Rice is in a bowl. (5 wins but VERY high academics)

STVCastle
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Member Since: 5/22/2025
Post Count: 231

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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/7/2025 9:41:39 PM

Glad you had Notre Dame on that list. Didn't make the CFP, and they announced they won't go to a bowl game either.

"Oh, we're too good for this," says Notre Dame.

Last Edited: 12/7/2025 9:42:57 PM by STVCastle

CatsUp
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Member Since: 4/15/2019
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 8:13:09 AM

�We didn�t do very well so we quit. The rest of you can fend for yourselves�. I guess academic institutions are willing to allow their athletic programs to dictate their fairness and integrity standing.

Tymaster
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Member Since: 3/24/2017
Location: Chillicothe, OH
Post Count: 359

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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 8:18:09 AM

Remember how we didn't have a bowl game bid for 40 some years? That is what is coming down the pike when they wipe out all of the bowls. Which I guess, in the grand scheme of things, is fine but I can see a situation where we're back to only the MACC getting any kind of invitation to go anywhere. In this scenario, Solich never gets a single bowl game.

Mike Coleman
Administrator

Member Since: 12/21/2004
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 8:20:12 AM

I think one of the unreported reasons why teams are declining bowl games is the timing of the transfer portal. Players want out, and coaches want their schedules free to have all this scouted and get kids on campus in early Jan.

Andrew Ruck
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 8:27:26 AM

Agreed. It is obvious from a competition standpoint the transfer portal should open after New Years, but I assume it opens earlier for academic reasons to enroll somewhere else for winter semester?

I don't think the bowls are going anywhere. We may lose a couple but the ESPN parade of bowl games still gets enough ratings, buzz, gambling, bowl pick em pools, etc.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

GoCats105
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Location: Seattle, WA
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 10:21:23 AM

STVCastle wrote:

Glad you had Notre Dame on that list. Didn't make the CFP, and they announced they won't go to a bowl game either.

"Oh, we're too good for this," says Notre Dame.

I don't think it's a "we're too good for this" so much as it's an F-U to the power brokers at ESPN/CFP for leaving them out. It's a drop in the bucket monetarily in the long run, but I respect them saying ESPN can't use their brand to promote some shitty bowl game now. Plus all the transfer stuff already mentioned.

Last Edited: 12/8/2025 10:22:15 AM by GoCats105

M.D.W.S.T
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Member Since: 12/23/2021
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 10:27:30 AM

STVCastle wrote:

Glad you had Notre Dame on that list. Didn't make the CFP, and they announced they won't go to a bowl game either.

"Oh, we're too good for this," says Notre Dame.

I have my thoughts on the CFP process... (ass)... but ND declining a bowl is just sad man.

From their perspective, we're not gonna make you any more money if you're not gonna let us in. So BYE. What a shitty thing to do to your fans. Apparently, the players voted not to play - which I find extremely hard to believe. If you've played any sport at any level, unless youre 0-10, you always want one more game. They must've asked them 9 seconds after the announcement, when everyone was fired up and felt disrespected.

If anyone has a gripe, it's Duke.

The whole thing is still broken, but hopfeully this won't be an issue in 2026 under a CFP deal agreed to in March that will guarantee spots to the conference champions from the ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 and the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion.

Last Edited: 12/8/2025 10:28:46 AM by M.D.W.S.T

BillyTheCat
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 11:05:29 AM

In the case of ISU and KSU, it�s clearly been stated by their administrators that they don�t feel they could field a team or staff with the current situation. In ISU�s case looks like lots of coaches heading to Happy Valley and I�m sure he�s taking a few players.

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 11:32:28 AM

BillyTheCat wrote:

This is like NFL football without any of the controls and regulations of NFL football.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

Alan Swank
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 11:53:54 AM

Ten schools so far.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb/college-football-b... /

GoCats105
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Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids (NT)

Posted: 12/8/2025 12:05:48 PM

Last Edited: 12/8/2025 12:06:09 PM by GoCats105

Urban Bobcat
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Member Since: 9/14/2007
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 12:10:11 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

Ten schools so far.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb/college-football-b... /

A lot of those teams are 5-7. I personally don't think a team with a losing record should go to a bowl game anyway.

Good for them.

URBAN BOBCAT

cc-cat
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Location: matthews, NC
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 12:22:39 PM

Notre Dame chose to be independent - that comes with benefits (get to create their own schedule as they wish), financial independence, etc., but also comes with risks (no conference to win for automatic bid). so they have no reason to bitch. Additionally, starting next year they are basically assured to make the playoffs every single year (automatic bid if they are in top 12 - and the aforementioned ability to tailor the schedule - e.g., in 2026 Notre Dame plays only three true road games � North Carolina, Syracuse and Purdue � and has neutral-site contests against Wisconsin and Navy. and plays one team that made the playoffs this year - Miami). So little interest in hearing their cries.

colobobcat66
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Location: Watching the bobcats run outside my window., CO
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 1:17:45 PM

Urban Bobcat wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

Ten schools so far.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb/college-football-b... /

A lot of those teams are 5-7. I personally don't think a team with a losing record should go to a bowl game anyway.

Good for them.

I don�t think 6-6 teams should make bowl games either , but we�ve moved way past that to fill TV slots. Maybe we should everyone play 13 games and schedule the last game with opponent to be decided after the regular season. In today�s reality of coaches changing jobs and players opting out and/or joining the transfer portal , it�s getting messy for sure.

M.D.W.S.T
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Member Since: 12/23/2021
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 1:30:03 PM

colobobcat66 wrote:

Urban Bobcat wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

Ten schools so far.

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb/college-football-b... /

A lot of those teams are 5-7. I personally don't think a team with a losing record should go to a bowl game anyway.

Good for them.

Should've moved to 7/8 wins a while ago, but they don't want to lose any additional money or sponsors from these bowls.

And moved B tier bowls to regional / campus sites. That would drive true excitement + tickets + butts in seats.

I get 67 Ventures or whatever wants to sponsor the game in their backyard, but what's more important? Your name on an empty bowl or your name played 1,000 miles away, but in front of a near sell-out? Guess that's something for them to decide.

bobcatsquared
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 5,609

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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 1:42:52 PM

M.D.W.S.T wrote:

The whole thing is still broken, but hopfeully this won't be an issue in 2026 under a CFP deal agreed to in March that will guarantee spots to the conference champions from the ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 and the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion.

This will always be an issue as long as the whole process is run by the NCAA and ESPN, two entities that up there with FIFA when it comes to corruption. I'm just waiting until ESPN creates a newly minted peace prize medal so our dear leader has matching trophies to wear around his neck.

Last Edited: 12/8/2025 1:47:42 PM by bobcatsquared

M.D.W.S.T
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 2:05:35 PM

bobcatsquared wrote:

M.D.W.S.T wrote:

I laughed.

But that should help, and I'm surprised that wasn't the language all along.

Put it in stone. If you want to be Top 4 - win your conference. The best of the rest of the bids go to our paper champions. Do I think Indiana is better than Duke? Yes. Do I think Indiana should get a bye? No. They didn't win. Best we can do is 5 seed. It's not the end of the world. It is what it is. Champions get the top seeds. If we're not allowing a P4 conference champion to fight in the playoff then what the hell are we even doing here? Why play the games? Just pencil in Ohio State - Georgia - Alabama - Oregon and skip the games.

I'd rather fight about that than saying its okay we excluded a P4 Champion because on paper, they aren't as good as Alabama. If you want to argue with that - then go fight with the SEC and the BIG18 who have prioritized money over practical conference alignment.

100%Cat
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 2:10:43 PM

cc-cat wrote:

Agree with all of this.

GoCats105
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Location: Seattle, WA
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 3:17:31 PM

100%Cat wrote:

cc-cat wrote:

Agree with all of this.

If Wisconsin, North Carolina, Syracuse and Purdue had better seasons this argument is completely invalid. Notre Dame can't help how bad the teams they scheduled were. Neither can Alabama for that matter.

Notre Dame actually played two playoff teams and lost to both, Miami and Texas A&M, by a combined FOUR points. Alabama got beat by two touchdowns to a god awful Florida State (5-7) squad who lost to Stanford (4-8) and Florida (4-8).

I'm not a homer for either team, but putting a 3-loss team in simply because they were in a conference championship game (the supposed best conference based on ESPN's bullshit metrics) isn't a valid one. If that's the case then why isn't Virginia in? They actually made it to the ACC championship, not Miami.

The committee will keep moving the goal posts to fit their narrative to get the best product on television. That's their M.O., period. You're kinda splitting hairs between Alabama and Notre Dame in terms of viewership is my guess (ND probably slightly higher overall), but the ghost of Nick Saban makes Alabama better than they are in everyone's eyes because god forbid we have a playoff without Alabama in it.

If they did away with preseason rankings then a lot of these arguments go away from the jump.

Ohio69
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 5:10:21 PM

I kind of like that all things being very close to equal that head to head results, Miami beating Notre Dame, mattered.

(Unlike 4th place Miami Ohio making the MACC over two teams that beat them.... And yes maybe the above is just an excuse for me to bring this up yet again...)

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

BillyTheCat
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 5:34:23 PM

Ohio69 wrote:

Won�t matter next year. ND gets a free pass.

OhioBobcat
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 5:41:00 PM

I honestly don't mind that any of these schools declined bowls. In fact, I could just about care less if the bowls entirely went away at this point all together. I used to love bowls....LOVE them! But now, many of these bowls are no more than a glorified scrimmage anymore. After all the conference realignment, players opting out of them, players setting their sights on transferring, coaches leaving, and the addition of the playoffs - bowls are a watered down version of what they once were. I remember when the bowl gift packages used to be an added incentive for the teams. Now, many of these guys could care less because they're getting paid and either already have these sort of items or can just buy them themselves. Most of the locations of the bowls aren't an incentive to get excited about. The extra bowl prep with the additional practices used to be a plus, but that's now been shot full of holes as a number of those players that it's applicable to will end up leaving for another school. For those guys who simply want to play one more game with their teammates, they're a dying breed. Some of these teams who go to bowls are simply a shell of the team they were that qualified for them once they get there (opts outs, transfers). I was somewhat reluctant to see the playoffs creep into the the FBS postseason a few years ago, but having seen how it has operated and developed and really like it now, and it has essentially stripped away what little significance these bowls had left. You have teams that have lost their coaches and have players with one foot out the door, what the hell do they want or need to play in a bowl for. I applaud them for their decision - even with the fines by their conferences. Bowl games remind me very much of the newspaper industry. Both had their time to shine. Now, one is all but dead, and the other isn't far behind.

cc-cat
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 6:05:15 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

If Wisconsin, North Carolina, Syracuse and Purdue had better seasons this argument is completely invalid.

They have never been that good, and certainly not elite. Throw in Navy, BC, Stanford and Rice. ND knows exactly how they should schedule.

Like the old days when Penn State would beat Syracuse, Rutgers, Temple, WVU, Pitt and Maryland most every year.

mf279801
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RE: Lots of teams declined bowl bids

Posted: 12/8/2025 10:48:47 PM

greencat wrote:

Temple put out a statement today that they did not decline a bowl: a bowl spot was offered and before they had a chance to respond the offered spot was filled
https://owlsports.com/news/2025/12/8/general-a-clarificat...

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