Assuming that KSU can hold this late lead, that will bring the total record of future Big XII teams vs Notre Dame and the SEC to 6-1, with the sole loss coming to perpetual powerhouse Alabama.

We lost big brands, absolutely - but the future on the field looks pretty good, and certainly not as disastrous as some would have assumed.

We will still be #5 in getting bowl games, and possibly ahead of Pac 12. Hard to know exactly what that means until playoff set.

Hopefully this keeps our national perception as a high level power conference.

The new Big 12 can definitely win bowl games—I just hope we can cultivate a good slate for the next round.

(01-05-2022 05:38 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  The new Big 12 can definitely win bowl games—I just hope we can cultivate a good slate for the next round.

that is the $3 question. There are only so many teams out there to take bowl bids, so I don't expect huge losses. The G5 won't be taking them away from B12 and the rest of the P5 only added 2 schools.

The other question about bowls is future relevance. A limited number of opt-outs won’t hurt, but I’d imagine that’s only going to grow. It won’t just be seniors, more and more talented juniors and sophomores will likely do the same to protect their potential future careers. The non playoff bowls may soon resemble spring games full of underclassmen just starting to get reps more than clashes of talented teams.

(01-06-2022 10:04 AM)BewareThePhog Wrote:  The other question about bowls is future relevance. A limited number of opt-outs won’t hurt, but I’d imagine that’s only going to grow. It won’t just be seniors, more and more talented juniors and sophomores will likely do the same to protect their potential future careers. The non playoff bowls may soon resemble spring games full of underclassmen just starting to get reps more than clashes of talented teams.

Expanding the playoffs would certainly help the opt out situation, in which case hopefully the B12 gets an auto bid. That would help out our recruiting and perception a lot.

(01-07-2022 12:40 AM)BraveKnight Wrote:  

(01-06-2022 10:04 AM)BewareThePhog Wrote:  The other question about bowls is future relevance. A limited number of opt-outs won’t hurt, but I’d imagine that’s only going to grow. It won’t just be seniors, more and more talented juniors and sophomores will likely do the same to protect their potential future careers. The non playoff bowls may soon resemble spring games full of underclassmen just starting to get reps more than clashes of talented teams.

Expanding the playoffs would certainly help the opt out situation, in which case hopefully the B12 gets an auto bid. That would help out our recruiting and perception a lot.

Agreed. There are so many logical reasons for playoff expansion ($ first and foremost of course) that I'll be shocked if we don't see it sooner rather than later. I'm guessing one issue holding it up is first round games being held on campuses vs. in lower tier bowls. Realistically, even the best fans can't afford or won't choose to make two or three "bowl" trips between the busy Thanksgiving and New Year's weekends. There will be byes involved so reward the remaining higher seeded teams with first round games on their campuses. Minor bowls will survive outside the playoff if TV viewership is sufficient.

But now fewer teams will be around for the smaller bowls. Teams that lose in the first round of the playoff aren't going to want to go to the Independence Bowl or even the Alamo Bowl. It's the right thing to do, but the number of bowls will have to drop since the first couple of rounds of the playoff will be played on campus and will reduce the number of teams available for the other bowls.

(01-07-2022 03:51 PM)JamesNathan Wrote:  But now fewer teams will be around for the smaller bowls. Teams that lose in the first round of the playoff aren't going to want to go to the Independence Bowl or even the Alamo Bowl. It's the right thing to do, but the number of bowls will have to drop since the first couple of rounds of the playoff will be played on campus and will reduce the number of teams available for the other bowls.

We don't really know what is going to happen early rounds yet. My guess is the elimination round one will be on campus. Round 2 [4 games] could easily be what is now access bowls. Same thing for 3rd round getting to finalist. That would use all 6 access bowls in championship.

If you are in the playoff's you should not go to a bowl.

(01-07-2022 03:51 PM)JamesNathan Wrote:  But now fewer teams will be around for the smaller bowls. Teams that lose in the first round of the playoff aren't going to want to go to the Independence Bowl or even the Alamo Bowl. It's the right thing to do, but the number of bowls will have to drop since the first couple of rounds of the playoff will be played on campus and will reduce the number of teams available for the other bowls.

I mean, players are already opting out of the NY6 games so expanding the playoffs isn’t going to make the lower bowls less meaningful, since they already aren’t that meaningful with the CFP.

Well if the Playoff extension is dead for now. I wouldn't expect any huge change in bowl games.