Bowl Things Thread

[SKell82155]

and they pocketed the 20 million. They are not in a conference, and they schedule lightweights in order to get in the CFP. That doesn't seem to work anymore. You can't make the finals, if you can't make the CFP. So instead of playing for a championship, the fans have sour grapes and excuses this year. As we know the old adage in sports is "what have you done lately". I am sure ND is having this tantrum to bully the committee for the next few years, but this year they won't be able to see J. Love's at least one more time. I was at a restaurant yesterday during the selection show. NJ is a heavy ND fandom. It was quite quiet and lots of anger. I laughed as my team wasn't considered when a couple years ago, we were in the tourney of four and not 12. Of course I don't have the entitled attitude from the 1930s. ND played when there wasn't the media as there is today to get a real analysis of who is the better teams. It was based on brand reputation and to the dismay of today's ND fans, brand rep sure didn't work yesterday. They are considered based on their record and strength of schedule. They should keep it to themselves and go to their forums to vent. That, sadly, is how we handle the end of the season. At least our team will show up to play one last time. I just don't know who will play. We will have more practices to get young players ready for next year though. That is a good thing. Yes, I have been driven to apathy this year, but next season is in preparation. Go Cats one more time. My ND friends can't say that.

Definetly don’t agree with you on your take about ND.
Are the B12 teams that opted out of the bowl also considered to have sour grapes and excuses ?
The players took a vote & they decided not to play- what business of that is yours ?
I think one reason they haven’t gotten into a conference is because until this last realignment, conferences were more regionally restricted as was recruiting. ND on the other hand has to recruit from coast to coast & being in a regional conference would probably inhibit that, imo.
As far as schedule, schedules are made a couple of years in advance I believe? ND this year played 6 ACC teams, 2 SEC teams, 2 Big10 teams as well as the Navy team UC is playing in a bowl game, Boise St who has been decent over the years.
Ohio State played 4 dumpster Big10 teams along with Grambling St & Ohio U !
Indiana started with ODU, Kennesaw St & Indiana St for crying out loud. I don’t wanna hear anything about schedule.
ND got screwed this year because of ESPN bias for the SEC.

[bearcatbret]

ESPN and all sports agencies have bias for the B1G and SEC. What do we have right now in the CFP? 3 SEC teams, 3 B1G teams, 1 ACC and 1 Big 12. It is about who controls the TV money (ESPN and FOX). In response to comments about Big 12 teams not playing, they are without coaches. There have been some great bowl games this season and those teams had nothing to prove other than they can win. ND no longer has the TV audience that it once had. The MAC actually has had a good showing this year.

[SKell82155]

I would love for the committee to send ND a message and not select them for the CFP. However, it is all about money and I suspect that ND brings a large audience to TV.

Why are people so concerned whether ND is in a conference or not ? I’m a UC fan but have rooted for ND all my life.

[leo from jersey]

Why are people so concerned whether ND is in a conference or not ? I’m a UC fan but have rooted for ND all my life.

In today's playing field for the National Championship things have changed. Without a conference ND gets more money from bowl games and tv contracts as they don't have to share. They also work with NBC for the best TV times. This is a recruiting tool as few noon games where recruits have a hard time making it.. Without a conference they can hand pick their schedule. This has resulted in weak opponents and next year only 3 road games. How many playoff teams will ND be playing next year. They play 3, Navy BYU, Miami with only Miami considered top 10 or 15.. Compare that with the Big and SEC. No conference championship game means an extra week of rest and preparation before the tournament begins. They often get to make their rules on minor things while a conference team has to go along.AS you can see, it is an easier road to the playoffs when you don't have a conference making your opponents, making game times, home//away games, not having to split TV money etc. The playing field is not equal. Of course, what have they won regardless of having the soft path.
PS they just added BYU for the 4th away game due to complaints. Those four true away games with a couple on a neutral fields like Wisky in Green Bay. It is Wisconsin in geography but a big ND area. Oh yeah. With that hand picked schedule they only have one game outside of their time zone and their travel schedule is light in miles. So handpicked easy schedules, prime tv times great for recruiting and not sharing the money is a big advantage. Of course you still have to win it all on the field.

[bearcatlifer]

I might be off base here but bear with me. Traditionally ND's fan base has been largely Catholic.When I was growing up in a Catholic community many people identified with and rooted for ND even if they never went to college. With the increasing secularization of our country and young people continuing to drift away from the church it just makes sense. There are fewer true, practicing Catholics out there who will blindly root for ND.

[leo from jersey]

I might be off base here but bear with me. Traditionally ND's fan base has been largely Catholic.When I was growing up in a Catholic community many people identified with and rooted for ND even if they never went to college. With the increasing secularization of our country and young people continuing to drift away from the church it just makes sense. There are fewer true, practicing Catholics out there who will blindly root for ND.

They are called the subway alumni. Here in Jersey, I see much more ND clothing than Rutgers. At a son in law's who is RC, when they have a party his family and friends are all ND fans. I agree many stopped going to church, but being a fan often comes with the community in which you were raised. Many of my granddaughters are ND fans as their dad wears ND stuff and has a party for all the games. Viewership is down for ND games though as they schedule lesser teams and the other networks are putting in prime games. Chicago , Green Bay, NYC are all big communities for ND. I am sure there are others especially in the NE and Midwest. When I was younger, there were few games (maybe 1 a week) on and ND had a replay on Sundays (after mass of course) in most of the NE and Midwest. Cincy had it. ----- I say go Cats. ---- I buy my gradkids UC stuff, but only a few wear it. I have met a couple of Bearcat fans here, but just a couple. tOSU has a big alumni group in NYC. --- Seton Hall has a small group but I live by the Delaware and the PSU fans are very active.

PS I really love this forum as I can have an on-line party and discussions especially during the games with UC fans. Go Cats.

[bearcatbret]

The SEC is currently 2-4 in bowl games.

• Two losses to the ACC
• One loss to the Big 12
• One loss to a G5
• One of those losses was a home game where the opposing team scored 10 points.

[bearcatbret]

Ryan Day will be calling the offense tomorrow against Miami. It will be interesting to see if there are any changes from the B1G championship game.

[Jeff Burk]

What a great game. TCU beats USC in overtime . Some awesome plays by both teams/ First start for TCU QB

[London 'Cat]

The Illinois Tennessee game was also pretty good. I have to say that non-playoff bowls have been pretty good matchups for the most part. The playoff games not so much but those really start tonight and tomorrow.

[leo from jersey]

Ryan Day will be calling the offense tomorrow against Miami. It will be interesting to see if there are any changes from the B1G championship game.

He has his two great wrs healthy, but still has injuries at right guard. I believe he will open it up. The concern is how will he handle the red zone calls. Hartline wasn't so astute. The increase use of TE Klare adds a solid addition, but will they use the other guy who is a blocker to chip on the DEs of Miami. I can see 2 wrs & 2 TEs. They ran some 4 TEs sets towards the end of the year, but the WRs were hurt. Wrs 4 Porter is hurt and won't play.

[bearcatbret]

The SEC is now 2-6 in bowl games.
SEC Football Falls to 2-6 in 2025-26 Bowl Games

[bearcatbret]

There is still a chance (not likely) that that there will we be a TT vs Miami in the finals. That would mean no B1G or SEC in that game.

[bearcatbret]

Will one of my friends on here post the win-loss record for each of the power 4 conferences for the bowl games after the bowl season ends? I have to admit that I am too lazy to research.

[bearcatbret]

The ACC has another victory over a b1G. As Miami beats tosu.