ISU Bowl Projection

[CoachHines3]

Obviously I'd prefer 10 wins, a conference title, and the playoff berth that comes with those.

I'm just lamenting the playoff as a whole, and I know there's no going back. I'd greatly prefer 10 wins, a conference title, and a Sugar Bowl appearance.

Right, you could win 10 games and not sniff (what they used to call) a new years 6 bowl.

You go 10-3, losing the Conf. Title game and you goto the alamo bowl. Just seems... bleh.

Now, in part, I understand this is the way because of the way the playoff is set up and that is a whole other conversation.

That's why I still think, as dumb as it might be, that 14/16 teams with 2 auto qualifiers for the Big 12 is going to happen. Big 10/SEC will get 4. ACC with 2

 

[Marcelason78]

The narrative after last year’s embarrassing Liberty Bowl loss was that it’s fine because bowl games don’t matter. So, I guess that’s where we are.

I thought the laughable CF take was that the Memphis debacle didn’t matter because the coaching staff was busy retaining players.

 

[NWICY]

if we don't get it together ,no bowl

7 wins we're going bowling

 

[StPaulCyclone]

I agree with all you're saying, but you're missing one big factor, in my opinion:

Let's say we do make the playoff. Not necessarily this year, but any year. Then what? Hang a banner for making it, because we have no shot of pulling off 3 significant consecutive upsets (or 4 without a bye). An Incredibly amazing season will never be able to end with a win again. Ever.

I feel like a broken record, but pretending every team should be striving for a natty is stupid.

for all but the handful of true contenders the playoff is the new NY6 bowl goal/reward for teams

 

[CySmurf]

I wonder how many more players will opt out of bowl games that aren't part of the college football playoff now...

 

[IceCyIce]

Will be interesting to find out. I would look for hihg level running backs to opt out for sure.

 

[Cyclone06]

I wonder how many more players will opt out of bowl games that aren't part of the college football playoff now...

There will be a record number of player and fan opt outs.

 

[Cyclonsin]

There will be a record number of player and fan opt outs.

I was a big defender of bowl games and the value they provide to teams/fans as a reward for a successful season until this most recent Liberty Bowl. You'll never be able to convince me the coaching staff and players fully cared about that game, and if they aren't bought in why should I be? Frankly, it kind of broke my heart.

 

[Messi]

the 12 team playoff is a good thing for ISU
but its going to suck if ISU goes like10-3 (loss in conf champ) and is playing in the freaking pop tarts bowl

in old format we'd be in NY6 bowl

 

[Kettes]

Why do I get the feeling that, no matter how the rest of the season shakes out, we will be playing Memphis???

 

[werdnamanhill]

Why do I get the feeling that, no matter how the rest of the season shakes out, we will be playing Memphis???

You cannot escape destiny

 

[nrg4isu]

I was a big defender of bowl games and the value they provide to teams/fans as a reward for a successful season until this most recent Liberty Bowl. You'll never be able to convince me the coaching staff and players fully cared about that game, and if they aren't bought in why should I be? Frankly, it kind of broke my heart.

100% this. I will not be attending bowl games in the foreseeable future. I agree that what I saw on the field that day was one team that cared and another that did not. To me Bowl games are just extra practices.

 

[JP4CY]

I was ALWAYS a bowl "go-er."
I have to admit the new format will be less desirable if you're not in the playoffs. I'd go back to Alamo, maybe.......Orlando if you want to tie in a family holiday vacation but other than that it's slim pickings.

 

[Big_Sill]

Said it in other threads: I’ll watch from my couch and cheer, but I’m not packing the kids and family up to travel to a non CFP bowl game anymore.

 

[Clonefan32]

the 12 team playoff is a good thing for ISU
but its going to suck if ISU goes like10-3 (loss in conf champ) and is playing in the freaking pop tarts bowl

in old format we'd be in NY6 bowl

I think this is a massive issue that CFB is going to have to figure out. With the 12 team playoff and a totally meaningless bowl games, you have 90% of the CFB teams playing meaningless football right now. In prior years, as you've mentioned you were still fighting to get to a better bowl game. Now, it's just totally "meh".

 

[twojman]

I think this is a massive issue that CFB is going to have to figure out. With the 12 team playoff and a totally meaningless bowl games, you have 90% of the CFB teams playing meaningless football right now. In prior years, as you've mentioned you were still fighting to get to a better bowl game. Now, it's just totally "meh".

How many teams with 3-4 losses are really 'fighting' for a better bowl game anyways over the last 10-20 years anyway? Blue bloods weren't. Teams like Iowa State? Yeah, probably if they haven't been to a good bowl in awhile. A team like Okie St, they gonna fight harder to go 8-4 instead of 7-5?
I'll say fans wanted it. Teams probably gave lip service but in the grand scheme, doesn't matter.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

How many teams with 3-4 losses are really 'fighting' for a better bowl game anyways over the last 10-20 years anyway? Blue bloods weren't. Teams like Iowa State? Yeah, probably if they haven't been to a good bowl in awhile. A team like Okie St, they gonna fight harder to go 8-4 instead of 7-5?
I'll say fans wanted it. Teams probably gave lip service but in the grand scheme, doesn't matter.

Exactly this. There have only ever been 5-6 bowl games that matter, everything else was meaningless and always was meaningless. The cool part was possibly playing teams you rarely played but then their was always the excuse either way that the team wasn’t taking it seriously.

Honestly the 12 team keeps more teams engaged as those in the 12-20 range are still hoping to get into something that really matters

 

[AlaCyclone]

I have literally been a Bowl Wh0re for most of my life! I have been to 44 all-time, Major and Small (including 4 ISU Bowls). Never met one I did not like. I've always enjoyed them all, but I have already taken a step back. The last one I attended was the Alabama vs. Cincinnati Cotton Bowl in 2021.

I have always loved the Citrus Bowl (1993, 2011, 2020), which has been a solid match-up most years since the SEC-B1G tie-up, but this year it is going to be a very talented SEC team like Georgia, Tennessee or Alabama with the red ass that just misses the CFP against a Big Farce team like Illinois or Iowa. Even with opt outs, the SEC team will destroy the 5th best Big Farce team. It's these just below the BCS, NY6, CFP historically solid Bowls that will totally lose any luster at all: Citrus, Sun, Gator, Holiday, etc.

That being said, I might hop to one of the CFP Bowls when I have a chance and might go to a smaller Bowl if in the neighborhood when played, but I have no interest in following ISU to a non-CFP Bowl. What was once fun is now Downer City. My last ISU Bowl was the 2017 Liberty Bowl win over Memphis, after seeing them lose in the 1978 Hall of Fame Classic to Texas A&M, 2001 Independence Bowl vs. Alabama and 2012 Liberty Bowl vs. Tulsa.

As for ISU this year, I hope that they can fix what is currently off track and can land in a Bowl Game vs. another P4 team, and I will watch it at home on TV.

Perhaps the smaller Bowls like the Camellia Bowl (which I have gone to twice and enjoyed) between MAC and Sun Belt teams will still be fun?

 

[SolarGarlic]

Yeah but the issue is unlike basketball most of those teams outside the top 12 and even some within have zero chance of actually winning. Just because the playoffs expanded doesn’t change the fact that each season only 4-5 teams are actually good enough to lift the trophy.

Winning the whole thing? Because it's the same thing in basketball. Just because a 15 seed can't win the national championship doesn't make it less special when they beat a 2 seed. I understand there are more teams capable of winning the whole thing in basketball, but the point stands. Having a chance is a hell of a lot better than a committee telling us who they think should win.

 

[SolarGarlic]

We have seen double digit seeds make it to the championship game though in basketball, that’s why it is different. You can have a Mercer beating Duke or a 16 seed upsetting a 1 seed. In a football post season that just isn’t happening due to the staggering talent difference. Rutgers isn’t rising up and beating Texas.

But yeah totally agree with the legit options you posted.

It wouldn't be Rutgers. It would be a really good and senior-laden G5 team, who we've seen beat top P5 teams in bowl games. You can't just say "it isn't happening". There is a huge talent difference between a 2 seed and a 15 seed in basketball. But it's happened. It's lazy to just dismiss every team because Vegas or whatever.