Monday, the NCAA announced a process to determine which teams with losing records will be considered bowl eligible, including Nebraska and others.
Some teams with losing records are going to play in bowl games. That’s fine.
This year, 5-7 teams will be allowed into bowl games. Some say the sanctity of the bowl system is ruined. We say these people should shut up and enjoy the extra football.
There are currently 41 bowl games including the National Championship, meaning we need at least 80 teams. But this year, there will be at most 78 teams with records of .500 or better. And that’s if all three 5-6 teams win their final games. (That isn’t likely.)
This was going to happen eventually. There are 80 bowl slots and 128 FBS teams. That calls for 62.5 percent of teams to win half of their games. Even if we consider the fact that many teams pick up a win or two against FCS teams, it is difficult for 60 percent of teams to win 50 percent of their games.
Some would argue that allowing teams with losing records into bowl games ruins the sanctity of the bowl system. I argue that the bowl system didn’t have any sanctity to begin with.
Here is the crux of my argument: the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl mascot jumping up and down and waving its horrible potato arms.
Even if we believe college football is inherently meaningful, bowl games are inherently not meaningful.
With the exception of the games that directly effect the national championship -- so, 38 of the 41 games -- they are end-of-season games between teams from separate conferences.
Once upon a time, there were three or four bowl games, meant for college football’s true elite. But it turned out people really like bowl games.
Players like bowl games because it means a free trip, free swag and a final game with senior teammates. Coaches like bowl games because it can improve player morale and means extra practice time. Fans like bowl games because it’s an opportunity to travel. Bowl destinations like bowl games because they make money off them. TV networks like bowl games because they make money off them. Schools like bowl games because they make money off them (or don’t lose as much as you think).
So we made a bunch of bowl games. That doesn’t make them any more or less meaningful. They are still end-of-season games between teams from separate conferences, from the Rose Bowl down to the Camelia Bowl.
I know, I know. Those 5-7 teams didn’t EARN those trips.
Except, they kinda did.
These are college kids working very hard and generating revenue for their schools. They are paid in scholarships. A bowl appearance requires more work for zero extra dollars. They are paid for that overtime with a trip to a nice-ish place and a gift certificate to whichever department store sponsors that game.
The players happily do it. We should deprive them of that because they didn’t hit an arbitrary threshold for wins?
And I know, I know. Those 5-7 teams don’t DESERVE to call themselves champions of anything.
This argument is flawed because it presumes the 5-7 Independence Bowl champion is going to think it’s the best team in the world for winning the Independence Bowl. I can assure you it won’t. It’ll think it’s a 5-7 team that got to play in a bowl game and end its season on a happy note. HEAVEN FORBID college football players be happy.
If you’re upset about the idea of teams with losing records in bowl games, I urge you to get used to it. Because the trend is that bowl games are coming into existence at a faster rate than FBS teams are coming into existence.
Your objections will not stop bowl games from existing. The only thing that will stop bowl games from existing is if few enough people care that they lose money. That is not happening anytime soon.
Football is good, and bowl games -- even those with bad teams -- mean more football. If you do not want to watch more football, just don’t watch it. We’ll be over here enjoying more football.
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