In Reply to: What a Horrible Bowl Season lineup this year. posted by hotspot on December 12, 2025 at 09:23:11
even before the CFP emerged, the Toilet Bowls (ie, all except the elite tier of bowl games) were horribly compromised.
I remember in 2001 that Ucla chose to not accept an invitation to play a Bowl Game. That was 25 years ago. So the ambivalence about playing a game that nobody watches and running the risk of a career- or life-ending injury and having this exhibition game and the practice required interfere with finals and family life, etc. has been around forever.
These Toilet Bowls are lose/lose propositions all the way around.
If Ucla wins a Toilet Bowl, the players and coaches get NO credit. "You beat a bum. We're Ucla. You were SUPPOSED to win." This is the 2023 reaction.
If you lose...the offseason is a total shiitshow. Nothing but a bad taste in the mouth until next September.
Remember when sc lost to Tulane? I remember it quite fondly. Which tells you how suc fan felt about the event. And why there is nothing but downside when it comes to playing in a Toilet Bowl. (As one might imagine.)
We have the CFP now. That's enough. The ratings last year were phenomenal. Maybe one or two Toilet Bowls will live on to give those teams who landed just outside the CFP entry field to burn away the feeling of being passed over and to build some momentum in the minds of the committee members for next year.