From 1972-1974, Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines went 30-2-1, winning 10 games each season. They appeared in zero bowl games during that time as Ohio State claimed the Big Ten's lone bowl slot with wins in 1972 and 1974 and a favorable vote from the ADs after the tie in 1973. (what a shame... /s ).
Contrast that with the current bowl situation where 5-7 teams are filling bowl slots and the MAC sent 67% of it's conference and 100% of its six West Division teams to bowl games in 2021. Think about that...finish last in the MAC West; qualify for a bowl.
In 1996-97, there were 18 bowl games. Five seasons later, there were 25. For 2020 and beyond, the NCAA approved a possible expansion to as many as 86 teams in 44 postseason games, including the national championship. That means nearly two-thirds of all major-college football teams could earn a participation trophy in the form of a bowl berth. 41 of those 44 games were scheduled to air on ESPN/ABC this year. Fox had 1, CBS had 1, Barstool had 1.
The reason for more bowl games is clear: $$$. Not only does ESPN air 41 of 44 bowl games but they even own a great deal of those. For ESPN, a middling MAC squad vs. UAB or MTSU as a live sporting event is a more profitable opportunity than airing some talking heads or even a random college basketball game during that same time. The schools get a cut, the coaches get a bonus, and the sponsor gets advertising, so they sign up. Even if only 13k attend, the bowls are profit machines.
Bowl expansion didn't take place because it benefits the state of college football. It took place (and continues to take place) because it benefits the profit line at ESPN and Disney.
IMHO I'd like to see to a reduced bowl season where teams must have 8 or more FBS wins to qualify (winning 2/3 of their games). That said, I'm a hypocrite because I watched some of the LSU (6-6) vs K-State (7-5) game last night simply because it was on.
So what's your take? The more bowl games on TV the better? Or should qualifying mean something more?
