For the Majority Who Want Fewer Bowl Games, It is Happening Right Now

[The-Hack]

Last year we had 44 bowl games plus playoff games.

This year we have 36 and the playoffs.

I suspect this will continue to contract until there are maybe 20ish bowls outside of the playoffs, and half of those devoted to G5 type teams.

When they expand to a 16 team playoff, likely the Citrus, Sun, Gator and Reliaquest try to jump
into that fray.

[Pete Hogwallop]

Why would anyone want less bowl games? That makes no sense.

I doubt the majority of people want less. It's a big letdown to me when college football ends every year. There are barely any sports left watching at that point.

[Jaxcat]

Why would anyone want less bowl games? That makes no sense.

I doubt the majority of people want less. It's a big letdown to me when college football ends every year. There are barely any sports left watching at that point.

At least in my case, several/many of the bowl games match 2 teams that I wouldn't walk across the street to watch. If I haven't followed them at all during the regular season and know next to nothing about their team, why would I spend 3-1/2+ hours watching them in a completely meaningless bowl? I think you could look at the viewership of all the bowl games and quickly come to the conclusion that the majority do, in fact, want fewer bowl games. The other side of the argument is also valid - just because very few people watch a particular game, what does it hurt to hold it anyway? I guess having so many forgettable bowl games makes the whole 'bowl game' mystique meaningless. When there were 20 bowl games total, it actually meant something to make bowl (in the once-a-decade that UK would actually qualify). Now, as at least 2 bowls have shown, you don't even have to win half your games to 'go bowling'. So, what does a 'bowl' really mean? Not much.

I do agree with you that there are fewer and fewer sports/events that I care to watch. Baseball - nope. NBA - no. CBB - very limited. NFL - some. Soccer - never. Golf - maybe the last 2 hours of a major if it's close. Hockey - never. Olympics - never. Boxing/UFC - never. Tennis - quite a bit as I play 2+ times a week. Horse racing - I watch the Derby about once every 3 years and that's it.

[Pete Hogwallop]

We have about the same sports viewing habits.

[Davidmack]

All the playoff games should be at Bowl venues instead of teams playing at home.

[fastkat]

College Football is my favorite sport. I love all the bowl games, these "meaningless" bowl games aren't meaningless to everyone. Since I quit working I watch most of the bowl games. Last year was an exception but a lot of the lesser bowls have the best match ups. They are not meaningless to the young men playing in them, you don't see players opting out. It's the last chance some of them have to show that they can play on Sundays and for the rest it's the last time they get to play the game they love.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I don't care how many bowls there are I just want to be in one of them

[Pobilly]

Football landscape is changing more and more. It is evolving into the model of the lower divisions. Yes there will probably be several bowl games beyond the playoffs. ESPN will always want to find more reasons to try and make another buck. I think we will see more teams opt out only if they were left out of the playoff picture and actually believe they should have been there or if the seniors on said team decide not to participate. If we continue to see 5-7 teams in those games then interest will wain, not everyone (always hardcore football fans), but how many fans want to go to their teams 5-7 team to see if they go 6-7 or 5-8. Not sure many.

Maybe you will see the playoff and in association with the playoff you will see the futures games where you have an 8 team field of young teams that show promise to give them a hands up on next years season. Playoff part 2. 3 round playoff. Maybe give some 5-7 teams a chance at a winning season.

[Matt Dillon]

College Football is my favorite sport. I love all the bowl games, these "meaningless" bowl games aren't meaningless to everyone. Since I quit working I watch most of the bowl games. Last year was an exception but a lot of the lesser bowls have the best match ups. They are not meaningless to the young men playing in them, you don't see players opting out. It's the last chance some of them have to show that they can play on Sundays and for the rest it's the last time they get to play the game they love.

Spot on in my opinion.

[Matt Dillon]

I don't care how many bowls there are I just want to be in one of them

Same here.

[Matt Dillon]

Football landscape is changing more and more. It is evolving into the model of the lower divisions. Yes there will probably be several bowl games beyond the playoffs. ESPN will always want to find more reasons to try and make another buck. I think we will see more teams opt out only if they were left out of the playoff picture and actually believe they should have been there or if the seniors on said team decide not to participate. If we continue to see 5-7 teams in those games then interest will wain, not everyone (always hardcore football fans), but how many fans want to go to their teams 5-7 team to see if they go 6-7 or 5-8. Not sure many.

Maybe you will see the playoff and in association with the playoff you will see the futures games where you have an 8 team field of young teams that show promise to give them a hands up on next years season. Playoff part 2. 3 round playoff. Maybe give some 5-7 teams a chance at a winning season.

I'm definitely hardcore when it comes to UK. I would watch a 5-7 UK team play in a lower tier bowl.

[Matt Dillon]

My interest in having a lot of bowl games is it gives my beloved Cats a better opportunity to play in one.

[Pobilly]

I'm definitely hardcore when it comes to UK. I would watch a 5-7 UK team play in a lower tier bowl.

Now that Stoops is gone I would as well. I just think as we age, out kids or grandkids are fewer and fewer. We will die with sports at least as far as watching the 35 and below in my world. I have 3 kids, 1 follows from a far and the other 2 (one which wrestled and played high school football all the way to championship game) do not follow any sport what so ever. That is a 35 year old, a 31 year old and a 28 year old. The 31 is the one that follows from a far. My bothers kids 44 and 46 neither follow sports, one actually wears UK gear if we are all over at my brothers watching a game together. My sisters 2 kids about the same age as my oldest 2 do not follow any college and 1 follows only nfl and mlb. All but one of those people live in lexington. My oldest got her doctorate from CMU (Central Michigan) and married a guy up there and loves Michigan. Will not be back. Maybe for a visit. She is a driven woman and works nonstop.

[Los Gatos]

Why would anyone want less bowl games? That makes no sense.

I doubt the majority of people want less. It's a big letdown to me when college football ends every year. There are barely any sports left watching at that point.

Interesting thread, interesting comment. When I first saw the title my thought was "yea, we have too many bowl games". After thinking about it however, I realiszd i don't care one way or the other. While I have very little to no interest in these game, if others want them let them continue.

[bthaunert]

Last year we had 44 bowl games plus playoff games.

This year we have 36 and the playoffs.

I suspect this will continue to contract until there are maybe 20ish bowls outside of the playoffs, and half of those devoted to G5 type teams.

When they expand to a 16 team playoff, likely the Citrus, Sun, Gator and Reliaquest try to jump
into that fray.

Hack, I'm not sure where you got your info, but it's incorrect. There were 46 games last year and there are 46 this year

2024-25 Season
11 CFP games
35 non CFP bowl games

2025-26 Season
11 CFP games
35 non CFP bowl games