Bowl games are a huge part of the College Football season. They are a great opportunity for teams to get in some extra practice time before the playoffs and a chance to see how players have developed. They are also a fun way to celebrate the end of the regular season and provide some entertainment for fans.
The bowl season is usually held around the New Year, and historically has been a time when warm weather and easy travel were important factors in hosting these events. However, with the advent of commercial air travel, these events can be scheduled anywhere in the country to make them more accessible to viewers.
Some of these games can be entertaining, but others are not as much. There are several things to consider when evaluating a bowl game, including its location, the players who will be playing, and its historical significance.
Geographic location
One of the biggest problems with bowl games is that they are often played in states that are far away from where the teams are based. It is especially difficult for fans to attend a game when they are so far from their homes. This is why many of the non-New Year’s bowls are now being hosted in neutral sites.
History
As the bowl game season has grown in size and importance, it has also become a source of controversy. Some people believe that these events are a waste of time, while others are more enthusiastic about them. Some even argue that these events have a positive impact on the college football landscape.
Regardless of how you feel about the future of these events, it is still important to understand the reasons why they exist and what they do for the College Football community as a whole. For example, many college football programs have been able to bolster their reputations through the exposure and popularity of these games.
In addition, many schools are able to improve their facilities and recruit more students by participating in these games. A successful bowl season can also help a school’s athletic department raise funds to support their programs.
It can also increase the overall morale of the student body and boost the school’s academic reputation. These benefits can be hard to quantify, but they can certainly be felt by many students and coaches.
The NCAA does not set a minimum number of wins for teams to be eligible for bowls. Previously, teams had to have a minimum 5-7 record to receive a bowl bid, but that rule was changed in 2010.
A team’s record is no longer the sole factor in determining a team’s eligibility for a bowl. Now, a team’s four-year football Academic Progress Rate (APR) is the most important factor.
Another factor that may determine a team’s bowl eligibility is whether it has won its conference championship or not. Some conferences have special selection parameters written into their contracts with specific bowls that require a team to have won its division. This can be a great way to help a smaller school get to a bigger bowl game.