Bowl game selection

[Matt from A700]

I know we currently have our sights set on a conference championship appearance, but of all the potential bowl games that CUSA has a tie-in for, which would you be most interested in being a part of? My thoughts are in green/red. After reading into all of the tie-in's, and examining the date/times, I am rooting for a spot in the Armed Forces Bowl!

Via https://collegefootballnews.com/2022/07/college-football-bowl-ties-affiliations-for-each-conference-2022-2023/5:

Conference USA doesn’t have a true pecking order. The bowls matchups are based on best possible matchups.

– Bahamas Bowl vs MAC (Friday, 12/16 @ 10:30 a.m on ESPN)
+ First game of bowl season
+ Destination for players
- TV slot for viewership
- Attendance

– EasyPost Hawaii Bowl vs Mountain West (Saturday, 12/24 @ 7:00 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Primetime TV slot
+ Destination for players
+ Likely name recognition opponent
- America likely watching something else, if they even have the TV on
- Attendance

– Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl vs American Athletic Conference (Thursday, 12/22 @ 6:30 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Local game
+ Date/time
+ Primetime TV slot
+ Attendance
+ Start up rivalry with American school early

– New Mexico Bowl vs Mountain West (Saturday, 12/17 @ 1:15 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Closeby
+ Date/time
- Graduation day

– R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl vs Sun Belt (Wednesday, 12/21 @ 8:00 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Destination for fans
+ Primetime TV slot
- Date/time
- Likely good opponent from alleged "inferior conference"

 

To be determined among the Group of Five conferences …

– Cure Bowl vs Group of Five or Army (Friday, 12/16 @ 2:00 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Destination for families
- TV slot for viewership
- Attendance
- Potential to play Army again

– RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl vs Group of Five (Tuesday, 12/20 @ 7:30 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Destination for everyone
+ Primetime TV slot
+ Range of possibilities for opponent
- Attendance

– SERVPRO First Responder Bowl vs Group of Five (Tuesday, 12/27 @ 2:15/5:45 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Local game
+ Attendance
- TV slot for viewership
- Date/time

– Frisco Bowl vs Group of Five (Saturday, 12/17 @ 8:15 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Local game
+ Primetime TV slot
+ Grow UNT footprint where new campus is being built
- Sour taste
- Graduation day

 

Conference USA has an affiliation to fill-in if needed …

– Camellia Bowl vs MAC or Sun Belt (Tuesday, 12/27 @ 11 a.m. on ESPN)
- TV slot for viewership
- Attendance
- Location
- Matchup interest

– Fenway Bowl vs ACC or American (Saturday, 12/17 @ 10 a.m. on ESPN)
+ Destination for everyone
+ Potential opponent
- TV slot for viewership
- Graduation day

– LendingTree Bowl vs MAC or Sun Belt (Saturday, 12/17 @ 4:45 p.m. on ESPN)
- TV slot for viewership
- Attendance
- Location
- Matchup interest

– TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl vs American or SEC (Tuesday, 12/27 @ 2:15/5:45 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Matchup interest
- TV slot for viewership
- Attendance
- Location

– Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl vs ACC, American, SEC (Friday, 12/23 @ TBD on ESPN)
+ Matchup interest
- TV slot for viewership
- Attendance

– Myrtle Beach Bowl vs American, MAC or Sun Belt (Monday, 12/19 @ 1:30 p.m. on ESPN)
+ Destination for everyone
- TV slot for viewership
- Attendance
- Date/time

[peanuts104]

We don't even know if we're going to a bowl game stop with this shit.

[VideoEagle]

It’s too early to pick which bowl we could end up playing in. The three games and then a possible fourth will determine our actual choices. 
 

I’m confused by some of the pros and cons listed. The Sun Belt is listed as perceived inferior yet one the the things many hate about CUSA is that “everyone” ranks the SBC over CUSA. It can’t be both! 

Edited October 31, 2022 by VideoEagle

[Glory to the Green]

Thanks for the breakdown. Selfishly, I’m all for a local bowl regardless of the opponent. Just want to see our team win.  

[DeepGreen]

It’s apparent that there are just not enough bowl games.

[Matt from A700]

9 hours ago, peanuts104 said:

We don't even know if we're going to a bowl game stop with this shit.

I will make sure to tag you when I bump this thread next weekend then!

[Coffee and TV]

Littrell thinking about all the bowl games he hasn't lost yet

[Matt from A700]

2 hours ago, VideoEagle said:

It’s too early to pick which bowl we could end up playing in. The three games and then a possible fourth will determine our actual choices. 
 

I’m confused by some of the pros and cons listed. The Sun Belt is listed as perceived inferior yet on the the things many hate about CUSA is that “everyone” ranks the SBC over CUSA. It can’t be both! 

The thought is we don't want to lose to a team in a conference we left for greener pastures. But I don't think many, including myself, would deny the SBC is a better football league now.

[southsideguy]

Not bowl related but we should have schedule Nebraska and got a big check to beat them.  they don't have a qb and it killing them and OU as well.

[rws69]

4 hours ago, southsideguy said:

Not bowl related but we should have schedule Nebraska and got a big check to beat them.  they don't have a qb and it killing them and OU as well.

Highly unlikely that Nebraska will be eligible this year.

[NT80]

8 hours ago, Glory to the Green said:

Thanks for the breakdown. Selfishly, I’m all for a local bowl regardless of the opponent. Just want to see our team win.  

I would suggest you skip the Bowl game then.   

[Mean Green 93-98]

8 hours ago, VideoEagle said:

I’m confused by some of the pros and cons listed. The Sun Belt is listed as perceived inferior yet one the the things many hate about CUSA is that “everyone” ranks the SBC over CUSA. It can’t be both! 

The point was evidently that we'll probably have to play a tough team that no one will understand how we could lose.  Whereas, if we ended up playing a mediocre Wisconsin or Florida team in a bowl game, everyone would be happy if we were even competitive, and winning would create a huge buzz.

Edited October 31, 2022 by Mean Green 93-98

[Matt from A700]

Hey @peanuts104, you up? 👀

[kingwoodgreen]

For me, a chance to beat the birds at their place will be my bowl game. San Antonio is as fun as most destinations and easy to get to for most fans. And revenge would be sweeter than beating a mac team..

[TheColonyEagle]

Would the conference champ get to choose?

[Pavlovs Eagle]

8 minutes ago, TheColonyEagle said:

Would the conference champ get to choose?

Technically you can be invited to more than one, but with ESPN essentially controlling many of them I think that really doesn't happen anymore.

[peanuts104]

3 hours ago, Matt from A700 said:

Hey @peanuts104, you up? 👀

Yes, now you can have your discussion. Continue.

[Matt from A700]

Looking back over this list, I am still hopeful for an Armed Forces Bowl since apparently Army will not be in the game, and I can attend. If the team wants to travel to a destination this time, they've earned it. Realistically, I'd only be able to attend the Armed Forces or Frisco Bowls. In the second tier of possibility, I'd place New Mexico and LendingTree (Mobile). Those are virtually the same distance from Fort Worth, but because of the New Mexico start time, only driving to Mobile would be realistic. Then in the third tier, the Fenway Bowl would be fun, and fiscally possible since Boston is a Delta hub.

Edited November 6, 2022 by Matt from A700

[wardly]

Our bowl options really depend on how our season ends. Best case we beat UAB,Rice, and UTSA finishing 9&4. Worst case we lose to UAB and UTSA, beat Rice, finishing 7 & 6. Because of out poor fan support at last years bowl game in Frisco I doubt we get a return invitation. Getting invited to a lower rung bowl no longer garnishes as much interest as it initially did. I attended the New Mexico bowl in Albuquerque when we were pounded by Utah State and was not impressed. It's played at the Lobo's stadium and felt just like a regular game to me. I have enjoyed both games in the Cotton Bowl which were well attended, and would love to play in Ft.Worth. To get to either game we probably need to at least split with UAB and Rice, and beat UTSA for an 8 & 5 season. Just an old man's opinion.

[untjim1995]

I actually think this will be SL’s year to break the streak and win a bowl game. He’s about to get his extension of 3-4 years and the pressure will be a lot less. This team plays hard for him, too.

I suspect that this is where the gorilla finally jumps off his back.

[Glory to the Green]

3 hours ago, Matt from A700 said:

Looking back over this list, I am still hopeful for an Armed Forces Bowl since apparently Army will not be in the game, and I can attend. If the team wants to travel to a destination this time, they've earned it. Realistically, I'd only be able to attend the Armed Forces or Frisco Bowls. In the second tier of possibility, I'd place New Mexico and LendingTree (Mobile). Those are virtually the same distance from Fort Worth, but because of the New Mexico start time, only driving to Mobile would be realistic. Then in the third tier, the Fenway Bowl would be fun, and fiscally possible since Boston is a Delta hub.

I kid…I kid. 😂😂😂

[Matt from A700]

18 minutes ago, Glory to the Green said:

I kid…I kid. 😂😂😂