An Already Bloated Bowl Schedule May Get Even Bigger

[MeanGreen61]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...owls/index.html

[Arkstfan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...owls/index.html

Based on the known data, 12 game seasons will produce enough teams to support 35 bowls. Adding WKU to the I-A mix in 2009 just firms that up.

The problem is that the NCAA rules on bowl certification are crap. As currently written if 40 groups want certification and they have the money in hand to post the required letter of credit the NCAA risks losing an anti-trust lawsuit if they aren't certified.

The certification process has to be changed and there has to be a rational basis for a limit. Putting the cap at the fewest number of bowl eligible teams the past 3, 4, or 5 years would be start.

Even that may not be sufficient, if the Elmer's Wing Shack Bowl is paying out a total of $750,000 per school but is bowl #35, denying certification to Moose Lodge Bingo Bowl that is willing to pay $775,000 per team and can demonstrate the resources to do it, may well be an anti-trust issue as well.

The system really has to be rethought. Though I'll add that the NCAA was obviously one bowl short last year when 6-6 teams went and an 8-4 stayed home.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

Since we are not going to have a playoff system anytime in the near future, and since the bowls are already watered down, I think we should have enough bowl games so that every D-1A team can play in one.

[UNTflyer]

I think they should raise it to a 7-win minimum or conference championship to qualify for a bowl game.

[Arkstfan]

I think they should raise it to a 7-win minimum or conference championship to qualify for a bowl game.

The final rule in the NCAA for I-A football comes down to one president from each conference. Which president is going to stand up and say, I want to absolutely bar a 6-6 team from my conference from going to a bowl? Which five are going to join him or her in that declaration?