Our bowl win mattered plenty

You St. John's fans just hate seeing other programs get their moment in the sun.

You're right about the bowls losing their magic, but we're building something real in Corvallis that players want to stay for. Our guys play for the logo on the helmet, not just a postseason trip. That's how you keep tradition alive.

The portal and opt-outs are real, but dismissing bowl games ignores their value. Arizona's Alamo Bowl win over Oklahoma proved they're still critical for program momentum, finishing 10-3 with a top-15 SP+ ranking. That game cemented their identity before joining the Big 12 fr fr.

You're just bitter becasue your team hasn't been relevant enough to even worry about bowl opt-outs lately. The bowls still mean everything to the players who actually suit up and compete. Indiana and Texas Tech earned their spots with great seasons, and you want to disrespect that because the landscape changed? Adapt or get left behind. The portal and opt-outs are part of the game now, and the teams that manage it best are the ones who win. Maybe if your program ever made a decent bowl again, you'd understand that the tradition isn't gone, it's just different. The Rose Bowl still feels like the Rose Bowl when you're there, regardless of a few missing names. This nostalgic whining is just a cover for being scared of the new era where Concord and other forward-thinking programs thrive. The games still count, the trophies are still lifted, and the memories are still made. Stop living in the past and appreciate the sport for what it is today, or find another hobby.

our guys play for the rose bowl every year, and you'd know that if your team ever made it

our guys would kill for any bowl bid, and you know it

We'd kill for a bowl game

Bowl...

Bowl games still matter. Your team just never wins them.

You Bama folks wouldn't know, you've been skipping the Sugar Bowl for the playoff since they invented it

You know, I heard that same tired argument from a West Virginia fan at the diner just last week. Let me tell you something, son. The bowl games still mean everything to the programs that built their legacy in them. I was in Tempe for the 2004 Fiesta Bowl when Larry Fitzgerald nearly willed us past Utah, and that memory doesn't fade because some kid from Indiana enters the portal. You think Tony Dorsett's Heisman season was diminished because the Sugar Bowl was just an "exhibition"? That's the talk of someone whose team hasn't earned enough of those trips to understand the honor. We spent the entire 1976 season chasing that Sugar Bowl berth, and when we won it all, it cemented a legend. The tradition isn't gone, it's just been forgotten by fans of schools that treat every 6-6 season like a birthright to complain. The portal and opt-outs are a problem, I'll give you that, but the moment you stop caring about competing for a bowl trophy is the moment you surrender your program's soul. I still get chills thinking about Dan Marino slinging it in the Gator Bowl. If you think that's meaningless, you never undesrtood the game in the first place.

The portal and opt-outs are real, but dismissing all bowl games ignores their value. For programs like Bridgewater, a D-III bowl appearance is a massive achievement and a crucial developmental tool, with participation rates near 100%. It builds culture that lasts beyond any single player's departure.

Your team just misses the good old days because they can't win in the new era

Our spring game sold out Autzen, we're reloading for a title run, and you're worried about the portal?

You're just bitter because your program hasn't sniffed a meaningful bowl since the Reagan administration. We used to build for the Pioneer Bowl, and it meant everything. The kids who play for us now still treat it like a championship.

You're just bitter because your program can't even sniff a bowl game anymore. The portal and NIL are the new reality, and programs that adapt, like ours, are building for the future while yours is stuck in the past. Those early rankings show who's winning the offseason battles.

You're just bitter because your program can't handle the modern landscape. We embrace the new era at Stanford, where every game is a chance to build our brand and compete. The bowl games still matter to us, they're a showcase for our culture and a springboard for the next season. Maybe your team treats them like exhibitions because your players have one foot out the door. The tradition isn't gone, it's evolving, and we're leading that charge while others complain.

the portal and opt-outs have definitely changed bowl season, but those games still matter for programs building momentum. virginia tech's military bowl win last year gave them a 7-1 finish and a top-25 sp+ ranking to carry into the offseason.

You're just bitter because your program can't even sniff a bowl game anymore. Those early rankings show teams building through the portal, and if you can't adapt, you get left behind. The bowls still matter for momentum and proving your culture is strong enough to keep guys invested.

You're just mad because the Sugar Bowl is the only bowl you'll see after we beat you in the Iron Bowl

Florida State's Orange Bowl win over Georgia proved elite programs still prioritize major bowls, holding opponents to 3.2 yards per carry. The portal timeline is fixed now, so rosters are more stable for postseason play than this take suggests.

Vandy's bowl win MATTERED plenty

Our bowl win was huge for momentum

you're just bitter because your own program can't even sniff a bowl game anymore. the tradition isn't gone, your team's relevance is. bowl games still mean everything to the players who suit up, especially for programs building something. indiana and texas tech earned their spotts, something your squad wouldn't understand. the portal and opt-outs are just excuses for fans of mediocre teams who miss the old days because their present is so bleak. real programs use bowl games as a springboard, not a funeral. maybe if your team ever made one, you'd get it.

You're just mad because your program can't even sniff a decent bowl anymore. The bowls are fine, your team is the problem. Indiana and Texas Tech earned their spots with real seasons, something your squad wouldn't understand. The portal and opt-outs are part of the modern game, and winners adapt. The Sugar Bowl still means everything to the teams that are actually good enough to get there. Maybe if your coaches could keep players from transferring, you'd see that. The tradition isn't gone, it just passed you by while you were complaining. Great programs use bowl games as a springboard, not a funeral. Stop blaming the system for your own irrelevance.

You're just mad because your team hasn't been relevant in a bowl game in years. For a program like ours, every bowl appearance is a huge deal and a building block. The Zips fighting for a spot in Detroit or Mobile is the culmination of a season's work for our guys. Those games matter for development, for sending our seniors out right, and for the momentum they give us heading into the offseason. Maybe for the bloated programs it's an exhibition, but for the heart of college football, the bowl tradition is alive and well. We'll be proud to earn our spot and compete, no matter what some list says.

You're right about the bowl game atmosphere shifting, but dismissing teams like Indiana and Texas Tech misses their actual progress. Indiana's defense allowed just 4.8 yards per play last season, which was top 20 nationally, and Texas Tech's offense averaged over 30 points per game. The portal movement you mention actually makes early rankings more volatile, not less meaningful. For a program like UConn, building consistency to even reach bowl eligibility is the entire focus, and those games still represent a critical benchmark. The tradition isn't gone, it's just layered under new realities. Players have always pursued opportunities, now the timeline is just more public. The Huskies' 6-6 regular season would be celebrated because a bowl bid, any bowl, signifies program growth in the current ecosystem. Your point about opt-outs is valid for the playoff contenders, but for the majority of teams, a bowl game remains a tangible reward and a vital extra month of practice. The emotional core is still there for the players who suit up.

Bowl games are still a huge deal

Our bowl record says otherwise

LSU's 63-21 win over Purdue in the Citrus Bowl last season, with a 0.0% opt-out rate from key starters, proves elite programs still honor the stage.

You're right about the bowls, son. I remember when the Big Blues playing in the Pioneer Bowl was the capstone of a career, not a tryout for the transfer portal.

they can keep their tradition, we're building a championship program that reloads through the portal. while they're complaining, we're using the extra practices to develop the next wave of vols.

You're just mad because your team's bowl streak ended. The games still matter to the players who suit up.

Our guys would kill for a bowl bid, and you know it

The portal and opt-outs are a reality, but dismissing all bowl games ignores their value. For programs like Kean, a NJAC bowl bid is a massive achievement and a crucial developmental tool, with extra practices that directly build for next season. The tradition has evolved, but the opportunity hasn't diminished for the majority of teams.