As 12-team College Football Playoff era dawns, there’s still plenty to love about traditional bowls

You know we are getting close to the start of the college football season when CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm releases his first bowl projection. The rundown predicts the participants for all 41 FBS postseason games from the Camellia Bowl to the 12-team College Football Playoff. 

When running down the list, many fans may be asking themselves, “why should I care about the non-playoff bowl games?”

Even before the College Football Playoff expanded, there was plenty of hand-wringing when it came to college football’s bowl season. Some fans questioned whether bowls matter, thanks in large part to player opt-outs and the fact that a majority of the games have no bearing on national relevance or championship standing. 

Now, with the New Year’s Six bowls wrapped up in the 12-team CFP, many are wondering if traditional bowls have finally lost what remained of their luster. 

But no matter what anyone says, or what modern trends may suggest, bowls haven’t lost their spirit. There’s an argument to be made that they aren’t as meaningful, but to those with a championship-or-bust mindset, they never have been — and that’s never been what bowls are about. 

Bowl games are a celebration of college football. It’s extra, free football for fans to enjoy before the doldrums of spring and summer set in. Who cares what meaning may or may not be proscribed? 

There’s still plenty of magic during bowl season. There always has been, and there always will be. Though there’s no justification required for watching a football game, here are a few reasons you can still enjoy bowl games, whether they “matter” or not.  

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/as-12-team-college-football-playoff-era-dawns-theres-still-plenty-to-love-about-traditional-bowls/

Author : Will Backus

Publish date : 2024-08-15 18:02:04

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