Bowl games not only irrelevant now, but horribly named

[TNBama]

Has anyone noticed that the less relevant bowl games have become, the more ridiculous the names are?
Some examples:
Bucked Up LA Bowl
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
68 Ventures Bowl
GameAbove Sports Bowl

Like the rest of the sport, money (sponsors in this case) is ruining it.

 

[rolltide_21]

Here’s a list of sponsors/logos. I’m waiting on the Dollar General Bowl that will be played at Troy’s stadium. It’s coming. And I hope Auburn gets the first invite. Talk about an awesome swag bag full of DG merch. The Clover Valley snacks hit different.

2025-26 Bowl Schedule - Coca-Cola Bowl Season

The official 2025-26 Bowl schedule for the Coca-Cola Bowl Season N/A

bowlseason.com

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Bowl games have had sponsored names for decades. They are just getting weirder.

 

[22Musso22]

Here’s a list of sponsors/logos. I’m waiting on the Dollar General Bowl that will be played at Troy’s stadium. It’s coming. And I hope Auburn gets the first invite.

Auburn isn't even good enough to make a bowl, much less The Dollar General Bowl!!!!!!!

 

[bamaga]

Bowl games have had sponsored names for decades. They are just getting weirder.

Every older person remembers the shock of the Poulan Weedeater bowl.

 

[arthurdawg]

Every older person remembers the shock of the Poulan Weedeater bowl.

I remember the shock of barely beating Iowa State in it... Whew... Those were terrible football days!

 

[Toddrn]

Why is TNT broadcasting playoff games? I thought ABC/ESPN had a lock on these games.

 

[BamaMoon]

I saw this morning that App State has accepted an invite to the B'ham Bowl even though they only won 5 games.

So what's the deal with all these teams...even AU who had a chance to go play NOT accepting these bowl invites??? I know AU just hired a new coach, but this gives them a few weeks of practice with him. It's almost like a free Spring practice with a bonus game at the end.

To me, it doesn't make any sense!

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Bowl games have had sponsored names for decades. They are just getting weirder.

What's so bizarre - again - is this was the direct result of us being able to watch ALL OF THE GAMES on television instead of "your team can only appear five times in two years."

When SCOTUS ruled in 1984 that the NZAA was restricting commerce, it flooded the market with football games that resulted in a sudden elevator drop of the value of the games, the commercial ad time (there were now too many alternatives), and while other sports saw skyrocketing rights fees, college football collapsed inward. That one decision caused several things, including:

1) the creation of systems like Tide Pride, where rather than buy tickets, you buy a spot in line for tickets and THEN pay for them
2) the bowls needing an infusion of money from corporate America

Seriously, what caused this whole thing in the end was CBS (IIRC) absolutely refused to refer to the game as the John Hancock Sun Bowl, and its contract came up for renewal. John Hancock Life Insurance told them, "You change the name of the game or find another sponsor," and the Sun Bowl - mind you, the second oldest bowl game (behind the Rose) - had to say, "Yessir, yessir, three bags full of money."

And that opened the floodgates to crap we look at now like the Micron PC bowl, the Foster Farms Bowl, etc.

Can you imagine 50 years from now when people don't exactly know why it was called the Blockbuster Bowl?

 

[Cruloc]

Why is TNT broadcasting playoff games? I thought ABC/ESPN had a lock on these games.

It's also on HBO max. They paid to get the two worst rated games.

 

[Cruloc]

I saw this morning that App State has accepted an invite to the B'ham Bowl even though they only won 5 games.

So what's the deal with all these teams...even AU who had a chance to go play NOT accepting these bowl invites??? I know AU just hired a new coach, but this gives them a few weeks of practice with him. It's almost like a free Spring practice with a bonus game at the end.

To me, it doesn't make any sense!

Some teams may not have enough players after transfers. See Marshall last year or year before when their coach said they didnt have enough to go to a bowl.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Birmingham Bowl finally has its matchup. 6-6 Georgia Southern will play 5-7 Appalachian State. For those that don't know, these 2 teams are in the same conference and same division.

 

[The Ols]

Some teams may not have enough players after transfers. See Marshall last year or year before when their coach said they didnt have enough to go to a bowl.

This…after your “season’s over” you have your interviews, etc, and you go drink beer and hunt and fish…you don’t stay in game shape.

 

[dtgreg]

Some teams may not have enough players after transfers. See Marshall last year or year before when their coach said they didnt have enough to go to a bowl.

THIS. Goulash is probably wanting/having to bring in a totally new crop of players.

 

[rolltide_21]

Every older person remembers the shock of the Poulan Weedeater bowl.

The Barn vs. Army in a close one.

 

[BamaMoon]

Birmingham Bowl finally has its matchup. 6-6 Georgia Southern will play 5-7 Appalachian State. For those that don't know, these 2 teams are in the same conference and same division.

They are big rivals too!

 

[cdub55]

Awbarn is playing in the International Builders Home Bowl once again this year. Best of luck to our friends from West Georgia!

 

[davefrat]

 

[Power Eye]

There are probably only two nonplayoff bowl games that I care about watching. I will watch the Pop Tarts Bowl because it's the Pop Tarts Bowl and it is fantastic. I will also watch the Citrus Bowl with Michigan and Texas. Beyond that, I have no interest in the other bowl games. I don't know how most of these bowls are making money, and if they aren't, then what's the point?

 

[Its On A Slab]

I wonder if the days of plethora bowl games will be coming to an end. So many 6-6/7-5 and even 8-4 teams opting out this year. Mississippi State is going bowling because of this....and they had a horrible year.

I am old enough to remember when a bowl game was deemed a reward for a good season. Not, hey we finished at .500, so what crappy bowl in the middle of the week at 2PM are we going to go to?