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Bowl games mean nothing… except national embarrassment
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:16 am
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:16 am
Bowl games mean nothing, yet for 3 1/2 hours in the days following Christmas your team is playing the only game on national TV broadcast to millions against a highly motivated opponent. You’re the only game in town while families sit together and watch. Yet you have half a team.
“It just means nothing.”
It’s not a good look. Not for the school or the conference. It’s terrible for the brands of each. You get put in the spotlight to be embarrassed. If you win no one gives a shite. You will likely lose because you have a shell of a team. The team you played (now in a P4 due to expansion with big pockets and in your own backyard) will use it in recruiting. The Capital One Cup will be shown on every game as the SEC getting its arse beat. Social media laughs it up etc etc.
It’s a no win situation and Notre Dame opting out should be the norm for teams who stand to gain nothing from bowl season.
“It just means nothing.”
It’s not a good look. Not for the school or the conference. It’s terrible for the brands of each. You get put in the spotlight to be embarrassed. If you win no one gives a shite. You will likely lose because you have a shell of a team. The team you played (now in a P4 due to expansion with big pockets and in your own backyard) will use it in recruiting. The Capital One Cup will be shown on every game as the SEC getting its arse beat. Social media laughs it up etc etc.
It’s a no win situation and Notre Dame opting out should be the norm for teams who stand to gain nothing from bowl season.
16
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:17 am to Mohican
Sorry your team lost
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:19 am to Mohican
Lane even left before it was over
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:20 am to Mohican
quote:
you have half a team.
It doesn't have to be that way if you have players loyal to the program. UGA and FSU both had successful seasons in 2023 and both got stiffed for a playoff spot. They should have had the same amount of motivation. FSU had a bunch of opt outs, but almost all of our team showed up for the bowl game and we proceeded to mop the floor with the Noles.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:21 am to Mohican
Some schools seem to have a lot more opt outs than others, no matter the scenario.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:26 am to Darindawg
quote:
It doesn't have to be that way if you have players loyal to the program. UGA and FSU both had successful seasons in 2023 and both got stiffed for a playoff spot. They should have had the same amount of motivation. FSU had a bunch of opt outs, but almost all of our team showed up for the bowl game and we proceeded to mop the floor with the Noles.
That’s a nice story, but that’s all it is. We were just starting along in this new era. Those Georgia players played in a meaningless game and risked injury.
And the point stands because we didn’t see the real FSU team play. That FSU team with that defensive line would’ve given Georgia all it could handle. FSU should’ve opted out of the game altogether.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:30 am to Mohican
LSUer talk
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:30 am to Night Vision
quote:
Some schools seem to have a lot more opt outs than others, no matter the scenario.
Mizzou had 11 opt outs. Hopefuly the opt-outers won't feel remorseful.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:32 am to Mohican
Now not only LSU players but even their fans have started opting out.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:33 am to Mohican
So ...
Don't play Bama
Leave the SEC
Don't play Bowl Games
Be like Notre Dame
Doesn't sound like a winning strategy to me
Are you proposing LSU should only play games that it will always win?
Seriously, I hope you don't do this IRL.
Don't play Bama
Leave the SEC
Don't play Bowl Games
Be like Notre Dame
Doesn't sound like a winning strategy to me
Are you proposing LSU should only play games that it will always win?
Seriously, I hope you don't do this IRL.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:37 am to Mohican
quote:
national embarrassment
Louisiana rankings
Crime & Corrections #50
Economy #50
Education #46
Fiscal Stability #46
Health Care #44
Infrastructure #48
Natural Environment #49
Opportunity #46
losing a meaningless bowl game: national embarrassment! you people need help, badly
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:38 am to Mohican
quote:
against a highly motivated opponent.
If the bowl game means enough to motivate the opponent then why doesn’t it motivate your team?
Posted on 12/28/25 at 7:41 am to Mohican
quote:
only game in town while families sit together and watch. Yet you have half a team.
It was Houston. I can only imagine how important a bowl game loss would be if it were any other SEC team that lost
Posted on 12/28/25 at 8:31 am to Mohican
yada, yada, yada
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:30 am to Mohican
That is a program culture problem when late round and UFA prospects opt out. It is understandable for a 1st round projected player to opt out. The problem with programs like LSU is that to many players just don’t give a shite. A good head coach with a good staff that develops talent and leaders from the bottom up show up prepared, even if missing a couple of their best players. LSU has been infested with Blight and it will only get worse with Kiffin as the HC.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:34 am to Mohican
quote:
against a highly motivated opponent.
Your team can't be the highly motivated one? Sounds like a football culture problem.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:47 am to Darindawg
Georgia had a case in 2023. Florida State was a 13–0 power five conference champion and got shafted. "Just win" is the mantra. Take matters into your own hands and you don't have to worry about chaos or another team losing. Well, they won 13 out of 13 games and got treated like they were a G5. I don't really disagree with your point, because Georgia DID show up when they had every reason not to, but a team like 2025 Notre Dame is boycotting a bowl because they're a bunch of prima donnas. 2023 FSU may have had prima donnas, but they needed to stand up for themselves too.
We all saw it coming when you had four playoff spots with five major conferences. There was going to be a year when the top team of each conference was firing on all cylinders and someone was going to get left out because the NCAA needs an EpiPen every time the concept of being proactive and thinking ahead are presented. I'm just shocked it took a whole decade.
We all saw it coming when you had four playoff spots with five major conferences. There was going to be a year when the top team of each conference was firing on all cylinders and someone was going to get left out because the NCAA needs an EpiPen every time the concept of being proactive and thinking ahead are presented. I'm just shocked it took a whole decade.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:51 am to Mohican
It is sad and even more so today, that players are being PAID to play college football and yet some of them quit their team before the season is over. Bowl games do matter because any real football player will suit up and play for his team and teammates and school. The game counts.
NIL needs to be reconstructed into a bonus fully paid after the season has been completed. Period. Nothing before the season is complete. Barring injury every player must suit up for EVERY GAME.
NIL needs to be reconstructed into a bonus fully paid after the season has been completed. Period. Nothing before the season is complete. Barring injury every player must suit up for EVERY GAME.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:59 am to Godawgs4
quote:
The game counts.
This won’t be the case in a few years. The continued opt outs will cause a huge push from schools to petition the NCAA to not officially keep record of these games. Exhibition status
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:59 am to Mohican
Put your big boy pants on and win
No one to blame but ourselves
LSU has every advantage over a school like Houston (Cougar High). Your backups should be better than Houston’s starters
Virginia had a good year, but we made our own mistakes that’s why we lost. We had players out so did they. Drink lost the game for us
No one to blame but ourselves
LSU has every advantage over a school like Houston (Cougar High). Your backups should be better than Houston’s starters
Virginia had a good year, but we made our own mistakes that’s why we lost. We had players out so did they. Drink lost the game for us
This post was edited on 12/28/25 at 10:00 am
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