https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb ... spartandhpGood example of what happens with a lot of bowl games. Utah was a strong team this season, probably one of their best ever and ranked one spot ahead of Oklahoma prior to their conference championship game with Oregon. If they'd won, they would have gone to the Peach Bowl. Instead, the loss put them in a third-tier bowl game, the "nobody remembers the Alamo bowl. " It's one of those Texas bowl games designed to give consolation prizes to the big-name Texas schools when they don't meet expectations. The Longhorns are way past the end of their fans' patience and since they don't have a game with A&M anymore to redeem a bad season and they lost to Baylor they needed a bowl win. I feel sorry for Utah's coach who is a great guy and an excellent coach who has done wonders with the program, and for thousands of their fans who made the trip.
On the other hand, the "Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl" (one of the few that retains its original name) between Florida State and Arizona State was an outstanding game. Both of those schools have hit the skids and have new coaches who want to return to their glory days. I don't know about FSU, but ASU had several senior starters, including a pass receiver and conference leading rusher, lay out because of pro-considerations but their young players saw a chance to step up and they did. It was an intense defensive battle, great game to watch.
I still say a playoff, eight teams, three consecutive Saturdays after the season with a championship on New Years Day is the way to go, but all that bowl money would dry up and that's the driving force in college football now. Friday nights have become my weekend recreational venue.