Bowl Games Featuring Winless Teams? NCAA Looking To Waive Bowl Requirements
Sep 25, 2020, 1:05 PM | Updated: 1:20 pm
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: A general view of the stadium as the sun sets as the Oregon Ducks play the Wisconsin Badgers during the fourth quarter in the Rose Bowl game presented by Northwestern Mutual at Rose Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – How does a college football bowl game in late December between an 0-10 SEC team and a 3-7 Big 12 team sound? You probably haven’t asked for that before, but 2020 keeps on giving the craziness we never expected to see.
The NCAA’s Division I Football Oversight Committee has recommended waiving all requirements for bowl eligibility for the 2020-21 bowl season.
The Division I Football Oversight Committee recommended waiving the requirements for bowl eligibility for the 2020-21 bowl season Thursday: https://t.co/CrlbzcFA1U pic.twitter.com/r4QODvxU3u
— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) September 24, 2020
In a typical college football season, to qualify for a bowl game, a team must have a .500 overall record against opponents within the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). With these recommendations brought up by the Oversight Committee, that requirement wouldn’t be applicable this fall.
The Oversight Committee earlier this year changed a rule that teams could play two FCS teams instead of one and still qualify for a bowl game.
Bowl Games in 2020
A total of 38 bowl games are lined up throughout the holiday season this year. That’s 76 teams. Conference tie-ins to certain bowl games will remain intact. But we could see some craziness this year with how bowls pick the teams.
Instead of seeking the most deserving teams, we might see a scenario where bowl committees pick the programs with the biggest brands. This sport is outstanding in any year, but 2020 is just making this one for the record books.
All Power 5 conferences are officially back on track to playing football this fall. With Group of 5 leagues such as the Mountain West Conference joining the mix as well.
The Oversight Committee’s recommendation will require approval by the NCAA’s Division I Council, which will meet to discuss the waiver on October 13th and 14th. According to the NCAA’s press release, “The recommendation recognizes the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020-21 playing season.”
NEWS: The College Football Playoff has announced schedule changes to the 2020-21 season.
More: https://t.co/lzq4YxFXi4
🏈🏆#CFBPlayoff #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/og4fAGxDst
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) August 5, 2020
The College Football Playoff committee will still select the New Year’s Six bowl games. Selection day for the Playoff and the bowl season takes place on Sunday, December 20th.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
