Here is an article from USA Today on the impact ESPN and the Playoff have had on bowl games.

How ESPN, College Football Playoff are saving bowl games

TV viewership is one reason why Toledo is a high pick for the bowl tie in's. Toledo is centered in a high populated area and although the fans do not travel the Rockets are a known quantity and TV viewership will be high whomever they play.

Leaving Buffalo out of the bowl picture is a surprise since they are in a large populated area. Maybe their lack of history as a FBS school hurt them in the decision of which 6-6 teams were left out. The MAC's overall bowl record in recent memory did not help either.

The prime time matchup between Toledo and App. St. will have high viewership and cannot be bad for national recognition especially for the younger program App. St.

toledorocketman wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 12, 2017 5:03 pm

The prime time matchup between Toledo and App. St. will have high viewership and cannot be bad for national recognition especially for the younger program App. St.

Yep, Toledo started playing football in 1917 and App didn't start until 1928.

As we know, The Cure Bowl is one of the 5 of 40 bowl games not on ESPN or network TV. As appealing as a Saturday game in Orlando not the day before Christmas Eve might seem, from a TV and recognition and $$ standpoint it was not a good deal for App.