If no NY6 then where?

[WVAPPeer]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.



9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

How would playing Marshall, other than for novelty, better than playing a SEC or ACC team in a bowl?

That's a matter of personal preference, but playing a 6-6 SEC/ACC team as our season finale isn't all that intriguing. We already have 2 P5 wins. A game against a CUSA (peer) champion would provide bragging rights for App and the SBC.

Sure, we all love to win games against the P5 but I refuse to buy into the narrative that ANY P5 game is better than a game against the G5, even if that G5 team is a quality "peer" of ours.

Well I'm not really sure about that - I personally think that playing mid-level P5 teams would draw more attention from our fans and the nation than playing the conf champ of another G5 - Unless it was Boise - it looks that the AAC champion will have a leg up every year for the NY6 bid because there are many more good teams in their conference than the other P5s -
Playing a Fl State or Louisville or Mich State or Iowa or Texas or Kansas St or UCLA or Washington or Tenn or Kentucky or Miss St (all mid-level teams this season) would certainly be more interesting

[AppyVanWinkle]

One major issue with the New Orleans Bowl (as well as most of the other SBC bowls) that I feel has been addressed this year is moving the game back a week later to 12/21, as opposed to 12/15 last year. Although 12/21 is still a little early, at least it will feel like somewhat more of a traditional holiday bowl game this time around.

And hopefully, with more folks likely to be off work during the week of 12/23, more folks would be able to make the trip this time around.

[Yosef84]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.



9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

How would playing Marshall, other than for novelty, better than playing a SEC or ACC team in a bowl?

That's a matter of personal preference, but playing a 6-6 SEC/ACC team as our season finale isn't all that intriguing. We already have 2 P5 wins. A game against a CUSA (peer) champion would provide bragging rights for App and the SBC.

Sure, we all love to win games against the P5 but I refuse to buy into the narrative that ANY P5 game is better than a game against the G5, even if that G5 team is a quality "peer" of ours.

Well I'm not really sure about that - I personally think that playing mid-level P5 teams would draw more attention from our fans and the nation than playing the conf champ of another G5 - Unless it was Boise - it looks that the AAC champion will have a leg up every year for the NY6 bid because there are many more good teams in their conference than the other P5s -
Playing a Fl State or Louisville or Mich State or Iowa or Texas or Kansas St or UCLA or Washington or Tenn or Kentucky or Miss St (all mid-level teams this season) would certainly be more interesting

I wouldn't necessarily argue that it would have more "fan appeal" but I don't think it's the better game for us to play. It would be a higher risk / reward situation in all likelihood. As I said, it's a matter of preference. The "fan appeal" is there because the majority of people absolutely buy into the "P5 superiority" narrative (practically ANY P5 win is better than a win over a G5). That was my point.....I personally don't buy into it.

The reality is that, our probability of winning the P5 game is lower than it would be against the CUSA champ. Yes, there is a chance to win a third P5 this year, but a loss costs us our perfect bowl record, our ranking, and casts doubt on the season's accomplishments. It could potentially "undo" a portion of the positive perception we've built. Of course a loss to CUSA would do the same, but is less likely to happen. Maybe it's my conservative nature coming through, but I don't see a win against another middle of the pack P5 team offering us much to brag about.

[appgrad95&97]

As I understand it, the Sunbelt has five bowl tie-ins and, currently, five bowl eligible teams. If Troy beats Lousiana this weekend there would be six eligible teams. That might open things up a bit for us.

[AppyVanWinkle]

As I understand it, the Sunbelt has five bowl tie-ins and, currently, five bowl eligible teams. If Troy beats Lousiana this weekend there would be six eligible teams. That might open things up a bit for us.

Looks like Louisiana could end multiple teams chances of becoming bowl eligible......Troy needs one more win but has to beat one of ULL or ASU. ULM needs two more wins but even if they manage to beat CCU this weekend, they'll face ULL in the finale. Looks like CCU has the best shot to become bowl eligible, needing to win their last two with only ULM and Texas State remaining.

[hapapp]

As I understand it, the Sunbelt has five bowl tie-ins and, currently, five bowl eligible teams. If Troy beats Lousiana this weekend there would be six eligible teams. That might open things up a bit for us.

What really matters is if there are enough FBS teams that reach 6 wins to match the bowls available. Just because six SBC teams qualify, doesn't mean that all six go to a bowl game.

[Black Saturday]

I think it's been said that we're pretty much locked into the automatic bid bowls if we win aren't selected for the Cotton, so New Orleans would be the only real destination for us if we're 12-1 with another Sun Belt championship in the books.

IF we could get out of that auto bid, the Belk Bowl would be interesting. The SEC might not have enough teams to fill all their bowl spots and playing another ACC team in basically our backyards would be fun. App Nation could pack out BoA and I'm sure whatever local-ish ACC team would bring a fun crowd as well.

It'd be cool to play Virginia Tech for the first time since 1982.

Really weird, I've had this recurring nightmarish flashback-type feeling every time someone mentions Virginia Tech. I can't quite remember...it's a vague thing, but in these flashbacks we get hammer-stomped and give up like almost 70 points, which I KNOW no App team would ever do. It's weird though, I just can't shake that feeling.

It wasn't a dream, Sept 3 2011, another one of that regimes games that we were ill prepared for 66-13.

[MtnMan09]

I would want New Orleans and an AAC team

New Orleans is going to get C-USA two or three. So unless NOLA contracts with AAC or a P5 team from 2020-2025, I don't understand the rationale behind sending the champion from the Sun Belt during those years, and this year.

There is absolutely zero, ZERO chance we go to the Belk Bowl. That is a top tier ACC bowl. Why would the SBC send their champ to NO? Because its a better destination than us going to Arizona, Montgomery, Mobile, or Orlando which are our only other tie ins. Why do we keep debating this ad nauseam on here? Our options are: Access Bowl or one of 5 SBC bowl tie-ins thats it. Thats it. We need to get into a better conference, but who realistically is going to take us? Thats the only thing that will alter the reality of this discussion.

[MtnMan09]

I would want New Orleans and an AAC team

New Orleans is going to get C-USA two or three. So unless NOLA contracts with AAC or a P5 team from 2020-2025, I don't understand the rationale behind sending the champion from the Sun Belt during those years, and this year.

There is absolutely zero, ZERO chance we go to the Belk Bowl. That is a top tier ACC bowl. Why would the SBC send their champ to NO? Because its a better destination than us going to Arizona, Montgomery, Mobile, or Orlando which are our only other tie ins. Why do we keep debating this ad nauseam on here? Our options are: Access Bowl or one of 5 SBC bowl tie-ins thats it. Thats it. We need to get into a better conference, but who realistically is going to take us? Thats the only thing that will alter the reality of this discussion.

[Black Saturday]

I would want New Orleans and an AAC team

New Orleans is going to get C-USA two or three. So unless NOLA contracts with AAC or a P5 team from 2020-2025, I don't understand the rationale behind sending the champion from the Sun Belt during those years, and this year.

There is absolutely zero, ZERO chance we go to the Belk Bowl. That is a top tier ACC bowl. Why would the SBC send their champ to NO? Because its a better destination than us going to Arizona, Montgomery, Mobile, or Orlando which are our only other tie ins. Why do we keep debating this ad nauseam on here? Our options are: Access Bowl or one of 5 SBC bowl tie-ins thats it. Thats it. We need to get into a better conference, but who realistically is going to take us? Thats the only thing that will alter the reality of this discussion.

Bowling getting ready to be in the league with Cups Ice and BBQ.

[ericsaid]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.

9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

How would playing Marshall, other than for novelty, better than playing a SEC or ACC team in a bowl?

That's a matter of personal preference, but playing a 6-6 SEC/ACC team as our season finale isn't all that intriguing. We already have 2 P5 wins. A game against a CUSA (peer) champion would provide bragging rights for App and the SBC.

Sure, we all love to win games against the P5 but I refuse to buy into the narrative that ANY P5 game is better than a game against the G5, even if that G5 team is a quality "peer" of ours.

App, if they are in NOLA, aren't going to get a game against the C-USA Champion though. The Champion will likely try to take a bowl in an area they recruit and where the match-up is against a high visibility opponent. If they get a game against a 7-5 P5 team instead of App, they will take it. That leaves App with number 2 or number 3.

Would you rather play the number 3 C-USA team or number 5 ACC team? New Orleans may be a fine destination but the turnout for a game in Charlotte would be much higher and another win over a 5th place ACC team would provide more credence to App's progress from a national perspective than a win over FAU.

[ericsaid]

I would want New Orleans and an AAC team

New Orleans is going to get C-USA two or three. So unless NOLA contracts with AAC or a P5 team from 2020-2025, I don't understand the rationale behind sending the champion from the Sun Belt during those years, and this year.

There is absolutely zero, ZERO chance we go to the Belk Bowl. That is a top tier ACC bowl. Why would the SBC send their champ to NO? Because its a better destination than us going to Arizona, Montgomery, Mobile, or Orlando which are our only other tie ins. Why do we keep debating this ad nauseam on here? Our options are: Access Bowl or one of 5 SBC bowl tie-ins thats it. Thats it. We need to get into a better conference, but who realistically is going to take us? Thats the only thing that will alter the reality of this discussion.

I understand the issues inherent. However, if the Cure Bowl was on ESPN against an AAC team, would you rather have NOLA or Cure? May as well play the 3 or 4 AAC team instead of the 2 or 3 C-USA team. Playing and beating UCF or Temple in the Cure Bowl would do far more for App than playing and beating Southern Miss or 8-5 Marshall. These types of seasons don't happen all the time and it would be best to take advantage of the opportunity while it exists.

The fact that the Sun Belt Champion, whomever it is, is forced to a play a team from a lesser conference that isn't their champion furthers the narrative that the Sun Belt is still the bottom of the barrel of FBS. The Sun Belt may be near the bottom, but it's better than C-USA and MAC as things stand now.

If NOLA gets an AAC/MWC/P5 commitment for 2020-2025, I'd be fine with the agreement. But that's not how things are set-up currently.

[bigdaddyg]

I would want New Orleans and an AAC team

New Orleans is going to get C-USA two or three. So unless NOLA contracts with AAC or a P5 team from 2020-2025, I don't understand the rationale behind sending the champion from the Sun Belt during those years, and this year.

There is absolutely zero, ZERO chance we go to the Belk Bowl. That is a top tier ACC bowl. Why would the SBC send their champ to NO? Because its a better destination than us going to Arizona, Montgomery, Mobile, or Orlando which are our only other tie ins. Why do we keep debating this ad nauseam on here? Our options are: Access Bowl or one of 5 SBC bowl tie-ins thats it. Thats it. We need to get into a better conference, but who realistically is going to take us? Thats the only thing that will alter the reality of this discussion.

Good lord read the first entry on the thread. This isn't about where we could or might end up this year or next it is about where would you like to play if left out of the NY6 game. It has zero to do with the bowl tie in deal, us left out of other games, the New Orleans Bowl, etc. It is simply for discussion of what bowl would you like to see App play in. The Belk Bowl would offer a close location for many App fans, a good ACC opponent possibly, a decent time of the season, etc. There are lots of "better" bowls out there but some are way out west which would be costly to attend, might be against a 6-6 P5 which doesn't excite a lot of people and might fall on a day that is not conducive for travel plans.

[Seattleapp]

New Orleans Bowl plain and simple. Anything else means we didn't win the SunBelt. Look, I get people don't like our bowl tie in opponents but they are what they are. Just a couple of years ago we were all begging for a tie-in to the New Orleans Bowl for the SunBelt champ so they wouldn't just pic Louisiana again and again despite our better record. Now we have that and now we want more? I want us to go to the access bowl but if we don't our best option is the New Orleans Bowl because it means we won our conference. Not to mention, New Orleans is a fantastic destination that is easy and cheap to travel to for most of our fan base. There isn't another city that is better for a bowl game in my opinion.

You might be slightly missing the point. We are not going to go 12-1 with two p5 wins very often. It would be a shame to waste this year on that bowl against a 8-4 southern miss team. This is a special year and a unique opportunity to grab something bigger. That’s why people are frustrated. I liken it to being on the ncaa basketball bubble. Schools like ours aren’t there much

[MtnMan09]

I would want New Orleans and an AAC team

New Orleans is going to get C-USA two or three. So unless NOLA contracts with AAC or a P5 team from 2020-2025, I don't understand the rationale behind sending the champion from the Sun Belt during those years, and this year.

There is absolutely zero, ZERO chance we go to the Belk Bowl. That is a top tier ACC bowl. Why would the SBC send their champ to NO? Because its a better destination than us going to Arizona, Montgomery, Mobile, or Orlando which are our only other tie ins. Why do we keep debating this ad nauseam on here? Our options are: Access Bowl or one of 5 SBC bowl tie-ins thats it. Thats it. We need to get into a better conference, but who realistically is going to take us? Thats the only thing that will alter the reality of this discussion.

I understand the issues inherent. However, if the Cure Bowl was on ESPN against an AAC team, would you rather have NOLA or Cure? May as well play the 3 or 4 AAC team instead of the 2 or 3 C-USA team. Playing and beating UCF or Temple in the Cure Bowl would do far more for App than playing and beating Southern Miss or 8-5 Marshall. These types of seasons don't happen all the time and it would be best to take advantage of the opportunity while it exists.

The fact that the Sun Belt Champion, whomever it is, is forced to a play a team from a lesser conference that isn't their champion furthers the narrative that the Sun Belt is still the bottom of the barrel of FBS. The Sun Belt may be near the bottom, but it's better than C-USA and MAC as things stand now.

If NOLA gets an AAC/MWC/P5 commitment for 2020-2025, I'd be fine with the agreement. But that's not how things are set-up currently.

I agree wit this. But the Cure Bowl isnt on ESPN and in fact is almost impossible to watch. It wont do much for us exposure wise and I still believe NO to be better. I dont think anyone will argue with you that playing an AAC opponent would be more exciting than playing a CUSA one. Just dont think the bowl is that good the way it stands right now.

[Rick83]

The bowl affiliations are all pre-negotiated contracts with each of the conferences and unless something really unusual happens it's not going to change just because we're having a special year. It's conceivable that ESPN could arrange something like that but it's extremely unlikely. So, we are bound by the terms of our membership in the Sun Belt Conference and it is what it is, the only 2 exceptions are if we make either the playoffs or the NY6.
The bowl alignments could change in the future but what we have now is what we have and it's not a bad thing. New Orleans is a fun destination for the fans and the players, and it's a perfect time slot on ESPN for national coverage. Perhaps the CUSA champion will feel froggy and want to take us on, we'll see, assuming we make it there of course.
We can still get the NY6 if the football gods smile down on us and grant us favor...

[AppState89]

Wish the Sun Belt champion could opt out of the New Orleans Bowl. If we win out and beat ULL for the championship, I would much rather let ULL (so would the bowl committee) play in their backyard. They would bring 35K+ to the game and let us play in Orlando against one of the top powers from the AAC (UCF, Ciny, Memphis or SMU). Just my opinion.

[ericsaid]

I would want New Orleans and an AAC team

New Orleans is going to get C-USA two or three. So unless NOLA contracts with AAC or a P5 team from 2020-2025, I don't understand the rationale behind sending the champion from the Sun Belt during those years, and this year.

There is absolutely zero, ZERO chance we go to the Belk Bowl. That is a top tier ACC bowl. Why would the SBC send their champ to NO? Because its a better destination than us going to Arizona, Montgomery, Mobile, or Orlando which are our only other tie ins. Why do we keep debating this ad nauseam on here? Our options are: Access Bowl or one of 5 SBC bowl tie-ins thats it. Thats it. We need to get into a better conference, but who realistically is going to take us? Thats the only thing that will alter the reality of this discussion.

I understand the issues inherent. However, if the Cure Bowl was on ESPN against an AAC team, would you rather have NOLA or Cure? May as well play the 3 or 4 AAC team instead of the 2 or 3 C-USA team. Playing and beating UCF or Temple in the Cure Bowl would do far more for App than playing and beating Southern Miss or 8-5 Marshall. These types of seasons don't happen all the time and it would be best to take advantage of the opportunity while it exists.

The fact that the Sun Belt Champion, whomever it is, is forced to a play a team from a lesser conference that isn't their champion furthers the narrative that the Sun Belt is still the bottom of the barrel of FBS. The Sun Belt may be near the bottom, but it's better than C-USA and MAC as things stand now.

If NOLA gets an AAC/MWC/P5 commitment for 2020-2025, I'd be fine with the agreement. But that's not how things are set-up currently.

I agree wit this. But the Cure Bowl isnt on ESPN and in fact is almost impossible to watch. It wont do much for us exposure wise and I still believe NO to be better. I dont think anyone will argue with you that playing an AAC opponent would be more exciting than playing a CUSA one. Just dont think the bowl is that good the way it stands right now.

The reason I posed that scenario was because apparently the Cure has been mentioned as going to an ESPN broadcast. If it's an ESPN broadcast and the time slot is moved to later in the day, it's by far and away the best bowl in the current line-up. How that changes next year? No one knows.

I'm hopeful that the Sun Belt reached the agreement with NOLA under the assumption that the tie-in moving to 2020-2025 would be someone other than the MAC and C-USA. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense to reach an agreement that doesn't benefit your constituents. Sure, New Orleans is nice, but so is Orlando and Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach will actually have a tie-in with the AAC as well leaving NOLA on par with Camelia and Lending Tree.

Or it's possible that NOLA, hosting the Sun Belt league offices and understanding the conference is trying to make moves to other bowls, tried to lock the Sun Belt in to sending their best team, otherwise run the risk of losing the tie-in all together.

[Yosef84]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.

9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

How would playing Marshall, other than for novelty, better than playing a SEC or ACC team in a bowl?

That's a matter of personal preference, but playing a 6-6 SEC/ACC team as our season finale isn't all that intriguing. We already have 2 P5 wins. A game against a CUSA (peer) champion would provide bragging rights for App and the SBC.

Sure, we all love to win games against the P5 but I refuse to buy into the narrative that ANY P5 game is better than a game against the G5, even if that G5 team is a quality "peer" of ours.

App, if they are in NOLA, aren't going to get a game against the C-USA Champion though. The Champion will likely try to take a bowl in an area they recruit and where the match-up is against a high visibility opponent. If they get a game against a 7-5 P5 team instead of App, they will take it. That leaves App with number 2 or number 3.

Would you rather play the number 3 C-USA team or number 5 ACC team? New Orleans may be a fine destination but the turnout for a game in Charlotte would be much higher and another win over a 5th place ACC team would provide more credence to App's progress from a national perspective than a win over FAU.

You say that with a lot of authority, but why wouldn't the CUSA choose New Orleans? One of the most likely conference championship games for CUSA at this point is La. Tech vs. Marshall. Southern Miss is also in the mix as well as FAI. Pretty sure La Tech recruits New Orleans area, as does Southern Miss. Marshall doesn't have lots of "local" bowls to choose from and frankly I think they'd love to play us. FAI might choose to go elsewhere closer to home. I think there is a significant chance we could get the champ.

Also, what makes you think we would get the #5 position from any P5 tie-in? My guess is that we would wind up lower in the pecking order but I'd love to hear your support for that number. To answer your question, I would be disappointed with playing the #3 CUSA team so I would rather play the #5 ACC, but that isn't the scenario I was discussing and isn't a likely one (my opinion).

[EastHallApp]

No SBC team would choose the other 4 bowl tie-ins over the NOLA bowl which is what the CUSA champ has the option to do.

9 out of 10 years this arrangement is favorable for the SBC champ, and based upon the current rankings it still is.

How would playing Marshall, other than for novelty, better than playing a SEC or ACC team in a bowl?

That's a matter of personal preference, but playing a 6-6 SEC/ACC team as our season finale isn't all that intriguing. We already have 2 P5 wins. A game against a CUSA (peer) champion would provide bragging rights for App and the SBC.

Sure, we all love to win games against the P5 but I refuse to buy into the narrative that ANY P5 game is better than a game against the G5, even if that G5 team is a quality "peer" of ours.

App, if they are in NOLA, aren't going to get a game against the C-USA Champion though. The Champion will likely try to take a bowl in an area they recruit and where the match-up is against a high visibility opponent. If they get a game against a 7-5 P5 team instead of App, they will take it. That leaves App with number 2 or number 3.

Would you rather play the number 3 C-USA team or number 5 ACC team? New Orleans may be a fine destination but the turnout for a game in Charlotte would be much higher and another win over a 5th place ACC team would provide more credence to App's progress from a national perspective than a win over FAU.

CUSA's only bowl tie-in vs. a P5 is the former Heart of Dallas Bowl (now the First Responder Bowl), and they didn't even send a team the last two years.

Which bowl is most appealing will obviously vary by school, but I'm pretty sure La. Tech wouldn't mind playing in NOLA, and I expect Southern Miss or UAB would consider it too (barring a weird basketball conflict like last year).

As far as the Cure Bowl, it sounds good to say "an AAC team" but the reality is that the AAC hasn't even sent a team to that bowl two out of four years, and when they have, it's been 6-6. Playing a 6 or 7 win AAC or P5 team this year seems like kind of a no-win to me, unless we blow them out. Lose and it's "even in your best year, you lost to our 7th best team." Win a close one and it's "you barely beat (insert 6-6 team), they lost by 30 to (insert good team from their league)."

I do agree Orlando is undervalued as a bowl site, and if ESPN ever buys the game it should have potential to move higher up in the selection order.