Current Bowl Possibilities

[RU848789]

Easy drive 287 to 78 to 81 to 77, never have to get off the interstates. The stadium is right off the exit. The worst part of the drive would be River Road in Piscataway

From western NJ, sure, but if you're near the TPK, 95 to 85 to Charlotte is ~20 miles shorter and faster, as long as you get through DC by about 6:30 am on a weekday or do a night drive. I would only do the 78/81 route outside of those times or if I knew of some bad traffic/construction situation on the 95 route before leaving.

 

[ruronny]

Feel like I'm one of the only ones pulling for Phoenix.

We’d go to Phoenix in a heartbeat. Insight in 2005 was the best RU bowl by far. We’d get a good opponent and warm weather. I cannot see any Florida bowl picking RU over the other teams available.

 

[ruronny]

I agree with you on this with the exception of indy being a playoff lock. I think they are in but who knows how the committee is going to view their schedule. The sec will be lobbying for an extra team and indy does not have the pedigree of some of the teams about to be left out. If they don't make it then I am worried we are back in play for the Detroit game.

Fair and valid concern…but I think Indy is in.

 

[Knight Shift]

As to Jon Newman's and Knights of the Raritan involvement, he stated on X that it is just him pushing for it.

 

[RU848789]

Actually you do you. You seem happy you have a day to be forced to like someone

Kind of a sad perspective. Fortunately, most of us want to be with our immediate and extended families on the holidays.

I’m not judging anyone. I’m just saying that using a holiday as an excuse is stupid outside of small children who believe and aging parents.

By definition, calling someone stupid (or at least strongly implying it) for using a holiday as an excuse to not go to a bowl game is judging. Maybe just take the L on this one and move on.

 

[NickRU714]

December 2005
Rutgers makes the Insight Bowl in Phoenix on December 27th

I'm a poor senior at Rutgers. My roommate and I decide to scrape our nickels together and go.

Found a nice "cheap" flight out of EWR on Christmas Day night.
Don't even remember the layover we would have.

My roommate says he can't leave on Xmas. His mother would kill him.
We flew out late afternoon December 26th for more money overall.
Missed out on a whole day in Phoenix.

I was quite annoyed. My mom said as along as I was there for the morning she didn't care.

Not trying to belittle anyone's feeling or thoughts just putting my own personal anecdote out there.

Follow up question: I got $300 from Rutgers for going as a student.
Then maybe another $200 afterwards.

Did the school do that for other bowls?
Do they subsidize students going?

This was separate from the official school travel packages (which were obviously way too expensive for us).
We booked everything on our own and got reimbursed.

 

[rutgersal]

As to Jon Newman's and Knights of the Raritan involvement, he stated on X that it is just him pushing for it.

View embedded media

Jon lives in VA, which would explain his preference for Charlotte

 

[DHajekRC84]

And driving to Charlotte is pretty easy (did it a few times a year for about 20 years, while my sister was living there) and I like driving, but hate flying, so Charlotte gets my vote, especially since the date is better for me.

and it gives the team extra time to heal up and Schiano more time to prep..

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

We’d go to Phoenix in a heartbeat. Insight in 2005 was the best RU bowl by far. We’d get a good opponent and warm weather. I cannot see any Florida bowl picking RU over the other teams available.

It sounds great at face value but I fear we wouldn’t have a very good showing. Flights prices are insane at that time of year.

 

[tom1944]

I agree with you on this with the exception of indy being a playoff lock. I think they are in but who knows how the committee is going to view their schedule. The sec will be lobbying for an extra team and indy does not have the pedigree of some of the teams about to be left out. If they don't make it then I am worried we are back in play for the Detroit game.

I believe Indiana has a stronger strength of schedule than the other one loss teams. Also their one loss compares favorably to the other one loss teams.

 

[krup]

I believe Indiana has a stronger strength of schedule than the other one loss teams. Also their one loss compares favorably to the other one loss teams.

Indiana wasn’t a lock going into the weekend for several reasons, the biggest being the Texas-Texas A&M game.

The committee has already hinted that they do not plan to weigh a conference championship loss as heavily as they did a regular season loss. So, if A&M had beaten Texas and made it into the SEC championship game, they were likely going to be a 4th SEC team in the field, and Indiana was most at risk of losing their spot if that happened.

With the A&M loss they are basically in and the last spot comes down to SMU if they lose, Miami, and three 3 loss SEC teams.

 

[RUGuitarMan]

Seems like a lot of the projections now have RU vs Texas Tech in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on 12/26. Would be a first time meeting for the schools.

 

[Plum Street]

Seems like a lot of the projections now have RU vs Texas Tech in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on 12/26. Would be a first time meeting for the schools.

McLane Carter will be doing a lot of interviews that week!

 

[RU848789]

We’d go to Phoenix in a heartbeat. Insight in 2005 was the best RU bowl by far. We’d get a good opponent and warm weather. I cannot see any Florida bowl picking RU over the other teams available.

Insight was amazing and the RU turnout was incredible, but being the first real bowl bowl for RU since going "big time" in 1980 and it being on 12/27 both really helped with that turnout. 12/26 is just a tougher ask for many people with the holiday and family commitments.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Seems like a lot of the projections now have RU vs Texas Tech in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on 12/26. Would be a first time meeting for the schools.

I wonder if Greg wants that. Christmas away from the family in a different time zone. Poor attendance.

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

Insight was amazing and the RU turnout was incredible, but being the first real bowl bowl for RU since going "big time" in 1980 and it being on 12/27 both really helped with that turnout. 12/26 is just a tougher ask for many people with the holiday and family commitments.

And $800 a pop a tix to do it. Only fans who skip Christmas and make a vacation of it will go. That’s the reality.

 

[krup]

Seems like a lot of the projections now have RU vs Texas Tech in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on 12/26. Would be a first time meeting for the schools.

Texas Tech would be a challenge for RU’s depleted defense for sure, but I don’t know that they have the defense to stand up to RU’s recently effective offense either.

 

[Plum Street]

I wonder if Greg wants that. Christmas away from the family in a different time zone. Poor attendance.

I think he’s happy with any bowl and the chance to win 100k

 

[PSAL_Hoops]

I think he’s happy with any bowl and the chance to win 100k

I just wonder if he would quietly negotiate Pin Stripe override. I’m sure he enjoyed the packed local stadium. Huge home court advantage… Pin Stripe will have no interest in Minny so if Nebraska is taken ahead of them for their brand… And Minny went to Pin Stripe 2 years ago.

 

[MADHAT1]

I think he’s happy with any bowl and the chance to win 100k

"the chance to win 100k"
would make the Ty D Bol Bowl look exciting 😁

 

[tom1944]

Indiana wasn’t a lock going into the weekend for several reasons, the biggest being the Texas-Texas A&M game.

The committee has already hinted that they do not plan to weigh a conference championship loss as heavily as they did a regular season loss. So, if A&M had beaten Texas and made it into the SEC championship game, they were likely going to be a 4th SEC team in the field, and Indiana was most at risk of losing their spot if that happened.

With the A&M loss they are basically in and the last spot comes down to SMU if they lose, Miami, and three 3 loss SEC teams.

Only thing I was mentioning is that Indiana has a favorable strength of schedule and who their loss was against than the other one loss teams.

The committee may not have selected them, but it would not have been on the merit compared to those other 1 loss teams

 

[Plum Street]

I just wonder if he would quietly negotiate Pin Stripe override. I’m sure he enjoyed the packed local stadium. Huge home court advantage… Pin Stripe will have no interest in Minny so if Nebraska is taken ahead of them for their brand… And Minny went to Pin Stripe 2 years ago.

I hope not .
With next years , schedule the goal will be to make the Pinstripe

 

[krup]

Only thing I was mentioning is that Indiana has a favorable strength of schedule and who their loss was against than the other one loss teams.

The committee may not have selected them, but it would not have been on the merit compared to those other 1 loss teams

Well, the bottom line was that if Texas A&M “stole a spot”, and especially if Miami also won guaranteeing the ACC champ game loser got in, one of Indiana, Texas and Tennessee was in trouble, and I think that would have ended up with Indiana being out.

Now, those three are safely in and even the 3 loss SEC teams (Bama, Miss and SoCar) have a chance if SMU wins to take the second spot the ACC was going to get.

 

[Doctor Worm]

Interesting to think about how a four team playoff would have played out this year.

Would Oregon-PSU be a play-in game? Or would be Oregon be in regardless?

Ditto Texas-Georgia.

How nervous would Notre Dame be?

Would SMU have a shot?

Possibility of two SEC and two B1G?

 

[cicero grimes]

The thing that troubles me about Indiana is their schedule. 3 OOC wins against the likes of FIU, Charlotte and Western Illinois. Their best conference win was a 5 point win over a 7-5 UM and the next best wins were over two 6-6 teams; everyone else had a losing record. If the committee takes them they are basically saying play no one and we will reward you.

Now with that being said I want Indy to make it for the B1G and them being kept out would drop another B1G team into the non playoff bowl mix putting Detroit back in play for someone.

 

[krup]

The thing that troubles me about Indiana is their schedule. 3 OOC wins against the likes of FIU, Charlotte and Western Illinois. Their best conference win was a 5 point win over a 7-5 UM and the next best wins were over two 6-6 teams; everyone else had a losing record. If the committee takes them they are basically saying play no one and we will reward you.

Now with that being said I want Indy to make it for the B1G and them being kept out would drop another B1G team into the non playoff bowl mix putting Detroit back in play for someone.

SOS is why Indiana was in trouble when their competition for a spot was 2 loss SEC teams.

After this weekend, their competition for a spot is 3 loss SEC teams and they are in.

 

[RuSnp]

The thing that troubles me about Indiana is their schedule. 3 OOC wins against the likes of FIU, Charlotte and Western Illinois. Their best conference win was a 5 point win over a 7-5 UM and the next best wins were over two 6-6 teams; everyone else had a losing record. If the committee takes them they are basically saying play no one and we will reward you.

Now with that being said I want Indy to make it for the B1G and them being kept out would drop another B1G team into the non playoff bowl mix putting Detroit back in play for someone.

This is fair but the other side is they weren't squeaking by teams. The only conference games they didn't win by double digits were that Michigan game and the loss to OSU.

 

[Doctor Worm]

Indiana wasn’t a lock going into the weekend for several reasons, the biggest being the Texas-Texas A&M game.

The committee has already hinted that they do not plan to weigh a conference championship loss as heavily as they did a regular season loss. So, if A&M had beaten Texas and made it into the SEC championship game, they were likely going to be a 4th SEC team in the field, and Indiana was most at risk of losing their spot if that happened.

With the A&M loss they are basically in and the last spot comes down to SMU if they lose, Miami, and three 3 loss SEC teams.

Well stated. Eleven spots are locks:

Oregon
PSU
OSU
Indiana
Texas
Georgia
Tennessee
Notre Dame
Winner of SMU-Clemson
Winner of Boise State-UNLV
Winner of ASU-ISU.

The last spot will go to one of the four or five teams you mentioned. I personally think SMU is a lock win or lose, but we shall see.

 

[cicero grimes]

Well stated. Eleven spots are locks:

Oregon
PSU
OSU
Indiana
Texas
Georgia
Tennessee
Notre Dame
Winner of SMU-Clemson
Winner of Boise State-UNLV
Winner of ASU-ISU.

The last spot will go to one of the four or five teams you mentioned. I personally think SMU is a lock win or lose, but we shall see.

If SMU loses they have two losses. BYU has two losses and owns a win over SMU. No chance for BYU in that scenario?

 

[Knight Shift]

Seems like a lot of the projections now have RU vs Texas Tech in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on 12/26. Would be a first time meeting for the schools.

Texas Tech would be a challenge for RU’s depleted defense for sure, but I don’t know that they have the defense to stand up to RU’s recently effective offense either.

Tech just fired their DC, Tim DeRuyter, who was the HC of Fresno State when they beat Rutgers in 2012.

They beat Arizona State early in the year before ASU got rolling. they also beat Iowa State 23-22.

They put up the most points in the Big 12 against Big 12 opponents 329 or 36.5 per game, but they were next to last in giving up 34 points per game. They were 13th from last for all NCAA teams in points per game at 34.5, but 8th in points scored per game for all NCAA teams.

Might be a fun game to watch.

 

[ruronny]

I hope not .
With next years , schedule the goal will be to make the Pinstripe

There’s no chance at Pinstripe this year. None:-).

 

[ruronny]

Tech just fired their DC, Tim DeRuyter, who was the HC of Fresno State when they beat Rutgers in 2012.

They beat Arizona State early in the year before ASU got rolling. they also beat Iowa State 23-22.

They put up the most points in the Big 12 against Big 12 opponents 329 or 36.5 per game, but they were next to last in giving up 34 points per game. They were 13th from last for all NCAA teams in points per game at 34.5, but 8th in points scored per game for all NCAA teams.

Might be a fun game to watch.

Interesting…no Baylor or K-State, etc. We would be chosen last in the B1G in bowl order selection but not a surprise, leaving us Rate. Better than Detroit or a return to the Bronx for sure IMO (never happening anyway).

But you never know, these are just projections…

 

[T2Kplus20]

Well stated. Eleven spots are locks:

Oregon
PSU
OSU
Indiana
Texas
Georgia
Tennessee
Notre Dame
Winner of SMU-Clemson
Winner of Boise State-UNLV
Winner of ASU-ISU.

The last spot will go to one of the four or five teams you mentioned. I personally think SMU is a lock win or lose, but we shall see.

The selection committee desperately wants to add in another SEC team. Look for Bama to get the 12th spot regardless of how the conference championship games turn out.

 

[hinson32]

If SMU loses they have two losses. BYU has two losses and owns a win over SMU. No chance for BYU in that scenario?

They can't start to penalize teams for making their conference title games. If they do, that is the death for those games and the SEC and BIG make a lot of $$ on those games.

 

[RUDeac]

College Football Bowl Projections Week 15: Brett McMurphy's Picks & College Football Playoff Predictions

Check out college football bowl projections for Week 15, including Brett McMurphy's picks and College Football Playoff predictions.

www.actionnetwork.com

 

[hinson32]

The selection committee desperately wants to add in another SEC team. Look for Bama to get the 12th spot regardless of how the conference championship games turn out.

The committee led by a Michigan man wants desperately to add another SEC team?

 

[tom1944]

The thing that troubles me about Indiana is their schedule. 3 OOC wins against the likes of FIU, Charlotte and Western Illinois. Their best conference win was a 5 point win over a 7-5 UM and the next best wins were over two 6-6 teams; everyone else had a losing record. If the committee takes them they are basically saying play no one and we will reward you.

Now with that being said I want Indy to make it for the B1G and them being kept out would drop another B1G team into the non playoff bowl mix putting Detroit back in play for someone.

Last I checked their sos was better than ND, SMU and Miami I believe. Their loss was a better loss than the other teams also

 

[krup]

The selection committee desperately wants to add in another SEC team. Look for Bama to get the 12th spot regardless of how the conference championship games turn out.

I think you are right based on them having Bama as 11 last week, but that would be hypocritical based on what they have said about championship game losers.

 

[bigmatt718]

Seems like a lot of the projections now have RU vs Texas Tech in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix on 12/26. Would be a first time meeting for the schools.

If we aren't playing an old BE foe like WVU, give me a new bowl game opponent like TT.

 

[T2Kplus20]

The committee led by a Michigan man wants desperately to add another SEC team?

Yes. The committee isn't a dictatorship. Doesn't matter who is the symbolic "lead". Keep the SEC happy or they can cause a lot of trouble for other conferences.