Which bowl for Cats?

[El Simbolo]

obviously if you win in Indy, you’re off to Pasadena. But should that not occur, what’s the word on the street? Citrus is 8-5? I’ve heard talk that the loser of the Big Ten Championship game can’t fall below Outback Bowl - is that true? Good luck December 1st!

 

[12375CAT]

Big Cats will not lose 12/1

 

[El Simbolo]

Seriously, are you guys hearing this NU is guaranteed at least Outback “rule”? This is vitally important to this Hawkeye fan’s annual analysis of our most likely second rate Bowl destinations ;-)

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

Holiday would be something different. But Citrus and Holiday have shown they don't want to take us if they don't have to (ESPECIALLY the Citrus). (We might actually be the "best" available for the Holiday this season, though, if we're still on the table.)

 

[algoncat]

I predict California most likely with an outside chance of FL:

Lose out = Redbox Bowl
Win one/Lose two = Gator Bowl
Win out/Lose Champ Game = Holiday Bowl
Win out = Rose Bowl

 

[DkeCat]

Seriously, are you guys hearing this NU is guaranteed at least Outback “rule”? This is vitally important to this Hawkeye fan’s annual analysis of our most likely second rate Bowl destinations ;-)

That is not true. That said, would look bad for the big 10 if we fall to outback. Right now we are third or fourth in pecking order (mich, osu, maybe psu)

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Rose bowl or motor city bowl.

 

[El Simbolo]

I wonder how decent of chance PSU has at a Fiesta or Peach berth ( Peach more likely since they went to Fiesta last year) Assumingthat all conf champs are ranked in top 12, PSU would need to move up to be one of top 11 power conf teams. Right now they’re 13th (subtracting UCF out since they are in a different pool). Syracuse has two tough games, so they could jump them. Or Washington and Texas/ISU winner could jump them, but theyresumption them after CCGs. They could potentially pass WSU and WV, but those seem doubtful. Quite possibly could come to down to very subjective decision between PSU and Florida. Anyway, that would bump all other B1G teams up a bowl. NU or other lower ranked teams winning CCG(s) would also hurt their cause - though if Cats hibto Rose that too would bump up othe B1G teams

 

[gradeck]

I predict California most likely with an outside chance of FL:

Lose out = Redbox Bowl
Win one/Lose two = Gator Bowl
Win out/Lose Champ Game = Holiday Bowl
Win out = Rose Bowl

I think this is accurate. Although I suppose technically there is a "Win one/lose two" scenario that still results in the Rose Bowl.

---

Winning out the regular season but losing in the championship game leaves the Wildcats no higher than the fourth Big Ten team for bowl picks. UM and OSU get the playoff and Rose berths in that case, and Penn State to the Citrus Bowl. In that scenario, the Wildcats could be considered for the Outback Bowl, but since they've been there recently, they shift to the Holiday Bowl most likely.

If Penn State gets a "New Year's 6" bowl, the Citrus could likely take some combination of Michigan State, Wisconsin and/or Iowa, who would all be 8-4 (with the Wildcats 8-5). And yes, I do realize the Wildcats beat all three of those teams.

 

[El Simbolo]

If Penn State gets a "New Year's 6" bowl, the Citrus could likely take some combination of Michigan State, Wisconsin and/or Iowa, who would all be 8-4 (with the Wildcats 8-5). And yes, I do realize the Wildcats beat all three of those teams.

Does Citrus hate Northwestern, or something? You guys haven't been there during the current 6 year contract, so you meet that criteria.

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

Does Citrus hate Northwestern, or something? You guys haven't been there during the current 6 year contract, so you meet that criteria.

Yes

 

[BobbCat14]

I wonder how much this BT Title game impacts the Bowls’ assessment of how many NU fans will go to the bowl game after the title game? Maybe a great showing at Indy will impress. It’s also a possibility they’ll think we’re traveled out.

 

[docrugby1]

Seriously, are you guys hearing this NU is guaranteed at least Outback “rule”? This is vitally important to this Hawkeye fan’s annual analysis of our most likely second rate Bowl destinations ;-)

I doubt The Outback Bowl is excited about the possibility of NU returning

 

[ParisCat_rivals]

The Athletic (Stewart Mandel, I think), predicts OSU for the Rose Bowl, PSU as an at-large for one of the other New Year's Six, NU to the Citrus, MSU to Outback, Iowa to Holiday. You'd think we'd be pretty attractive to the Citrus Bowl -- lots of Florida-based alums, haven't been there in a while, good national story, etc. But I guess we've got to root for PSU to finish strong and other pieces to fall into place so that they get a NY6 nod. Or, even better, NU can moot this scenario by just winning the damn championship.

 

[SmellyCat]

I will NOT root for PSU to finish strong.

NU will either be 8-5 and go to a decent bowl or will be 9-4 and go to the Rose. I care not about other scenarios!

 

[DaCat]

I will NOT root for PSU to finish strong.

NU will either be 8-5 and go to a decent bowl or will be 9-4 and go to the Rose. I care not about other scenarios!

Rose Bowl or bust!

 

[zeek55]

If we win the next two, I think we're pretty much guaranteed Citrus or Outback if we lose the championship game.

I don't see Big Ten office letting a division champ that's still ranked top 25 fall below that.

 

[Akeehn0912]

If we win the next two, I think we're pretty much guaranteed Citrus or Outback if we lose the championship game.

I don't see Big Ten office letting a division champ that's still ranked top 25 fall below that.

as a fan, id prefer the holiday bowl... San Diego would be a nice trip!

 

[kaTNap]

If we win the next two, I think we're pretty much guaranteed Citrus or Outback if we lose the championship game.

I don't see Big Ten office letting a division champ that's still ranked top 25 fall below that.

Outback, Citrus, and Holiday are all supposed to be the same "tier". I'm not sure we can go Outback ... in the contract, they promised to invite 5 different teams over the 6 year period. They've already had us once and Io-a twice.

 

[zeek55]

Outback, Citrus, and Holiday are all supposed to be the same "tier". I'm not sure we can go Outback ... in the contract, they promised to invite 5 different teams over the 6 year period. They've already had us once and Io-a twice.

Those selection criteria can be overridden by the conferences. I know that those are the targeted goals issued to the bowl committees, but the conferences can override I believe. [That's why the media typically write "if possible" after those selection criteria.]


There's not really tiers at this point; just order:

1) Citrus
2) Outback
3) Holiday
4) Music City or Gator [Probably Gator this year]
5) Pinstripe
6) Redbox
7) Quick Lane
8) First Responders


Now it's certainly possible that we end up in Holiday for the reasons you state, but if we're 8-5 and still ranked around 18-20, it's possible that the conference sends us to Outback and overrides the selection criteria.

 

[El Simbolo]

I think Outback and Holiday are considered equal tiers, but Citrus is above both. It’s part of our Orange Bowl arrangement with SEC and ND