2025 Bowl Projection Tracker


I get that the players voted on it, but I feel bad for the seniors…

What if a lot of them were the ones to opt out?

Kansas St already had an extra long season going to Ireland to play Iowa St in Week Zero. Sort of like a Bowl experience there.

To me it shows just how minimally a substantial amount of players value the experience of this Consolation exercise, especially if they are not going to get paid any extra (or a paltry amount).

A 6-6 season, HC retiring, why not just move on with whatever next chapter there is in their lives.
 

What if a lot of them were the ones to opt out?

Kansas St already had an extra long season going to Ireland to play Iowa St in Week Zero. Sort of like a Bowl experience there.

To me it shows just how minimally a substantial amount of players value the experience of this Consolation exercise, especially if they are not going to get paid any extra (or a paltry amount).

A 6-6 season, HC retiring, why not just move on with whatever next chapter there is in their lives.

Bowl swag has become bowl scraps in the NIL era.
 

Bowl swag has become bowl scraps in the NIL era.
Wonder if there are still limits on what you can get, or if its all out the window now? Like could the Pinstripe bowl give every player 10K for participating? Not saying they would, but could you do that?
 

Wonder if there are still limits on what you can get, or if its all out the window now? Like could the Pinstripe bowl give every player 10K for participating? Not saying they would, but could you do that?
I think it was always up to the sponsor. The sponsors were the folks who were pushing the "look what we gave them" kinda info.
 


I think it was always up to the sponsor. The sponsors were the folks who were pushing the "look what we gave them" kinda info.
I thought there used to be limits on gifts. Maybe I am remembering incorrectly. I am sure there is nothing in place like that anymore though...
 

I think it was always up to the sponsor. The sponsors were the folks who were pushing the "look what we gave them" kinda info.
A limit was imposed 6 - 9 years ago that they could not offer more than ~$550 in swag.

That has not been adjusted since, as far as I know

Edit - Some sponsors are skirting that limit, but I didn't give this article a full vetting:

 
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A limit was imposed 6 - 9 years ago that they could not offer more than ~$550 in swag.

That has not been adjusted since, as far as I know

Edit - Some sponsors are skirting that limit, but I didn't give this article a full vetting:


Some bigger bowls and sponsors could turn to paying players directly to make sure star players don't opt out.

College basketball just had a tournament where the winning team split up a $1 million bonus, which was in addition to getting paid just to show up and play.
 

Yeah, just trolling other fan boards, I’m starting to think it’s Rate as well. Nebraska seems to think they’re nearly a lock for Vegas, although Illinois is in the cards…but whichever team doesn’t get Vegas is in Nashville.

Another year, another “whichever bowl is the absolute lowest you could imagine Minnesota being placed is where they’ll end up.” Whatever.
Gopher fans won't travel well due to level of bowl and being there just a few years ago. Have some snow birds and few but not many.
 





Yep. The Rate Bowl is hoping they get us because of all the snowbirds that are there.
Snowbirds, yes but how many are Gopher fans or football fans that will attend the game? 5,000? If that I would guess. I traveled to Charlotte last year, NYC to see Pinstripe as it was a new bowl, Outback and others. Seeing the Gophers play Cincinatti or even a lack luster Iowa State does nothing to move the needle for me and other fans I've talked to IN MINNESOTA. That 2021 Rate Bowl vs West Virginia (18-6) was one of the worst games I've seen with quality of play and turf conditions. I guess we won though so there's that. Is Rate better than Pinstripe and of course Game Above, of course. But yawn...while Nebraska will get Vegas amd Utah. That would draw a ton of fans.
 

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Snowbirds, yes but how many are Gopher fans or football fans that will attend the game? 5,000? If that I would guess. I traveled to Charlotte last year, NYC to see Pinstripe as it was a new bowl, Outback and others. Seeing the Gophers play Cincinatti or even a lack luster Iowa State does nothing to move the needle for me and other fans I've talked to IN MINNESOTA. That 2021 Rate Bowl vs West Virginia (18-6) was one of the worst games I've seen with quality of play and turf conditions. I guess we won though so there's that. Is Rate better than Pinstripe and of course Game Above, of course. But yawn...while Nebraska will get Vegas amd Utah. That would draw a ton of fans.
The date is another issue, the 26 is an inconvenient date for travel / conflicts.
 




100% agree on that. I would honestly rather have us play like a Wyoming in Boise. Switch it up play new teams, new venues and new fans to chat with. That's just us (friends and I)
So playing a mid-tier G5 school in Boise is better than playing a mid-tier Big12 school in Phoenix in your opinion. Wow!
 

So playing a mid-tier G5 school in Boise is better than playing a mid-tier Big12 school in Phoenix in your opinion. Wow!
Not playing for anything either way. Why does a win over Cincinatti get you all excited? And seeing the team play in Arizona for the 5th or 6th time? If they play a AZ State at Rate Bowl it would be more exciting.
 

In my opinion besides maybe a couple thousand hardcore fans it makes no difference to most if the Gophers are in Vegas, New York, Nashville, or Phoenix. Maybe some dates are a little bit more convenient but its all 3rd tier bowl games and outside of some fans complaining about the opponent or the location, its all basically the same. An extra game for a decent season. Same for the team we will be playing.
 

Kansas State is opting out of a bowl game. The ripple effects of that decision could impact the Gophers. It's something to keep an eye on.
That’s unbelievable. The seniors by and large will never put a helmet on again ya gotta play. Soft.
 

Not playing for anything either way. Why does a win over Cincinatti get you all excited? And seeing the team play in Arizona for the 5th or 6th time? If they play a AZ State at Rate Bowl it would be more exciting.
It’s all about the opponent to me. Whichever bowl matches us up with the most fun (subjective I know) P4 team to play is the best one.
 


In my opinion besides maybe a couple thousand hardcore fans it makes no difference to most if the Gophers are in Vegas, New York, Nashville, or Phoenix. Maybe some dates are a little bit more convenient but its all 3rd tier bowl games and outside of some fans complaining about the opponent or the location, its all basically the same. An extra game for a decent season. Same for the team we will be playing.

Yeah, my only preference is being able to watch on TV without having to take time off from work (or DVRing and watching much later).

The Rate Bowl at 4:30 PM on a Friday, I can handle.
 

Yeah, my only preference is being able to watch on TV without having to take time off from work (or DVRing and watching much later).

The Rate Bowl at 4:30 PM on a Friday, I can handle.
Me too. My daughter goes to school in Phoenix, so it would have been a nice trip if it had not been over her winter break lol
 

Not playing for anything either way. Why does a win over Cincinatti get you all excited? And seeing the team play in Arizona for the 5th or 6th time? If they play a AZ State at Rate Bowl it would be more exciting.
1. A bowl game against Cincinnati or Iowa State etc. isn't a sure thing. Minnesota should be heavily favored in a matchup with Fresno or New Mexico for example. A game in Phoenix would be a better game from a fan perspective.

2. A game in Phoenix against a more challenging opponent would attract much more interest than going to Boise to see what would likely be a one sided game. It's not even close.
 




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