Exactly they are played with family in town. You reach a point where you want to watch football and ignore your family
ISU Bowl Projection
- Thread starter Chitowncy
- Start date
Agree on those points. I'll never complain about Orlando as an option in our conference rotation. Weather is nice, plenty to do, especially if you're a fan of SeaWorld, Universal, or Disney. Downside, but it is very spread out and can get pretty expensive. The stadium isn't really in the best area either.
San Antonio was the best of the bowl game experiences I've been to yet. Not overly expensive considering other options, very centrally located (you can walk to AlamoDome from the RiverWalk if you're in good shape) food is amazing if you're a fan of the local cuisine. Alamo is a neat tour that a history fan should do at least once.
Bowl games will get great ratings, relative to other sports, because of the time of year and lack of working. I will watch them all.
I will never travel to another Iowa State non-CFP game due to opt outs and perceived questionable motivation.
It is what it is.
The number one thing for Iowa State has always needed was reasonable access to the playoff. They have that. For the first time in our lifetime, the cyclones played several games that were relevant to the national playoff in November and December.
That is big in my opinion. The middle to lower class big 10 teams traded access for TV money and have to live with it. The death of divisions took away many of their chances to be relevant nationally late in the year.
I will never travel to another Iowa State non-CFP game due to opt outs and perceived questionable motivation.
It is what it is.
The number one thing for Iowa State has always needed was reasonable access to the playoff. They have that. For the first time in our lifetime, the cyclones played several games that were relevant to the national playoff in November and December.
That is big in my opinion. The middle to lower class big 10 teams traded access for TV money and have to live with it. The death of divisions took away many of their chances to be relevant nationally late in the year.
Last edited:
Insight/Fiesta is a wonderful time. Anyone who went to Insight in 2001 or 2009 knows the city "embraces" the bowl. Was sad 2020 Fiesta was during Covid and they didn't allow fans.
My best to worst ISU bowl places I have been to:
1. Alamo Bowl - SA, TX
2. Insight/Fiesta - PHX area, AZ
3. Cheez It/Camping/Pop Tart - Orlando, FL
4. Liberty Bowl - Memphis, TN
5. Houston Bowl - Houston, TX
6. Independence Bowl - Shreveport, LS
7. Pinstripe Bowl - NYC, NY
8. Potato Bowl - Boise, ID
7 & 8 I would never attend again. San Antonio, PHX, or Houston would all be my preferred places to revisit. Orlando & Memphis I've done twice now in recent memory so I'd rather go to Texas or Arizona again first.
I think you just have to frame it right in your mind - yes, you want a competitive game with your best guys, but that doesn't always exist after the regular season.
Instead, if you look at it as a chance to go to somewhere warm, hang out for a few days with other ISU fans, a few days off work, plus you get to watch a game - count me in.
2025 Edition:
So, NOW where will ISU Bowl?
Currently 5-2 with an uncertain future?
I suppose San Antonio or Orlando are possible if ISU finishes 10-2 or 9-3.
Hopefully, Memphis is out under all scenarios.
So, how about Houston vs. an SEC team if ISU finishes 8-4 or 7-5?
What say you?
So, NOW where will ISU Bowl?
Currently 5-2 with an uncertain future?
I suppose San Antonio or Orlando are possible if ISU finishes 10-2 or 9-3.
Hopefully, Memphis is out under all scenarios.
So, how about Houston vs. an SEC team if ISU finishes 8-4 or 7-5?
What say you?
I think the issue with the Texas bowl is they usually prefer to pull at least one team from Texas if not both. Which I personally think is dumb. I am sure they think it is good because they pull in more fans from Texas, but I would think fans of Texas schools would like to get out of Texas too. And teams outside of Texas would like to get a chance to go there.
So, with multiple Texas schools in the B12 it always seams like one of those is preferred for that.
I think we would have to win out at this point to make the Alamo, so I dont see that
The Pop Tart bowl is probably the best we can hope for at this point, and we may need help to get there.
Then we have Texas, in Houston, which I spoke about above.
Liberty in Memphis, Yuck, we dont need that again.
Rate in Phoenix is probably one of the better locations, and I think against B10, so decent game, just the date is not great, although it is a Friday so not terrible.
Independence has an ok date, and bad location, and is a pretty meh bowl.
So I think our best options, that are probably realistic, is Texas or Rate, I guess, I just hate to say we probably end up in the Liberty or Independence.
After leaving ISU out completely last week Bonagura has the Cyclones in the Texas Bowl vs. Oklahoma.
Schlabach picked the Armed Forces bowl against Northwestern.
www.espn.com
Schlabach picked the Armed Forces bowl against Northwestern.
College Football Playoff, bowl projections after Week 7
Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech -- and, of course, Indiana -- continue to surprise in the bowl picture.
Matteer vs. our secondary. Ouch. I’d go to Phoenix or Vegas. Anything else is a big no thanks.After leaving ISU out completely last week Bonagura has the Cyclones in the Texas Bowl vs. Oklahoma.
Schlabach picked the Armed Forces bowl against Northwestern.
College Football Playoff, bowl projections after Week 7
Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech -- and, of course, Indiana -- continue to surprise in the bowl picture.
My ISU bowl projection:
I project that ISU fans should smoke a bowl before watching ISU. You'll feel better... I guarantee it.
I project that ISU fans should smoke a bowl before watching ISU. You'll feel better... I guarantee it.
Seems like a solid assessment to me.I think the issue with the Texas bowl is they usually prefer to pull at least one team from Texas if not both. Which I personally think is dumb. I am sure they think it is good because they pull in more fans from Texas, but I would think fans of Texas schools would like to get out of Texas too. And teams outside of Texas would like to get a chance to go there.
So, with multiple Texas schools in the B12 it always seams like one of those is preferred for that.
I think we would have to win out at this point to make the Alamo, so I dont see that
The Pop Tart bowl is probably the best we can hope for at this point, and we may need help to get there.
Then we have Texas, in Houston, which I spoke about above.
Liberty in Memphis, Yuck, we dont need that again.
Rate in Phoenix is probably one of the better locations, and I think against B10, so decent game, just the date is not great, although it is a Friday so not terrible.
Independence has an ok date, and bad location, and is a pretty meh bowl.
So I think our best options, that are probably realistic, is Texas or Rate, I guess, I just hate to say we probably end up in the Liberty or Independence.
If ISU could attain Pop-Tarts level, do you think there's a chance of getting bumped to avoid having repeat B12 rep? That'd be another thing working against us, in addition to having to leap over several teams already ahead.
Im would guess that could be part of the process too. How much that matters I am not sure, but it may be at least a small factor, especially if we are an even pick with another school. Our Fan travel reputation may overtake some of that issue though.
