Tony the Tiger Bowl Thread presented by Jimmy Kimmel

[utee94]

I think the Cotton has fallen off the most.  I think it gets grandfathered in a bit, but whatever year it went SEC vs Big 12 low seeds, it was down a peg or two.  I know it's in the CFP now, but for me, its reputationally not back to where it was.
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What year did the Fiesta pass it?  Has it passed it back?
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On non-CFP seasons, the Cotton seems kind of like a dumping ground with Western Michigan and Memphis having played in it the past few years.

I think we can pin it on a very specific date, which would be January 2nd, 1987.  Since the Fiesta had no specific conference tie-ins, it was the only major bowl that was able to offer independent #2 PSU and independent #1 Miami a chance to play one another for a clear shot at the MNC. 

At the same time, the woes of the SWC and its lackluster conference champions, were dragging down the prestige of the Cotton Bowl.

That's the point where the Fiesta surpassed the Cotton, at least with respect to quality matchups.  It will never be able to match it in tradition and history, since it's only been around since 1971 and effectively missed out on The Golden Years which cemented much of college football's history and lore.

As for whether the Cotton has passed it back?  I'd say no, but I'm also not certain it really matters anymore.  As long as you're a NY6/CFP participant, it's enough. Last year as a CFP semifinal the Cotton got 16.6M viewers for Alabama-Cincy, while the Fiesta was just a NY6 and didn't even manage half that, at 7.96M viewers for ND-OkState. 

[FearlessF]

I was one of them.

me too

[ELA]

I think the Cotton has rebounded in the CFP era. If you had asked me during the BCS era, then it was easily the Cotton

[bayareabadger]

I think we can pin it on a very specific date, which would be January 2nd, 1987.  Since the Fiesta had no specific conference tie-ins, it was the only major bowl that was able to offer independent #2 PSU and independent #1 Miami a chance to play one another for a clear shot at the MNC.

At the same time, the woes of the SWC and its lackluster conference champions, were dragging down the prestige of the Cotton Bowl.

That's the point where the Fiesta surpassed the Cotton, at least with respect to quality matchups.  It will never be able to match it in tradition and history, since it's only been around since 1971 and effectively missed out on The Golden Years which cemented much of college football's history and lore.

As for whether the Cotton has passed it back?  I'd say no, but I'm also not certain it really matters anymore.  As long as you're a NY6/CFP participant, it's enough. Last year as a CFP semifinal the Cotton got 16.6M viewers for Alabama-Cincy, while the Fiesta was just a NY6 and didn't even manage half that, at 7.96M viewers for ND-OkState.

Good history. I know Fiesta is also legendary for the way it treats folks. They wine and dine, have the best hotel. Mix that with the weather and you can guess why it started to win out.

[Cincydawg]

It's funny to me a bit how the Peach Bowl barely survived back in the day.  Then they hit on SEC-ACC matchups usually with teams in driving distance and had a minor hit.

[MarqHusker]

Georgia Dome really helped the Peach Bowl.   I remember watching Peach as a kid, and while the matchups where whatever (it was a Bowl Game!  one of less than 20!, I watched)  it was at Fulton County Stadium which typically meant dreary, sloppy field, not so attractive games.  It was the Independence Bowl on steroids in a big city.

[FearlessF]

southwest better than southeast for weather

usually

[MrNubbz]

 it was at Fulton County Stadium which typically meant dreary, sloppy field, not so attractive games.

You mean actual football games

[CatsbyAZ]

Quick Lane Bowl at halftime - New Mexico State leading Bowling Green 14-0. Only SECOND bowl trip in past SIXTY years for NM State. Good work by Jerry Kill who is getting the Aggies to a bowl in this, his first season in Las Cruces. Completely forgot Jerry Kill took a job there.

[ELA]

https://twitter.com/CarterKarels/status/1607783580708503555?t=puoLIr9RgEA-4V6aDrw1wg&s=19

[ELA]

Feels too close to NYD for such a ho hum full day bowl lineup

[ELA]

Best Wisconsin has looked all season

[FearlessF]

LUKE!!!

[bayareabadger]

Best Wisconsin has looked all season

Not sure about that. That cowboy offense was pretty threadbare.

It might be the best they’ve made me feel this year, outside the Purdue game.