End the season winning a bowl game or losing a first-round playoff game?

[BobPSU92]

Win a bowl game, Franklin gets to tweet 1-0. . He hits the recruiting trail early with a win in his pocket.

Lose in the first round of the playoff, hit the recruiting trail 0-1. Finally make the playoff, but don’t have momentum for recruiting.

 

[CVLion]

I think it’s still momentum for recruiting because it would be our first-ever playoff appearance, showing that we’re at least in the hunt for the big prize that matters way more than a regular bowl win.

 

[LionJim]

From the board mathematician: what you read in the subject line is not an exhaustive list.

But I’ll try to answer honestly: the better of the two options is to lose the first round playoff game. Were this the case you would have had a chance to win the first round playoff game and thus you would have a chance to lose the second round playoff game. Recruiting, schrecruiting. The players we have now are the ones who are going to write our story.

 

[leinbacker]

Win a bowl game, Franklin gets to tweet 1-0. . He hits the recruiting trail early with a win in his pocket.

Lose in the first round of the playoff, hit the recruiting trail 0-1. Finally make the playoff, but don’t have momentum for recruiting.

We could win a bowl game? Even against a middle of the pack SEC team where its their super bowl and half of our starters sit out anticipating the NFL draft?

 

[Bison13]

the NCAA version of the Monty Hall problem.

 

[MaconNitt]

the NCAA version of the Monty Hall problem.

Back in the day I would take Carol Merrill's box

 

[Bob78]

Win a bowl game, Franklin gets to tweet 1-0. . He hits the recruiting trail early with a win in his pocket.

Lose in the first round of the playoff, hit the recruiting trail 0-1. Finally make the playoff, but don’t have momentum for recruiting.

The P4 vs P4, non-NY6 Bowls will be played by many, many non-starters from the regular season, so they will now even more of an exhibition game than they have been. Interesting for fans of the schools to see what the future may hold, but a notch or 3 below what has been.

So, make the playoffs, call the 1st round a de facto bowl game of the new age, and be done with it. The biggest loss will be that 4 otherwise bowl-bound teams and staffs and fans miss out on a fun trip somewhere warm.
Playing round 1 at home - I'd call it the Happy Valley Bowl*, add some hoopla, make it festive and fun, sell some merch, reap the benefits.

* or whatever relevant name --- Nittany Valley Bowl, presented by Sheetz, or what the marketing brain trust comes up with.

 

[LionJim]

Back in the day I would take Carol Merrill's box

You would totally have wrecked that chick.

 

[BobPSU92]

We could win a bowl game? Even against a middle of the pack SEC team where its their super bowl and half of our starters sit out anticipating the NFL draft?

I was assuming Motor City Bowl versus Akron.

 

[BobPSU92]

From the board mathematician: what you read in the subject line is not an exhaustive list.

But I’ll try to answer honestly: the better of the two options is to lose the first round playoff game. Were this the case you would have had a chance to win the first round playoff game and thus you would have a chance to lose the second round playoff game. Recruiting, schrecruiting. The players we have now are the ones who are going to write our story.

I’m exhausted.

 

[MtNittany]

PSU Bowl Games are now modified Blue White Game scrimmages. Only against complete teams.

Is there a way we can lose in the CFP and go on to lose a bowl game in the same season? I'd prefer that.

 

[LionJim]

I’m exhausted.

Because of my post or for some other reason?

 

[BobPSU92]

Because of my post or for some other reason?

Yes.

 

[LionJim]

Yes.

I’m sure it’s all just a misunderstanding.

 

[Nits1989]

Playoffs no question. You're one of the top teams in the country.

 

[MtNittany]

Because of my post or for some other reason?

Victoria's Secret mailer came yesterday. They started featuring women again. Put 2 and 2 together.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

The Bowl games against Arkansas and Mississippi were basically losses before the
game was played because of the opt outs. Playoffs all the way.

 

[LaJollaCreek]

Playoffs no question. You're one of the top teams in the country.

I cannot fathom people even asking this question but then again on this site I'm not surprised.

 

[lemonears]

Win a bowl game, Franklin gets to tweet 1-0. . He hits the recruiting trail early with a win in his pocket.

Lose in the first round of the playoff, hit the recruiting trail 0-1. Finally make the playoff, but don’t have momentum for recruiting.

My opinion is that playing in and winning a traditional (non-playoff) bowl game would hurt recruiting for big time schools like us. With the 12 team playoff times are now different. The traditional bowl games are for losers. Playing in one sends a signal to a recruit that you aren't an elite school. I bet the TV ratings for the non-playoff bowl games will be abysmal this year. I bet that in future years many of them get cancelled.

 

[MtNittany]

My opinion is that playing in and winning a traditional (non-playoff) bowl game would hurt recruiting for big time schools like us. With the 12 team playoff times are now different. The traditional bowl games are for losers. Playing in one sends a signal to a recruit that you aren't an elite school. I bet the TV ratings for the non-playoff bowl games will be abysmal this year. I bet that in future years many of them get cancelled.

With the number of people betting on college football, no game's ratings are abysmal.

 

[Thorndike2021]

The ONLY reason for a team like PSU to ever again play in the Pinstripe Bowl (other than the smallish check) is to get those extra two weeks of practice for the young guys on the team. Your alumni will be the only people watching.

Everyone will be watching the playoff games.

 

[Moogy]

Win a bowl game, Franklin gets to tweet 1-0. . He hits the recruiting trail early with a win in his pocket.

Lose in the first round of the playoff, hit the recruiting trail 0-1. Finally make the playoff, but don’t have momentum for recruiting.

Did we travel back to the 1980s, when anyone last cared about the bowl games?

No one will care that we won in the Fluffernutter Bowl if we miss the playoff.

 

[JWB389]

Playoffs. No question.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

Go 11-1, host a first-round playoff game and what if you lose? No bowl trips for you!!! Otherwise, Penn State fans would making a trip to warm, southern climate with the entire month of December to looking forward to watching Penn State in a NY6 bowl game.

 

[MtNittany]

As an aside, is there NIL money to bring any of Warren, Singleton, Allen, Allar, Carter, etc. back for a year assuming there is unfinished business? This isn't an open and shut case like it was just a few years ago as far as 3 and outs. Why go to the NFL if you can make a few million playing at PSU for another year? Insurance can take care of injury concerns, and you can go to the NFL a year later and get a 3 year contract.