People who think there are too many bowl games as it is may want to look away.
According to a report from ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, members of the so-called “Group of Five” -- or, the five non-power conferences consisting of the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt -- are looking to add additional bowls for next year’s postseason with as many as nine different locations being considered. Those locations (reportedly) are: Miami; Orlando; Little Rock, Ark.; Boca Raton, Fla.; Montgomery, Ala.; Los Angeles; Ireland; Dubai*; and either Toronto or Nassau, the Bahamas.
(*LOLWUT?)
With 2013 being the last year of this four-year bowl cycle, many power conferences have already adjusted their bowl lineups for 2014, the start of a new six-year bowl cycle. McMurphy reports that, under the new cycle, there will be a minimum of 19 bowls matching teams from power conferences -- perhaps more. That will likely leave certain bowl eligible teams from non-power conferences without a chance to lose money spot in a bowl game. Contrarily, adding more bowls could result in not enough bowl eligible teams, something that’s been a problem the past couple of years.
The American Athletic Conference has been vocal about creating a new bowl in south Florida, with Marlins Park in Miami being a possible site. While the American would prefer an opponent from a power conference, a “Group of Five” opponent could be more likely.
But, for real though. UNT in the freakin’ Bahamas? You can have your Pinstripe Bowl, Big Ten.
