http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...ources-say

This could become a great bowl if it matches MAC champ against MWC champ.

This is fantastic news. If the MWC and MAC can keep playing at the level they have been, this really will be an entertaining bowl to watch each year.

Good news but Idaho is not that ideal of a destination.


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(08-14-2013 01:00 PM)BobL Wrote:  This could become a great bowl if it matches MAC champ against MWC champ.

Yeah, I can't say I'm familiar with all the MWC bowls in 2014, but I get the feeling this will be down the ladder for them as they are normally aligned with the Pac 16 with at least one of the bowls. But, with the landscape changing in 2014, I'm not sure how it will be. I would love to see a great matchup here every year.

(08-14-2013 01:00 PM)BobL Wrote:  This could become a great bowl if it matches MAC champ against MWC champ.

It beats a matchup with the winner of the Sunbelt. Also, as the relationship develops, it could lead to an opportunity for 1 and 1 series with some of the MWC teams playing in DeKalb during the regular season. While they are not AQ teams, they would be more entertaining that the teams we have been able to bring in recently, mix in occasional visits from the military academies with the occasional BCS game in Soldier Field and suddenly our scheduling looks much stronger.

This is vs the #5 or #6 MWC team not counting if they have a team make an access bowl.

The #3 MAC team should be frequently favored in this bowl.

Would like to see this game in a nice destination, i.e. LA or something like that. Plus it's very expensive to fly out to Boise, Idaho.

(08-14-2013 02:14 PM)JCCNIU31 Wrote:  Good news but Idaho is not that ideal of a destination.


Sent from my iPhone.

It is for this Utah Huskie, and we have a home Idaho also flying the Huskie Flag!!!

(08-14-2013 03:11 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  This is vs the #5 or #6 MWC team not counting if they have a team make an access bowl.

The #3 MAC team should be frequently favored in this bowl.

Currently yes, but who knows about the future...so much is gonna change. Was not that long ago MWC and CUSA were talking about a "championship" game...now CUSA is not what it was.

I also seem to recall that had NIU won the MACC in 2010 there was talk about Boise and NIU in Potato Bowl(they were WAC then). The idea being a game between the 2 highest ranked non-AQ's not in a BCS game.

(08-14-2013 01:00 PM)BobL Wrote:  This could become a great bowl if it matches MAC champ against MWC champ.

Go Daddy has first pick...

Keep in mind that ESPN now owns this bowl and rumors have been swirling that some of the lower tier bowls may participate in a pairing pool and/or trade teams certain years. If that were to occur it is possible the MAC could get traded out of the game some years.

(08-14-2013 06:14 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote:  Keep in mind that ESPN now owns this bowl and rumors have been swirling that some of the lower tier bowls may participate in a pairing pool and/or trade teams certain years. If that were to occur it is possible the MAC could get traded out of the game some years.

It a great bowl for players from the south or Midwest. It's a crappy bowl for their fan bases other than its viewer friendly being on Saturday late afternoon.

And so it would seem to be confirmed:

Brian Murphy ‏@murphsturph 47m
Mountain West will have 1 "out" year in new 6-year deals with Vegas, Hawaii bowls. Team will shift to different ESPN-owned game

It would seems ESPN is upping its stake in the lower tier bowls to manipulate the match-ups and maximize ratings. I would guess this could work in the MAC's favor some years / for some bowls and work against the league / some bowl eligible programs in other years.

Maybe an NIU v Hawaii matchup in the future. Would love to have the Rainbows schedule NIU on their schedule in the future.

(08-15-2013 01:58 PM)pjfleck82 Wrote:  Maybe an NIU v Hawaii matchup in the future. Would love to have the Rainbows schedule NIU on their schedule in the future.

While a bowl matchup in Hawaii would be lovely, it would preclude the vast majority of NIU fans from attending. Airfares are very expensive and you can't drive there. It would need to be a special vacation.

I would certainly not mind seeing a game in Vegas! Airfares are not too expensive, and you can get a deal on hotels. Works very well for me because I have relatives there.

(08-15-2013 02:18 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(08-15-2013 01:58 PM)pjfleck82 Wrote:  Maybe an NIU v Hawaii matchup in the future. Would love to have the Rainbows schedule NIU on their schedule in the future.

While a bowl matchup in Hawaii would be lovely, it would preclude the vast majority of NIU fans from attending. Airfares are very expensive and you can't drive there. It would need to be a special vacation.

I would certainly not mind seeing a game in Vegas! Airfares are not too expensive, and you can get a deal on hotels. Works very well for me because I have relatives there.

Why am I not surprised?

(08-15-2013 02:18 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I would certainly not mind seeing a game in Vegas! Airfares are not too expensive, and you can get a deal on hotels.

+1. Been waiting a long time for this one.