(06-12-2017 03:40 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  I think it's obviously a statemate between the bowl and the TV partner about the time/date slot being proposed for the bowl.

Thing is, Dec 26 - Dec 28 are all already full of games (at least three each day), and so is the 23rd. So wonder if ESPN wants Holiday to go on Dec 21, 22, or 24?

The 22nd looks like the only date open -- 24th runs up against a full slate of NFL games. This would make it the only P5 Bowl game before Christmas. That could make it problematic, as P5 schools do not want to play that early, as the whole point is to get extra practice time.

(Note, only 3 G5 slots after Christmas Heart of Texas, Military, and "playoff access"; only 1 P5 before Christmas in Armed Forces Bowl. We are pretty close to a Division split already.)

(06-13-2017 10:13 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(06-12-2017 03:40 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  I think it's obviously a statemate between the bowl and the TV partner about the time/date slot being proposed for the bowl.

Thing is, Dec 26 - Dec 28 are all already full of games (at least three each day), and so is the 23rd. So wonder if ESPN wants Holiday to go on Dec 21, 22, or 24?

The 22nd looks like the only date open -- 24th runs up against NFLN. This would make it the only P5 Bowl game before Christmas. That could make it problematic, as P5 schools do not want to play that early, as the whole point is to get extra practice time.

(Note, only 3 G5 slots after Christmas Heart of Texas, Military, and "playoff access"; only 1 P5 before Christmas in Armed Forces Bowl. We are pretty close to a Division split already.)

Arizona bowl is post Christmas and is a G5 bowl.

Thanks MWC_Tex,

I missed that one on 12/30. That is very much an outlier. It's almost invisible on CBSSN (need a premium cable for that) and running mostly opposite the Fiesta Bowl.

The Arizona Bowl was originally only going to have "digital" telecasting, and did that for its first two years in partnership with Campus Insiders. The CBSSN deal only first starts this season.

So that might have something to do with the date. It should be moved to before Xmas, with the rest of the G5 bowl games.

Armed Forces bowl is nominally a half and half G5/P5, ideally trying to pair up Army, Navy, or Air Force with a P5. Hasn't always worked out. Frankly, I don't think the Big Ten needs to be in Texas at all for bowl games outside the Cotton Bowl

Holiday Bowl News. Officially on December 28th - a 9 PM ET game on FS1.

http://www.holidaybowl.com/fox-sports-ai...iday-bowl/

(06-13-2017 10:13 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(06-12-2017 03:40 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  I think it's obviously a statemate between the bowl and the TV partner about the time/date slot being proposed for the bowl.

Thing is, Dec 26 - Dec 28 are all already full of games (at least three each day), and so is the 23rd. So wonder if ESPN wants Holiday to go on Dec 21, 22, or 24?

The 22nd looks like the only date open -- 24th runs up against a full slate of NFL games. This would make it the only P5 Bowl game before Christmas. That could make it problematic, as P5 schools do not want to play that early, as the whole point is to get extra practice time.

(Note, only 3 G5 slots after Christmas Heart of Texas, Military, and "playoff access"; only 1 P5 before Christmas in Armed Forces Bowl. We are pretty close to a Division split already.)

Wrong. The Birmingham bowl pits AAC vs. SEC and is after Christmas.

Additionally, the St Pete bowl is AAC vs. ACC 3 out of 6 years and is after Christmas when ACC is involved.

Agree that most of the G4 bowls are pre-Christmas, though.

(06-15-2017 08:47 AM)MplsBison Wrote:  The Arizona Bowl was originally only going to have "digital" telecasting, and did that for its first two years in partnership with Campus Insiders. The CBSSN deal only first starts this season.

So that might have something to do with the date. It should be moved to before Xmas, with the rest of the G5 bowl games.

Armed Forces bowl is nominally a half and half G5/P5, ideally trying to pair up Army, Navy, or Air Force with a P5. Hasn't always worked out. Frankly, I don't think the Big Ten needs to be in Texas at all for bowl games outside the Cotton Bowl

No, it doesn't need to be moved to pre-Christmas. The date works great for Tucson, and was one of the better attended all-G5 Bowls

Broadcasting rights have nothing to do with the date.

(06-15-2017 01:41 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(06-13-2017 10:13 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(06-12-2017 03:40 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  I think it's obviously a statemate between the bowl and the TV partner about the time/date slot being proposed for the bowl.

Thing is, Dec 26 - Dec 28 are all already full of games (at least three each day), and so is the 23rd. So wonder if ESPN wants Holiday to go on Dec 21, 22, or 24?

The 22nd looks like the only date open -- 24th runs up against a full slate of NFL games. This would make it the only P5 Bowl game before Christmas. That could make it problematic, as P5 schools do not want to play that early, as the whole point is to get extra practice time.

(Note, only 3 G5 slots after Christmas Heart of Texas, Military, and "playoff access"; only 1 P5 before Christmas in Armed Forces Bowl. We are pretty close to a Division split already.)

Wrong. The Birmingham bowl pits AAC vs. SEC and is after Christmas. Really, Dec 23rd is after Christmas?

Additionally, the St Pete bowl is AAC vs. ACC 3 out of 6 years and is after Christmas when ACC is involved. This is up for debate. The ACC originally posted it was for two of the 6 years and the AAC states it is 3 of the 6. However, since the Orange bowl is a Semi next year, it seems the ACC would want to have this tie-in in 2018/19

Agree that most of the G4 bowls are pre-Christmas, though.

To be fair, he was speaking of this years bowl schedule. The Birmingham bowl was moved to Pre Christmas to Noon Dec 23rd this year. Which was a bit shocking when this years schedule came out. (Removed incorrect information I posted, please accept my apologies for this mistake.) AAC does have a post Christmas bowl with the Military!

I hope FS1 will go after more bowls next year. Personally, I would love to see bowls start Christmas Eve and be carried on all the cable sports network. I rather have a choice of games than be locked in to one choice. Doubt it ever happens but who knows.

Military Bowl is AAC v. ACC/ND on December 28, no?

1 thing really cool with this is not a single kickoff past 9pm et in the bowls.

The trend is pre-Christmas.

Saturday Dec 16, 2017
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sun Belt vs. C-USA (ESPN 1:00PM ET)
AutoNation Cure Bowl, American vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN 2:30PM ET)
Las Vegas Bowl, MWC vs. Pac-12 (ABC 3:30PM ET)
Gildan New Mexico Bowl, C-USA vs. MWC (ESPN 4:30PM ET)
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 8PM ET)

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017
Boca Raton Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 7PM ET)

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017
Frisco Bowl, American vs. At-Large (ESPN 8PM ET)

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017
St. Petersburg Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 8PM ET)

Friday, Dec. 22, 2017
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, C-USA vs. MAC (ESPN 12:30PM ET)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, MAC vs. MWC (ESPN 4PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017
Birmingham Bowl, SEC vs. American (ESPN 12:00PM ET)
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Army vs. Big Ten (ESPN 3:30PM ET)
Dollar General Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 7PM ET)

Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017
Hawai'i Bowl, American vs. MWC (ESPN 8:30PM ET)

Summary: 14 Bowl games before Christmas, all involve G5 with 24 G5 tie-ins, 3 P5 tie-ins, 1 at-large

The post Christmas G5 Bowl games, 3 games, 4 G5 slots

Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, Big 12 vs. C-USA (ESPN)

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017
Military Bowl, ACC/Notre Dame vs. American (ESPN 1:30PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, MWC vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN, 5:30PM ET)

In addition one G5 school will get in the access NY6 game. I said 3 slots when I missed the Arizona Bowl, which as one poster mentioned should be moved before Christmas. There are 29, and potentially 30 slots for G5 schools, 24 before Christmas. Effectively it is already a lower division.

(06-15-2017 02:12 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The trend is pre-Christmas.

Saturday Dec 16, 2017
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sun Belt vs. C-USA (ESPN 1:00PM ET)
AutoNation Cure Bowl, American vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN 2:30PM ET)
Las Vegas Bowl, MWC vs. Pac-12 (ABC 3:30PM ET)
Gildan New Mexico Bowl, C-USA vs. MWC (ESPN 4:30PM ET)
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 8PM ET)

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017
Boca Raton Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 7PM ET)

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017
Frisco Bowl, American vs. At-Large (ESPN 8PM ET)

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017
St. Petersburg Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 8PM ET)

Friday, Dec. 22, 2017
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, C-USA vs. MAC (ESPN 12:30PM ET)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, MAC vs. MWC (ESPN 4PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017
Birmingham Bowl, SEC vs. American (ESPN 12:00PM ET)
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Army vs. Big Ten (ESPN 3:30PM ET)
Dollar General Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 7PM ET)

Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017
Hawai'i Bowl, American vs. MWC (ESPN 8:30PM ET)

Summary: 14 Bowl games before Christmas, all involve G5 with 24 G5 tie-ins, 3 P5 tie-ins, 1 at-large

The post Christmas G5 Bowl games, 3 games, 4 G5 slots

Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, Big 12 vs. C-USA (ESPN)

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017
Military Bowl, ACC/Notre Dame vs. American (ESPN 1:30PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, MWC vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN, 5:30PM ET)

In addition one G5 school will get in the access NY6 game. I said 3 slots when I missed the Arizona Bowl, which as one poster mentioned should be moved before Christmas. There are 29, and potentially 30 slots for G5 schools, 24 before Christmas. Effectively it is already a lower division.

No. Every year there's a few non P5 teams that weren't scheduled to play after Christmas that do. See the Cactus Bowl last year. A very late bowl that is scheduled as a PAC vs Big 12 game. The MWC has the back up and filled it last year when the PAC could not. The year before the Big 12 was able to sneak in a 5-7 team to fill it. There have been years before that where the Holiday Bowl snuck in a 5-7 PAC team to play Nebraska. If the NCAA stops letting 5-7 P5 teams play in these bowls the AAC/MWC/BYU can send a solid replacement.

(06-15-2017 03:18 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(06-15-2017 02:12 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The trend is pre-Christmas.

Saturday Dec 16, 2017
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sun Belt vs. C-USA (ESPN 1:00PM ET)
AutoNation Cure Bowl, American vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN 2:30PM ET)
Las Vegas Bowl, MWC vs. Pac-12 (ABC 3:30PM ET)
Gildan New Mexico Bowl, C-USA vs. MWC (ESPN 4:30PM ET)
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 8PM ET)

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017
Boca Raton Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 7PM ET)

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017
Frisco Bowl, American vs. At-Large (ESPN 8PM ET)

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017
St. Petersburg Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 8PM ET)

Friday, Dec. 22, 2017
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, C-USA vs. MAC (ESPN 12:30PM ET)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, MAC vs. MWC (ESPN 4PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017
Birmingham Bowl, SEC vs. American (ESPN 12:00PM ET)
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Army vs. Big Ten (ESPN 3:30PM ET)
Dollar General Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 7PM ET)

Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017
Hawai'i Bowl, American vs. MWC (ESPN 8:30PM ET)

Summary: 14 Bowl games before Christmas, all involve G5 with 24 G5 tie-ins, 3 P5 tie-ins, 1 at-large

The post Christmas G5 Bowl games, 3 games, 4 G5 slots

Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, Big 12 vs. C-USA (ESPN)

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017
Military Bowl, ACC/Notre Dame vs. American (ESPN 1:30PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, MWC vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN, 5:30PM ET)

In addition one G5 school will get in the access NY6 game. I said 3 slots when I missed the Arizona Bowl, which as one poster mentioned should be moved before Christmas. There are 29, and potentially 30 slots for G5 schools, 24 before Christmas. Effectively it is already a lower division.

No. Every year there's a few non P5 teams that weren't scheduled to play after Christmas that do. See the Cactus Bowl last year. A very late bowl that is scheduled as a PAC vs Big 12 game. The MWC has the back up and filled it last year when the PAC could not. The year before the Big 12 was able to sneak in a 5-7 team to fill it. There have been years before that where the Holiday Bowl snuck in a 5-7 PAC team to play Nebraska. If the NCAA stops letting 5-7 P5 teams play in these bowls the AAC/MWC/BYU can send a solid replacement.

You do understand that ALL teams that were 6-6 or better got to go bowling the last 2 years, even with 5-7 teams.

(06-15-2017 03:22 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(06-15-2017 03:18 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(06-15-2017 02:12 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The trend is pre-Christmas.

Saturday Dec 16, 2017
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sun Belt vs. C-USA (ESPN 1:00PM ET)
AutoNation Cure Bowl, American vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN 2:30PM ET)
Las Vegas Bowl, MWC vs. Pac-12 (ABC 3:30PM ET)
Gildan New Mexico Bowl, C-USA vs. MWC (ESPN 4:30PM ET)
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 8PM ET)

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017
Boca Raton Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 7PM ET)

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017
Frisco Bowl, American vs. At-Large (ESPN 8PM ET)

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017
St. Petersburg Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 8PM ET)

Friday, Dec. 22, 2017
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, C-USA vs. MAC (ESPN 12:30PM ET)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, MAC vs. MWC (ESPN 4PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017
Birmingham Bowl, SEC vs. American (ESPN 12:00PM ET)
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Army vs. Big Ten (ESPN 3:30PM ET)
Dollar General Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 7PM ET)

Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017
Hawai'i Bowl, American vs. MWC (ESPN 8:30PM ET)

Summary: 14 Bowl games before Christmas, all involve G5 with 24 G5 tie-ins, 3 P5 tie-ins, 1 at-large

The post Christmas G5 Bowl games, 3 games, 4 G5 slots

Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, Big 12 vs. C-USA (ESPN)

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017
Military Bowl, ACC/Notre Dame vs. American (ESPN 1:30PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, MWC vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN, 5:30PM ET)

In addition one G5 school will get in the access NY6 game. I said 3 slots when I missed the Arizona Bowl, which as one poster mentioned should be moved before Christmas. There are 29, and potentially 30 slots for G5 schools, 24 before Christmas. Effectively it is already a lower division.

No. Every year there's a few non P5 teams that weren't scheduled to play after Christmas that do. See the Cactus Bowl last year. A very late bowl that is scheduled as a PAC vs Big 12 game. The MWC has the back up and filled it last year when the PAC could not. The year before the Big 12 was able to sneak in a 5-7 team to fill it. There have been years before that where the Holiday Bowl snuck in a 5-7 PAC team to play Nebraska. If the NCAA stops letting 5-7 P5 teams play in these bowls the AAC/MWC/BYU can send a solid replacement.

You do understand that ALL teams that were 6-6 or better got to go bowling the last 2 years, even with 5-7 teams.

Yes. 6-6 is fine. 5-7 is not.

(06-15-2017 02:01 PM)msm96wolf Wrote:  

(06-15-2017 01:41 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(06-13-2017 10:13 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  

(06-12-2017 03:40 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  I think it's obviously a statemate between the bowl and the TV partner about the time/date slot being proposed for the bowl.

Thing is, Dec 26 - Dec 28 are all already full of games (at least three each day), and so is the 23rd. So wonder if ESPN wants Holiday to go on Dec 21, 22, or 24?

The 22nd looks like the only date open -- 24th runs up against a full slate of NFL games. This would make it the only P5 Bowl game before Christmas. That could make it problematic, as P5 schools do not want to play that early, as the whole point is to get extra practice time.

(Note, only 3 G5 slots after Christmas Heart of Texas, Military, and "playoff access"; only 1 P5 before Christmas in Armed Forces Bowl. We are pretty close to a Division split already.)

Wrong. The Birmingham bowl pits AAC vs. SEC and is after Christmas. Really, Dec 23rd is after Christmas?

Additionally, the St Pete bowl is AAC vs. ACC 3 out of 6 years and is after Christmas when ACC is involved. This is up for debate. The ACC originally posted it was for two of the 6 years and the AAC states it is 3 of the 6. However, since the Orange bowl is a Semi next year, it seems the ACC would want to have this tie-in in 2018/19

Agree that most of the G4 bowls are pre-Christmas, though.

To be fair, he was speaking of this years bowl schedule. The Birmingham bowl was moved to Pre Christmas to Noon Dec 23rd this year. Which was a bit shocking when this years schedule came out. It put the AAC as the only G5 with no scheduled post-Christmas bowl game for this season. Granted I think the AAC will end up in a post season bowl if there is an opening in Indy or Liberty but as of now the AAC does not have a post Christmas bowl tie-in for this year.

OK, I was wrong about Birmingham, it has always been played post-Christmas, so not sure why it was moved before Christmas this year. We'll see if that is a trend next year. I think that is because the only other option was to play it on the 30th. Next year when it gets played on the 27-29th, it'll be back to post-Christmas, IMO.

(06-15-2017 02:12 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The trend is pre-Christmas.

Saturday Dec 16, 2017
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sun Belt vs. C-USA (ESPN 1:00PM ET)
AutoNation Cure Bowl, American vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN 2:30PM ET)
Las Vegas Bowl, MWC vs. Pac-12 (ABC 3:30PM ET)
Gildan New Mexico Bowl, C-USA vs. MWC (ESPN 4:30PM ET)
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 8PM ET)

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017
Boca Raton Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 7PM ET)

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017
Frisco Bowl, American vs. At-Large (ESPN 8PM ET)

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017
St. Petersburg Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 8PM ET)

Friday, Dec. 22, 2017
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, C-USA vs. MAC (ESPN 12:30PM ET)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, MAC vs. MWC (ESPN 4PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017
Birmingham Bowl, SEC vs. American (ESPN 12:00PM ET)
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Army vs. Big Ten (ESPN 3:30PM ET)
Dollar General Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 7PM ET)

Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017
Hawai'i Bowl, American vs. MWC (ESPN 8:30PM ET)

Summary: 14 Bowl games before Christmas, all involve G5 with 24 G5 tie-ins, 3 P5 tie-ins, 1 at-large

The post Christmas G5 Bowl games, 3 games, 4 G5 slots

Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, Big 12 vs. C-USA (ESPN)

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017
Military Bowl, ACC/Notre Dame vs. American (ESPN 1:30PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, MWC vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN, 5:30PM ET)

In addition one G5 school will get in the access NY6 game. I said 3 slots when I missed the Arizona Bowl, which as one poster mentioned should be moved before Christmas. There are 29, and potentially 30 slots for G5 schools, 24 before Christmas. Effectively it is already a lower division.

Every other year (this year isn't one of them), the AAC has 3-4 bowls that are post-Christmas. You just happened to pick the off year in your analysis.

Usually in even number years the AAC has:

Birmingham vs. SEC
Military vs. ACC
St. Pete vs. ACC
Armed Forces vs. Big 12

With at least 3 of those 4 being post Christmas. So I don't really see this trend you're speaking of. As I pointed out, the Birmingham Bowl has always been post Christmas (except for this year). The St Pete bowl is also post Christmas next year as well (or should be, based off previously scheduled AAC/ACC St Pete bowls).

(06-15-2017 01:09 PM)Nittany_Bearcat Wrote:  Holiday Bowl News. Officially on December 28th - a 9 PM ET game on FS1.

http://www.holidaybowl.com/fox-sports-ai...iday-bowl/

Thanks!

Should be more than reasonable for fans ... Thurs night game with Monday Xmas.

(06-15-2017 01:54 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  No, it doesn't need to be moved to pre-Christmas. The date works great for Tucson, and was one of the better attended all-G5 Bowls

Broadcasting rights have nothing to do with the date.

TV absolutely gets to dictate the date of the bowl ... it has to fit in with a TV lineup of bowl games and other sporting events.

You know full well that in-person attendance takes a back seat to the needs of TV, these days.

(06-15-2017 02:04 PM)YNot Wrote:  Military Bowl is AAC v. ACC/ND on December 28, no?

You are correct, I missed that one. Thanks for catching that error.

(06-15-2017 03:44 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(06-15-2017 02:12 PM)Stugray2 Wrote:  The trend is pre-Christmas.

Saturday Dec 16, 2017
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Sun Belt vs. C-USA (ESPN 1:00PM ET)
AutoNation Cure Bowl, American vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN 2:30PM ET)
Las Vegas Bowl, MWC vs. Pac-12 (ABC 3:30PM ET)
Gildan New Mexico Bowl, C-USA vs. MWC (ESPN 4:30PM ET)
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 8PM ET)

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017
Boca Raton Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 7PM ET)

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017
Frisco Bowl, American vs. At-Large (ESPN 8PM ET)

Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017
St. Petersburg Bowl, American vs. C-USA (ESPN 8PM ET)

Friday, Dec. 22, 2017
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, C-USA vs. MAC (ESPN 12:30PM ET)
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, MAC vs. MWC (ESPN 4PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017
Birmingham Bowl, SEC vs. American (ESPN 12:00PM ET)
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Army vs. Big Ten (ESPN 3:30PM ET)
Dollar General Bowl, MAC vs. Sun Belt (ESPN 7PM ET)

Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017
Hawai'i Bowl, American vs. MWC (ESPN 8:30PM ET)

Summary: 14 Bowl games before Christmas, all involve G5 with 24 G5 tie-ins, 3 P5 tie-ins, 1 at-large

The post Christmas G5 Bowl games, 3 games, 4 G5 slots

Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl, Big 12 vs. C-USA (ESPN)

Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017
Military Bowl, ACC/Notre Dame vs. American (ESPN 1:30PM ET)

Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017
NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, MWC vs. Sun Belt (CBSSN, 5:30PM ET)

In addition one G5 school will get in the access NY6 game. I said 3 slots when I missed the Arizona Bowl, which as one poster mentioned should be moved before Christmas. There are 29, and potentially 30 slots for G5 schools, 24 before Christmas. Effectively it is already a lower division.

Every other year (this year isn't one of them), the AAC has 3-4 bowls that are post-Christmas. You just happened to pick the off year in your analysis.

Usually in even number years the AAC has:

Birmingham vs. SEC
Military vs. ACC
St. Pete vs. ACC
Armed Forces vs. Big 12

With at least 3 of those 4 being post Christmas. So I don't really see this trend you're speaking of. As I pointed out, the Birmingham Bowl has always been post Christmas (except for this year). The St Pete bowl is also post Christmas next year as well (or should be, based off previously scheduled AAC/ACC St Pete bowls).

First, my apologies again for missing the Military. However, you are incorrect, Armed Forces was moved to Dec 23rd last year and again this year will be on the 23rd. Military has been the only consistent since 2014 that has been post Christmas. Again, I will say that has more to do with the ACC, if they pull out and it was another G5 i think it would move to pre-Christmas. I am not sure it can be said the AAC drives post Christmas slots, it is more of the P5 teams. Again, why I was shocked the SEC agreed to this, then again I think the SEC is shocked when they send teams to Birmingham and Indy bowls. I think the bowl contracts will probably be a good indication of how the TV contract will go. Keep these P5 matchups, I think it bodes well. Lose them, I think that is the canary in the coal mine. No one will know until summer of 2019.