The unofficial online home for fans of the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

To all of you'z who don't like the little piddly bowls... what, would you rather watch soccer?

Bahamas Bowl: MTSU 31, Toledo 24
Cure Bowl: Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41
Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky 59, Appalachian State 38
New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State 31, UTEP 24
Independence Bowl: UAB 31, No. 13 BYU 28
LendingTree Bowl: Liberty 56, Eastern Michigan
LA Bowl: Utah State 24, Oregon State 13
New Orleans Bowl: No. 23 Louisiana 36, Marshall 21
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Tulsa 30 ODU 17
Potato Bowl: Wyoming 52 Kent 38
Frisco Bowl: SDSU 38 UTSA 24
Armed Forces Bowl: Army 24 MO 22 Army made a 41 yard FG as time expired. It was kickers longest of year. Had he missed he would have got another try as MO was guilty of an Illegal Substitution (two #6's on field). On the prior possession MO went for 2 after TD but missed a wide open receiver.

CUSA +3 -4
SBC +2 -1
MW +4
IND +2 -1
MAC -4
P12 -1
AAC +1
SEC -1

(12-22-2021 02:17 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  I know it's dangerous to try to read too much into one season's bowl results but the MAC has simply been shut out this December.

Maybe the conference will be competitive in FCS if it elects to go that direction but in terms of FBS competitiveness, attendance, fans, and media interest it appears to be fading fast.

Being a grad of one those MAC schools that was ranked in the top 10 when I was there, it's really sad to see. With the way things are going, I guess it makes sense. What are the cost savings going to FCS? Was the MACtion deal really what did them in? The MAC has taken the biggest stumble out of all the conferences, except maybe CUSA. I think CUSA's problem has been the revolving door of schools. The MAC hasn't had that problem.

(12-23-2021 08:20 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  

(12-22-2021 02:17 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  I know it's dangerous to try to read too much into one season's bowl results but the MAC has simply been shut out this December.

Maybe the conference will be competitive in FCS if it elects to go that direction but in terms of FBS competitiveness, attendance, fans, and media interest it appears to be fading fast.

Being a grad of one those MAC schools that was ranked in the top 10 when I was there, it's really sad to see. With the way things are going, I guess it makes sense. What are the cost savings going to FCS? Was the MACtion deal really what did them in? The MAC has taken the biggest stumble out of all the conferences, except maybe CUSA. I think CUSA's problem has been the revolving door of schools. The MAC hasn't had that problem.

CUSA also signed a streaming only media deal. The lack of visibility has probably really hurt their recruiting.

(12-23-2021 08:20 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  

(12-22-2021 02:17 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  I know it's dangerous to try to read too much into one season's bowl results but the MAC has simply been shut out this December.

Maybe the conference will be competitive in FCS if it elects to go that direction but in terms of FBS competitiveness, attendance, fans, and media interest it appears to be fading fast.

Being a grad of one those MAC schools that was ranked in the top 10 when I was there, it's really sad to see. With the way things are going, I guess it makes sense. What are the cost savings going to FCS? Was the MACtion deal really what did them in? The MAC has taken the biggest stumble out of all the conferences, except maybe CUSA. I think CUSA's problem has been the revolving door of schools. The MAC hasn't had that problem.

There are eight FBS schools in Ohio. That is too many, the talent is just spread thin. On top of that you have Youngstown State which probably has some guys that could easily be playing at Akron and/or Kent State.

You are a Miami grad so you know this as well as anyone, but MAC grads and students care more about Ohio State than they do their alma mater. My wife's two cousins graduated from Kent State, the only time they have ever been to a Kent game was in Columbus against OSU... and these two guys love sports.

I don't know if the MAC schools will willingly drop to FCS. As soon as they make the move, these schools are going to take a bit hit in perception and will likely lose students to other schools across the state.

(12-22-2021 10:27 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  To all of you'z who don't like the little piddly bowls... what, would you rather watch soccer?

Or the cornhole tourneys that found their way to ESPN during the 2020 lockdown.

I’d rather read a book or watch a series than some pre-Christmas bowl. But I’ve already turned 50 so my time is getting more valuable.

(12-23-2021 08:54 AM)RuckleSt Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 08:20 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  

(12-22-2021 02:17 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  I know it's dangerous to try to read too much into one season's bowl results but the MAC has simply been shut out this December.

Maybe the conference will be competitive in FCS if it elects to go that direction but in terms of FBS competitiveness, attendance, fans, and media interest it appears to be fading fast.

Being a grad of one those MAC schools that was ranked in the top 10 when I was there, it's really sad to see. With the way things are going, I guess it makes sense. What are the cost savings going to FCS? Was the MACtion deal really what did them in? The MAC has taken the biggest stumble out of all the conferences, except maybe CUSA. I think CUSA's problem has been the revolving door of schools. The MAC hasn't had that problem.

CUSA also signed a streaming only media deal. The lack of visibility has probably really hurt their recruiting.

And yet CUSA is 3 won 4 lost, whereas MAC is 0-4.

Didn't MACTION give them visibility and revenue? Attendance at these games is crappy but MAC attendance on Saturday's is crappy.

CUSA will have 9 FB schools. UMess wants in, which makes sense. It would make sense for UConn to join them. That would mean 11 FB schools.

Then only ND and Army are left as INDY. Both can pull off being INDY. The said Army could return to CUSA in FB.

(12-23-2021 09:55 AM)doss2 Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 08:54 AM)RuckleSt Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 08:20 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  

(12-22-2021 02:17 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  I know it's dangerous to try to read too much into one season's bowl results but the MAC has simply been shut out this December.

Maybe the conference will be competitive in FCS if it elects to go that direction but in terms of FBS competitiveness, attendance, fans, and media interest it appears to be fading fast.

Being a grad of one those MAC schools that was ranked in the top 10 when I was there, it's really sad to see. With the way things are going, I guess it makes sense. What are the cost savings going to FCS? Was the MACtion deal really what did them in? The MAC has taken the biggest stumble out of all the conferences, except maybe CUSA. I think CUSA's problem has been the revolving door of schools. The MAC hasn't had that problem.

CUSA also signed a streaming only media deal. The lack of visibility has probably really hurt their recruiting.

And yet CUSA is 3 won 4 lost, whereas MAC is 0-4.

Didn't MACTION give them visibility and revenue? Attendance at these games is crappy but MAC attendance on Saturday's is crappy.

MAC attendance on Saturday is really not that bad. The issue is that you are not able to attract people who might travel in for a game on Tuesday nights, and most of the games they play in September are away.

Tuesday nights kills attendance when the majority of the league is outside of mid size metros. A little easier to draw 20k fans in Toledo than in Ypsilanti , especially on a Tuesday night.

(12-23-2021 10:12 AM)Banter Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 09:55 AM)doss2 Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 08:54 AM)RuckleSt Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 08:20 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  

(12-22-2021 02:17 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  I know it's dangerous to try to read too much into one season's bowl results but the MAC has simply been shut out this December.

Maybe the conference will be competitive in FCS if it elects to go that direction but in terms of FBS competitiveness, attendance, fans, and media interest it appears to be fading fast.

Being a grad of one those MAC schools that was ranked in the top 10 when I was there, it's really sad to see. With the way things are going, I guess it makes sense. What are the cost savings going to FCS? Was the MACtion deal really what did them in? The MAC has taken the biggest stumble out of all the conferences, except maybe CUSA. I think CUSA's problem has been the revolving door of schools. The MAC hasn't had that problem.

CUSA also signed a streaming only media deal. The lack of visibility has probably really hurt their recruiting.

And yet CUSA is 3 won 4 lost, whereas MAC is 0-4.

Didn't MACTION give them visibility and revenue? Attendance at these games is crappy but MAC attendance on Saturday's is crappy.

MAC attendance on Saturday is really not that bad. The issue is that you are not able to attract people who might travel in for a game on Tuesday nights, and most of the games they play in September are away.

Tuesday nights kills attendance when the majority of the league is outside of mid size metros. A little easier to draw 20k fans in Toledo than in Ypsilanti , especially on a Tuesday night.

If Toledo had more than 10,000 in seats for any of their midweek games in the last 5 years I'd be shocked. 20,000 is a pipedream.

(12-22-2021 11:43 PM)doss2 Wrote:  Bahamas Bowl: MTSU 31, Toledo 24
Cure Bowl: Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41
Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky 59, Appalachian State 38
New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State 31, UTEP 24
Independence Bowl: UAB 31, No. 13 BYU 28
LendingTree Bowl: Liberty 56, Eastern Michigan
LA Bowl: Utah State 24, Oregon State 13
New Orleans Bowl: No. 23 Louisiana 36, Marshall 21
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Tulsa 30 ODU 17
Potato Bowl: Wyoming 52 Kent 38
Frisco Bowl: SDSU 38 UTSA 24
Armed Forces Bowl: Army 24 MO 22 Army made a 41 yard FG as time expired. It was kickers longest of year. Had he missed he would have got another try as MO was guilty of an Illegal Substitution (two #6's on field). On the prior possession MO went for 2 after TD but missed a wide open receiver.

CUSA +3 -4
SBC +2 -1
MW +4
IND +2 -1
MAC -4
P12 -1
AAC +1
SEC -1

Frisco Football Classic Thurs. 12/23, 3:30 PM Miami (Ohio) vs. North Texas ESPN Frisco, Texas

Gasparilla Bowl Thurs. 12/23, 7:00 PM Florida vs. UCF ESPN Tampa, Florida

(12-23-2021 10:12 AM)Banter Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 09:55 AM)doss2 Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 08:54 AM)RuckleSt Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 08:20 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  

(12-22-2021 02:17 PM)OKIcat Wrote:  I know it's dangerous to try to read too much into one season's bowl results but the MAC has simply been shut out this December.

Maybe the conference will be competitive in FCS if it elects to go that direction but in terms of FBS competitiveness, attendance, fans, and media interest it appears to be fading fast.

Being a grad of one those MAC schools that was ranked in the top 10 when I was there, it's really sad to see. With the way things are going, I guess it makes sense. What are the cost savings going to FCS? Was the MACtion deal really what did them in? The MAC has taken the biggest stumble out of all the conferences, except maybe CUSA. I think CUSA's problem has been the revolving door of schools. The MAC hasn't had that problem.

CUSA also signed a streaming only media deal. The lack of visibility has probably really hurt their recruiting.

And yet CUSA is 3 won 4 lost, whereas MAC is 0-4.

Didn't MACTION give them visibility and revenue? Attendance at these games is crappy but MAC attendance on Saturday's is crappy.

MAC attendance on Saturday is really not that bad. The issue is that you are not able to attract people who might travel in for a game on Tuesday nights, and most of the games they play in September are away.

Tuesday nights kills attendance when the majority of the league is outside of mid size metros. A little easier to draw 20k fans in Toledo than in Ypsilanti , especially on a Tuesday night.

MAC cities aren't that different than small P5 cities (ie. West Lafayette) except for the fact that the team travelling to that MAC city isn't a big deal. Access to big time football just isn't there. Purdue playing in a big conference gives them big time tradition. MAC schools have their own tradition but it is waning as the MAC loses quality and talent. There is some still there but not as much as in the past....as recently as the early 2000's. It is a shame - MAC schools being so regionally based is really cool and its cool for alums in the same state to be able to claim the win until the next year. The problem is these wins mean less every year and the alums don't act like it is something worth bragging about. The next time Miami beats UC will be a big deal. The next time Miami beats Bowling Green will not be. And this is unfortunate for the MAC and for college football, honestly.

North Texas is basically playing at home against Miami. The Mean Green have 5 straight, including thumping UTSA 45-23. Miami has not beaten an OOC FBS opponent since 2011 (a three win Army team). I think this will be a high scoring affair, but the Mean Green pulls this out.

UCF and Florida will be interesting as well. Did anyone's season collapse as much as the Gators? In week 2 they nearly beat Alabama, by the end of the season they let FCS Samford score 42 points in a half against them. UCF played much better in the second half of the season than they did in the first half when we beat them 56-21. Of course, they had an easier back half of the schedule. I think UCF pulls the win over Big Brother in this one.

(12-23-2021 11:08 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  North Texas is basically playing at home against Miami. The Mean Green have 5 straight, including thumping UTSA 45-23. Miami has not beaten an OOC FBS opponent since 2011 (a three win Army team). I think this will be a high scoring affair, but the Mean Green pulls this out.

UCF and Florida will be interesting as well. Did anyone's season collapse as much as the Gators? In week 2 they nearly beat Alabama, by the end of the season they let FCS Samford score 42 points in a half against them. UCF played much better in the second half of the season than they did in the first half when we beat them 56-21. Of course, they had an easier back half of the schedule. I think UCF pulls the win over Big Brother in this one.

FL beat USF 42-20 in the first game of the year.
UCF beat USF 17-13 in the last game of the year.

FL went downhill. USF got better. UCF got better.

If FL wants to play, they win, if they are uninterested, they lose.

(12-23-2021 11:06 AM)bearcatdp Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 10:12 AM)Banter Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 09:55 AM)doss2 Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 08:54 AM)RuckleSt Wrote:  

(12-23-2021 08:20 AM)Z-Fly Wrote:  Being a grad of one those MAC schools that was ranked in the top 10 when I was there, it's really sad to see. With the way things are going, I guess it makes sense. What are the cost savings going to FCS? Was the MACtion deal really what did them in? The MAC has taken the biggest stumble out of all the conferences, except maybe CUSA. I think CUSA's problem has been the revolving door of schools. The MAC hasn't had that problem.

CUSA also signed a streaming only media deal. The lack of visibility has probably really hurt their recruiting.

And yet CUSA is 3 won 4 lost, whereas MAC is 0-4.

Didn't MACTION give them visibility and revenue? Attendance at these games is crappy but MAC attendance on Saturday's is crappy.

MAC attendance on Saturday is really not that bad. The issue is that you are not able to attract people who might travel in for a game on Tuesday nights, and most of the games they play in September are away.

Tuesday nights kills attendance when the majority of the league is outside of mid size metros. A little easier to draw 20k fans in Toledo than in Ypsilanti , especially on a Tuesday night.

MAC cities aren't that different than small P5 cities (ie. West Lafayette) except for the fact that the team travelling to that MAC city isn't a big deal. Access to big time football just isn't there. Purdue playing in a big conference gives them big time tradition. MAC schools have their own tradition but it is waning as the MAC loses quality and talent. There is some still there but not as much as in the past....as recently as the early 2000's. It is a shame - MAC schools being so regionally based is really cool and its cool for alums in the same state to be able to claim the win until the next year. The problem is these wins mean less every year and the alums don't act like it is something worth bragging about. The next time Miami beats UC will be a big deal. The next time Miami beats Bowling Green will not be. And this is unfortunate for the MAC and for college football, honestly.

A great summary of where the MAC is, exiting 2021. I'm guessing those schools decided some meager TV revenue for Tuesday night games more than offsets lost ticket revenue for those weeknight games.

I've been around long enough to remember UC football prior to P5/BCS6 days-- scratching and clawing with MAC schools to recruit some pretty decent talent that didn't get picked by the B10. Had more of those kids come to Cincinnati at that time, instead of being spread out across BG, UT, Ohio or Miami, collectively, UC would have seen more success sooner.

Thankfully, we now see UC recruiting over all those schools for a majority of the roster and regularly picking off P5 prospects. I remember being at the Belk Bowl against Duke and talking with another UC fan who felt after the implosion of the old Big East, UC should just go back to the MAC. I'm glad he wasn't in charge of that decision.

Bahamas Bowl: MTSU 31, Toledo 24
Cure Bowl: Coastal Carolina 47, NIU 41
Boca Raton Bowl: Western Kentucky 59, Appalachian State 38
New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State 31, UTEP 24
Independence Bowl: UAB 31, No. 13 BYU 28
LendingTree Bowl: Liberty 56, Eastern Michigan
LA Bowl: Utah State 24, Oregon State 13
New Orleans Bowl: No. 23 Louisiana 36, Marshall 21
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Tulsa 30 ODU 17
Potato Bowl: Wyoming 52 Kent 38
Frisco Bowl: SDSU 38 UTSA 24
Armed Forces Bowl: Army 24 MO 22 Army made a 41 yard FG as time expired. It was kickers longest of year. Had he missed he would have got another try as MO was guilty of an Illegal Substitution (two #6's on field). On the prior possession MO went for 2 after TD but missed a wide open receiver.
Another Frisco Bowl: Redskins 27 NTSU 14
CUSA +3 -5
SBC +2 -1
MW +4
IND +2 -1
MAC +1 -4
P12 -1
AAC +1
SEC -1

UCF and Florida is currently a close game in the third. 17-16 Florida but UCF driving..

19-17 UCF with 3:04 left in the 3rd quarter.

Keane has missed some huge opportunities. Can't make a throw down field.