The excitement that once surrounded college football’s bowl season has been fading, as a 7% drop in average attendance for non‑CFP bowl games since the playoff expansion shows. For many fans, those mid‑winter contests were a festive climax, a chance to see teams compete in celebratory settings while the stakes remained largely symbolic.
That shift is especially noticeable for programs like Brigham Young, whose recent bowl history reads like a series of uneasy tests rather than triumphant celebrations. Over the past decade the Cougars have repeatedly been paired with opponents they once dominated, only to see streaks snapped or reversed in ways that feel more like misfortune than competition.
A Decade of Mis‑draws
Since 2015 BYU has faced a string of opponents that sparked both hope and apprehension. In 2016 the team edged Wyoming by three points, ending a seven‑game winning streak against the Cowboys, yet the narrow victory felt more like a reprieve than a celebration. Two years later, a dominant 31‑point win over Western Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl marked the end of a two‑game streak, but the margin also highlighted how the matchup had shifted. A loss to Hawaii in 2019 broke a five‑game winning run, and a close win over UCF in 2020 ended a solitary losing streak, only to be followed by a defeat to UAB in 2021 despite the opponent’s lower ranking. The pattern continued in 2022 with a loss to SMU that halted a three‑game streak, and in 2024 the Cougars were thrust into an Alamo Bowl showdown against a conference rival after unexpected scheduling changes.
Why Expansion Matters
These experiences have led many observers, including the article’s author, to argue that the traditional bowl system is losing its relevance. An expanded playoff would shift the national championship conversation from committee deliberations to on‑field performance, ensuring that the best team is crowned based on results rather than subjective selections.
Beyond fairness, a larger playoff could revitalize postseason interest by giving more teams meaningful games that matter beyond mere participation. For fans of programs like BYU, that could translate into bowl matchups that feel consequential again, restoring the excitement that attendance numbers once reflected.