Georgia Southern Finally Lands Birmingham Bowl Opponent After Seven Teams Turn It Down
Bowl games aren’t what they used to be. The current season has made that point clear, with a surprising number of programs opting out of postseason action.
Notre Dame drew attention by declining an invitation to the Pop-Tarts Bowl to face BYU after being bypassed for the College Football Playoff. The Irish released a statement saying their football season had concluded.
But Notre Dame wasn’t alone in showing little interest in postseason games. With several teams turning down bowl opportunities, the NCAA faced difficulty finding a foe for Georgia Southern in the Birmingham Bowl. Reports indicate that seven teams with 5–7 records were among those who declined invitations.
In the end, perseverance paid off. Appalachian State accepted the invite, securing Georgia Southern’s Birmingham Bowl matchup on December 29, per On3’s Brett McMurphy.
Several programs reportedly turned down the Birmingham Bowl offers, including Auburn, Baylor, Rutgers, Kansas, UCF, Baylor (listed twice in some outlets), and Temple. Appalachian State stepped up at the last moment to take the game.
The shift toward an expanded College Football Playoff, combined with the transfer portal and other offseason changes, has made postseason play less appealing for many teams. Preparation for the next season often takes precedence, and opting out of bowl games appears to be trending upward as the CFP landscape evolves.
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