2024 IUFB Season

[cthomas 6,303]

42 minutes ago, JerryYeagley23 said:

Bare with me here. And to preface, I couldn’t be more excited about the IU football team and this season. And I’m in no way doubting them or their ability to compete at the highest level which is an incredible statement. 

BUT… was thinking about this new landscape with the expanded playoff. Do we think that there’s a possibility that finishing in the 9-12 range might be getting a little bit of a shaft from the players perspectives? I mean, great you made the playoff, huge accomplishment. But say you then “get to” travel to play a road game at Texas and lose. Is that lessor than the experience of playing in a premier bowl game and the week-long buildup and neutral warm weather site? Would winning the gator Bowl or Citrus Bowl be a bigger event for the program? Obviously the dream scenario is winning the first playoff game and getting to a Rose Bowl or Orange Bowl. But it feels to me like this might be a downside to the new system is rewarding our best season ever with an extra away game. Heck even if we get to host, it’s not a bowl game, it’s an extra home game in Bloomington in January. Anybody else feel this way at all?
 

No. I think this team will embrace the challenge and at the very least, the opportunity to play for a national championship. Coach Cig as well. It's that whole 'chip on the shoulder' thing.

[Hovadipo 54,947]

35 minutes ago, JerryYeagley23 said:

Bare with me here. And to preface, I couldn’t be more excited about the IU football team and this season. And I’m in no way doubting them or their ability to compete at the highest level which is an incredible statement. 

BUT… was thinking about this new landscape with the expanded playoff. Do we think that there’s a possibility that finishing in the 9-12 range might be getting a little bit of a shaft from the players perspectives? I mean, great you made the playoff, huge accomplishment. But say you then “get to” travel to play a road game at Texas and lose. Is that lessor than the experience of playing in a premier bowl game and the week-long buildup and neutral warm weather site? Would winning the gator Bowl or Citrus Bowl be a bigger event for the program? Obviously the dream scenario is winning the first playoff game and getting to a Rose Bowl or Orange Bowl. But it feels to me like this might be a downside to the new system is rewarding our best season ever with an extra away game. Heck even if we get to host, it’s not a bowl game, it’s an extra home game in Bloomington in January. Anybody else feel this way at all?
 

I get what you’re saying, but tell Cig and the boys that they “get to” travel to play a road game at Texas and lose. If you make the playoff, you’re in the freakin’ show! You got a chance to get (or stay) hot and go win the whole shabang. Their mindset will be to go stomp a hole in everybody’s azz until they stop putting opponents in front of them. 

A thing that the playoff did that could be considered a negative is turning bowls into even more of a meaningless exhibition than they already were. Guys will - rightfully - opt out to prep for the draft and the game just becomes half going away party for some and a development game for others. I still love bowl season, always will, but if you give me the choice between making the playoff and going to the Citrus Bowl I’m taking the shot at winning a national title all day every day without a second thought. 

[TheWatShot 13,622]

4 hours ago, JerryYeagley23 said:

Bare with me here. And to preface, I couldn’t be more excited about the IU football team and this season. And I’m in no way doubting them or their ability to compete at the highest level which is an incredible statement. 

BUT… was thinking about this new landscape with the expanded playoff. Do we think that there’s a possibility that finishing in the 9-12 range might be getting a little bit of a shaft from the players perspectives? I mean, great you made the playoff, huge accomplishment. But say you then “get to” travel to play a road game at Texas and lose. Is that lessor than the experience of playing in a premier bowl game and the week-long buildup and neutral warm weather site? Would winning the gator Bowl or Citrus Bowl be a bigger event for the program? Obviously the dream scenario is winning the first playoff game and getting to a Rose Bowl or Orange Bowl. But it feels to me like this might be a downside to the new system is rewarding our best season ever with an extra away game. Heck even if we get to host, it’s not a bowl game, it’s an extra home game in Bloomington in January. Anybody else feel this way at all?
 

I'd kind of like to see a football game in Bloomington that late in the year. The buildup and atmosphere for the game could be special. 

 

If it was a road game, still an incredible feather in our cap to say we made the CFP. 

[HoosierX 1,521]

5 hours ago, JerryYeagley23 said:

Bare with me here. And to preface, I couldn’t be more excited about the IU football team and this season. And I’m in no way doubting them or their ability to compete at the highest level which is an incredible statement. 

BUT… was thinking about this new landscape with the expanded playoff. Do we think that there’s a possibility that finishing in the 9-12 range might be getting a little bit of a shaft from the players perspectives? I mean, great you made the playoff, huge accomplishment. But say you then “get to” travel to play a road game at Texas and lose. Is that lessor than the experience of playing in a premier bowl game and the week-long buildup and neutral warm weather site? Would winning the gator Bowl or Citrus Bowl be a bigger event for the program? Obviously the dream scenario is winning the first playoff game and getting to a Rose Bowl or Orange Bowl. But it feels to me like this might be a downside to the new system is rewarding our best season ever with an extra away game. Heck even if we get to host, it’s not a bowl game, it’s an extra home game in Bloomington in January. Anybody else feel this way at all?
 

The short answer is absolutely not. This will be the first 12 team playoff and it will be wild.

[DChoosier 7,773]

Playoff berth over a “regular” bowl every day.

Playoff berth gives you a chance to win a Natty.

For recruiting making the playoff has much more impact than making a bowl.

The entire football world will be watching the playoff games.

The entire final top 10 teams will probably all be playoff teams.

Half the “stars” no longer play in the “regular”bowls.

A big chunk of the “regular” bowl audience are just people tied into those 2 schools.  How many people would care about IU vs South Carolina in a “regular” bowl compared to IU vs Texas in the playoff? Not even close.

[Hovadipo 54,947]

Just saw that 2025 season tickets went on sale. Went to check on renewing and...wow. Prices went up astronomically.

My tier was $220 per seat for 8 games ($27.50/game) this season. Same tier for 7 games next season is $343 per seat...$49 per game. With 3 of those almost certainly being dog-walkings. Get paid while the getting is good, but my goodness.

[Banksyrules 4,488]

1 minute ago, Hovadipo said:

Just saw that 2025 season tickets went on sale. Went to check on renewing and...wow. Prices went up astronomically.

My tier was $220 per seat for 8 games ($27.50/game) this season. Same tier for 7 games next season is $343 per seat...$49 per game. With 3 of those almost certainly being dog-walkings. Get paid while the getting is good, but my goodness.

If we become a consistent winning program. Bargain.  

[Stuhoo 79,566]

2 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Just saw that 2025 season tickets went on sale. Went to check on renewing and...wow. Prices went up astronomically.

My tier was $220 per seat for 8 games ($27.50/game) this season. Same tier for 7 games next season is $343 per seat...$49 per game. With 3 of those almost certainly being dog-walkings. Get paid while the getting is good, but my goodness.

If we're good next year? You could sell one solid game of that package on StubHub and cover the $343 per price, making attendance at 7 games other games effectively free.

Current UM per seat prices:

[Banksyrules 4,488]

If we make the college football playoff I’m flying to B-town and I’m in the 50 yard line.  Probably $2,000 for a ticket. 

[Hovadipo 54,947]

1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

If we're good next year? You could sell one solid game of that package on StubHub and cover the $343 per price, making attendance at 7 games other games effectively free.

Current UM per seat prices:

I get how it works and have already covered my total cost and some of a bowl/CFP trip this year. Just a little surprised to see that type of jump in price with one less game and a dookie home slate. I think I'll hold off until the coaching carousel stops spinning this winter, just to be sure.

[Stuhoo 79,566]

6 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

I get how it works and have already covered my total cost and some of a bowl/CFP trip this year. Just a little surprised to see that type of jump in price with one less game and a dookie home slate. I think I'll hold off until the coaching carousel stops spinning this winter, just to be sure.

Just looked at next year's home schedule and yeah... it is @$$.

And since both PSU and Oregon are road games, new IU Head Coach Bostad won't have nearly the effect in rallying the faithful for next year's marquee - best home game against... I dunno ... maybe Wisconsin? 

Plan B: Pay the extra money and get a side gig as an Uber driver.

[Hovadipo 54,947]

5 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Just looked at next year's home schedule and yeah... it is @$$.

And since both PSU and Oregon are road games, new IU Head Coach Bostad won't have nearly the effect in rallying the faithful for next year's marquee - best home game against... I dunno ... maybe Wisconsin? 

Plan B: Pay the extra money and get a side gig as an Uber driver.

I think Coach Bostad would tell me to forgo season tickets and make the pilgrimage to Eugene (not PSU, that place is a dump) with that money. And since I trust him with my life, well, the decision basically makes itself.

Uber driving cash then goes toward the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit.

[Stuhoo 79,566]

22 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

I think Coach Bostad would tell me to forgo season tickets and make the pilgrimage to Eugene (not PSU, that place is a dump) with that money. And since I trust him with my life, well, the decision basically makes itself.

Uber driving cash then goes toward the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit.

Or just a generous supply of Little Caesars.

[Hoosierfan2017 20,821]

30 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

If we're good next year? You could sell one solid game of that package on StubHub and cover the $343 per price, making attendance at 7 games other games effectively free.

Current UM per seat prices:

Those ticket prices are wild. I got a very solid ticket for the OSU game for under $200. 

[LamarCheeks 17,919]

I saw someone ask whether it would be better for a program like us -- which plays in a bowl once in a blue moon -- to play in a regular bowl game, or the playoff, even if it means losing in the first round. 

I can't find the exact post, but I think the argument was that if you get to the playoff and lose the first game -- it really doesn't mean anything. Whereas if you go to a real bowl, it creates a better memory -- particularly for a program like ours, which doesn't often go to bowl games. 

I can sorta see the argument, but my answer is the playoff -- six days a week and seven times on Sunday. 

I do, however, wish they'd make the bowl system entirely separate from the playoff. Maybe even trim a few bowls if they have to. This year, the Rose Bowl is a CFP quarterfinal. Maybe I'm too much of a traditionalist, but playing in the Rose Bowl should be a really, really special accomplishment -- not just one leg in a journey. 

If you reach the CFP title game, you will have won two bowl games. To me, that's just asinine. Like I said, cut a couple bowl games and leave the bowls for those outside the playoff. Even if you don't make the playoff, I still think it would be an achievement to be invited to the Rose Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Orange Bowl, etc.

I know the games won't necessarily have marquee matchups -- since presumably the 12 "best" teams will be in the playoff -- but appearing in the Sugar Bowl or the Rose Bowl should be the ultimate game in your season -- not just a means to an end. 

The Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Sugar Bowl are all merely quarterfinals this year. Blech! 

 

[NashvilleHoosier 3,667]

45 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

I think Coach Bostad would tell me to forgo season tickets and make the pilgrimage to Eugene (not PSU, that place is a dump) with that money. And since I trust him with my life, well, the decision basically makes itself.

Uber driving cash then goes toward the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit.

My lingering fomo of not going to the UCLA game virtually locks me into the trip to Eugene next season. See you there. 

[TTT 888]

Several years ago I remember setting at an outside restaurant/bar watching IU go to an over rated 24th ranked Oregon and win 30 to 24.  Led at halftime 23 to 0. Oregon in 2004 finished 5 and 6.  Oregon was good sometimes but took a leap starting with Chip Kelly.

Like Oregon IU can go for deep passes vs OSU after beating Michigan and Purdue setting up a conference championship game vs Oregon.

[Hovadipo 54,947]

41 minutes ago, NashvilleHoosier said:

My lingering fomo of not going to the UCLA game virtually locks me into the trip to Eugene next season. See you there. 

You have to promise it won‘t be as bad as last time we both took a bucket list trip to see the Hoosiers. 

[steubenhoosier 779]

A bowl game is better than no post season but a playoff berth will have a much greater impact on recruiting, fundraising and the overall tone of the program. There will only be 12 playoff teams v how many bowl teams? 
In terms that this fanbase is more accustomed to… it’s the difference between being in the NCAA tournament v being in the NIT.

Finally, with the way this team has played this season, I see no reason to even consider losing a first round game.

[Demo 19,581]

This election metaphor is realllly tortured.