Will Penn State Be Offered a Bowl Game?

With eight wins already, Penn State is bowl eligible for this year. There are two questions that come to mind. Will Penn state get a bowl game bid? Should they accept a bid? This article weighs the consequences of a bowl selection.

Most bowl games have major sponsors. These bowl games bring in bid bucks. The money goes to the sponsors, the participating schools and even the conferences, that the schools represent. Since many of the schools are invited after thoughtful consideration, I wonder is Penn state will be black listed.

Sponsors want teams that are going to draw crowds and positive media coverage. Media coverage draws crowds to games. It also brings in sponsors for television and radio coverage. With the baggage that Penn State is carrying, will they be denied the opportunity to participate in a bowl game?

Some bowl games have contracts drawn up between conferences. Here is a list of the dates for this years bowl games. Many have the name of sponsor beside them. Up to 7 Big Ten conference teams could get bowl bids.

If Penn State would get a bid, is it wise for them to accept it for this season? Once again, there is a lot to consider. The present players have worked hard to get where they are. They have earned the right to play. Would a bowl game help put this dark shadow behind them? Then, there is the money involved. Many schools and their athletic programs count on bowl game money. The larger the bowl game, the more money that comes in.

Lastly, there is the fan reaction. Fans close to Penn state will be mixed on their opinion. Some would prefer to keep on moving forward. Others will not want more negative attention. In the end, it will be left up to the bowl sponsors, Penn State University officials and the NCAA.