Oregon Strategy Session: How The Pac-10 Bowl Lineup Should Look

It is no secret that the Pac-10 has a second-rate bowl lineup.  Outgoing commissioner Tom Hansen has advanced the conference’s visibility but has been stuck in the past.  Other conferences like the Big 10 and Big 12 grab fan's attention with creative marketing in the 21st century. 

The Pac-10 is the only major conference with just one New Years Day bowl affiliation.  The Rose Bowl is partially to blame for this because it deters other people interested in starting a New Years Day bowl game.  The conference did have an affiliation with the Cotton Bowl in the early 1990’s and looking back, it was a shame to lose that affiliation.

With the exception of the Rose Bowl, all bowl games put higher rated Pac-10 teams against lower rated teams from opposing conferences.  This is unfortunate because it presents a lose-lose scenario.  If the Pac-10 teams play well, there will be an asterisk because they were playing teams that finished lower in their own conferences.  If they lose, the media will recognize that they played lower rated competition. 

There are a few intriguing scenarios out there, but first lets explain what will most likely not happen.

The Pac-10 will probably never be affiliated with a Florida bowl game New Years Day or otherwise.  Bowl officials will not take a team from the west coast, especially in these economic times because their fans will not travel to Florida. 

It is highly unlikely that the Pac-10 reaffiliates with the Cotton Bowl anytime soon.  The cotton is happy with their current Big 12 v. SEC matchup for travel and competition reasons. 

Pac-10 V. SEC – Now for things Pac-10 fans could hope for.  If the conference wants an annual matchup with an SEC team, the best shot is the Liberty Bowl.  Although unlikely, the Liberty Bowl would be a perfect place for a Pac-10 v. SEC matchup.  Although the Pac-10 team would travel further, a lower seeded team could be sent to Memphis.

This won’t happen because Conference-USA loves this game and has been a part of it for a very long time.  Also, it is a long trip from the west coast to Memphis.

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