10 Reasons College Football Bowl Season Is the Best Time of Year
Football, football and more football—that's what the next three weeks entail, in case you were wondering. And because of that, there's little doubt college football bowl season is the best time of the year.
But, if that one reason won't suffice, Bleacher Report is giving you nine more to provide reassurance. You're not alone. We love football, too.
From a player's perspective, a season's worth of work results in one final contest, while we, the fans, have 39 bowl games for our viewing pleasure.
Of course, there are easily more than 10 reasons, so please add what you love most about bowl season in the comments section.
10. Warm-Weather Rewards
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Northern states are fighting through sub-freezing temperatures, but their respective bowl teams escape the cold weather for a short time.
The Wisconsin Badgers are a fixture for Florida bowls, appearing there six out of the last nine seasons. Additionally, the Michigan State Spartans are traveling to Texas, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are going to Florida, and the Central Michigan Chippewas are headed to the Bahamas.
The Bahamas!
After spending two months in decreasing temperatures, the weeklong getaway is an excellent reward for the programs. Plus, local fans can vacation to warm weather, too.
And that's not a bad deal for any party involved.
9. Ringing in the New Year with Football
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Love him or hate him, Johnny Manziel put on a show during the Chick-fil-A Bowl last season, staging a 21-point comeback to stun the Duke Blue Devils 52-48.
And the offensive battle ended at a perfect time—11:45 p.m. ET. A mere 15 minutes later, the nation watched the ball drop in Times Square.
What better way to celebrate the New Year? Whether football serves as a focal point or is simply background television, it eases the anxiousness leading up to the countdown.
8. Delay of Game: New Year's Resolution
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Speaking of New Year's festivities, Jan. 1 is an outstanding time. Everyone needs a recovery period following a long night of celebrations, and the premier bowl day provides that relief.
Sure, the typically ill-fated resolutions are supposed to start when the next calendar year does, but there are more important things. As Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman, "We'll just veg out in front of the TV."
The Outback, Cotton, Citrus, Rose and Sugar Bowls are each scheduled for New Year's Day, which is by far the most compelling overall day of the postseason.
Besides, assorted meats, cheeses and crackers won't eat themselves, you know.
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7. Prospect Previews
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Haven't seen enough of Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Amari Cooper and Joey Bosa? No problem.
Don't know who Ty Sambrailo, Derron Smith, Christian Covington and Deontay Greenberry are? That's not an issue, either, my friend.
Every postseason contest highlights a potential top-round pick or under-the-radar prospect—or perhaps both. What's more, the spotlight need not target a 2015 draftee, though some individual matchups fit that mold, regardless.
For example, East Carolina receiver Justin Hardy will be tested by Florida cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III. Alabama left tackle Cameron Robinson will attempt to block Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa. Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright will be chasing down Boise State running back Jay Ajayi.
Scouts want to see players elevate their performance against top talent, and the one-on-one battles often create enthralling B-roll.
6. Unusual Matchups
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Unusual matchups are defined in two ways: teams that typically won't meet during the regular season and a contrast of styles between the programs.
Duke and Arizona State have never shared the field, but the pair headline the Sun Bowl. Additionally, the Cotton Bowl holds Michigan State and Baylor, who have only played once—46 years ago.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Chick-fil-A Bowl flaunts the offensive juggernaut of TCU and the nation's No. 1 scoring defense in Ole Miss. The Outback Bowl boasts Auburn's fast-paced attack and Wisconsin's run-heavy, clock-controlling offense.
Although similar offensive schemes might be seen throughout the year, those clashes typically don't feature the dominant forces like bowl games do.
5. Non-Power-Conference Showcases
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Power-conference fans might catch a game stream on the Internet or stumble into a regional broadcast, but Group of Five teams go largely unnoticed.
Did you know 12 of the nation's 20 most prolific running backs hail from a Group of Five program? Four of the country's top six passers? Seven of the Football Bowl Subdivision's best 10 tacklers?
The players might not be elite NFL prospects, but they're undoubtedly productive and fun to watch at the collegiate level.
If you happened to overlook Fun Belt or MACtion, bowl season is an excellent opportunity to check out these unsung heroes and learn about the less-discussed areas of college football.
4. #Pac12BeforeDark
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Though the Pac-12 had a handful of marquee afternoon games during the year, many East Coasters missed the beauty that was #Pac12AfterDark.
Bowl season, however, places most of the conference's matchups in the spotlight.
The 10, 10:30 and 10:45 p.m ET regular-season kickoffs absolutely discouraged a portion of nation's viewers, yet the Pac-12 was the second-best conference in the country. In fact, the South was arguably the most competitive division in all of college football, sporting five teams with 8-4 records or better.
But during the three postseason weeks, only two teams (UCLA and Washington) begin later than 8 p.m. ET. Consequently, the start time is a poor excuse for missing the beauty that is Pac-12 football.
3. Competitive Games Across the Board
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The list of bowl games between evenly matched teams is annually impressive. This year, there are meetings like BYU vs. Memphis, Marshall vs. Northern Illinois, Nebraska vs. USC, Minnesota vs. Missouri, Iowa vs. Tennessee and Kansas State vs. UCLA.
And those aren't even the premier showdowns.
As should happen every season, every New Year's Six matchup is excellent on paper, and the national semifinals have superb programs along with outstanding storylines.
No matter if you started watching Dec. 20 or are holding off for more popular bowls, you're certain to find a captivating clash.
2. National Championship
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On Jan. 12, 2015, the inaugural College Football Playoff will culminate in the national championship at JerryWorld. The contest marks the beginning of a new era, though it obviously isn't an unfamiliar concept.
Every program is working toward this ultimate goal, but only two can earn a spot.
Unless one of the potential title-winning teams is a bitter rival, it's easy to root for a contested battle between two high-level squads.
After all, the national championship crowns the best team of a respective campaign and marks the final game before the dreaded offseason. It doesn't get much better than this.
1. Football. Every. Day.
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Wake up, watch football. Take a nap, watch football. Eat dinner—you guessed it—football.
Beginning on Dec. 20, the only days without a bowl game are Sundays—when the NFL takes center stage—and Christmas Day.
For those of who aren't particularly interested in the professional league, 14 days of college football games within a stretch of 16 is a magnificent end to any year. Plus, for those who follow the NFL, college football plays the pivotal role in shaping a 16-day marathon of the greatest sport on the planet.
And that undeniably, indisputably, makes bowl season the best time of year.
Stats courtesy of CFBstats.com unless otherwise noted.
Follow Bleacher Report college football writer David Kenyon on Twitter: @Kenyon19_BR.
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