As of the time I’m writing this, there are six 5-win teams that need to win one more game this year, or Texas (and their massive fanbase) is likely to get an invite to a bowl game, in spite of their painful 7-loss season. Behold the savage, greedy madness of a college football system with 35 bowl games and a whopping 70 slots to fill. 

Having watched most Texas games this season, I can say confidently they don’t deserve to be anywhere near a bowl. But I don’t blame them for wanting the shot–the rules granting bowl teams an extra three weeks of practice make a bowl bid an invaluable part of the talent development process.

I just hate to think how inviting a 5-7 team could tarnish the good name of the uDrove Humanitarian, MAACO Las Vegas or Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg Bowls.