Four cities -- Austin, Charleston and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and St. Louis -- have "indicated interest in applying for NCAA bowl certification" for the upcoming season, and while it seems unlikely any of them would be played in '16, the prospect "has created concern," according to George Schroeder of USA TODAY. The question of how many bowls is too many "has long depended on who’s being asked, even as they have proliferated." But within the industry, there is a "sense that last season, when Nebraska, Minnesota and San Jose State (all with 5-7 records) each played in bowls, was an unwelcome tipping point." Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson: “I don’t believe the bowl system was served well having three 5-7 teams." Schroeder notes with at least 40 bowls set for '16, it is again likely "some sort of waiver will be approved" by the NCAA Football Oversight Committee for participation by teams under .500 and sent to the NCAA D-I Council for approval. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who chairs the committee, said, "It's a very bad time to have any incentives in place that would encourage more bowls. I think we would be sending a very unclear message if that were the outcome" (USA TODAY, 2/24). CBSSPORTS.com's Jon Solomon noted the "main issues being studied" by the oversight committee are "bowl-eligibility record, how the finances work for different bowls, the selection processes for games, and requiring as much as possible a uniform experience for each bowl." Charleston's Medal of Honor Bowl Chair Tommy McQueeney said, "We're moving forward this year with the assumption we're going to be OK." Solomon noted Austin hopes one or two current bowls "die so there are available conference tie-ins" (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/23).
