Disappointment. Before the playoffs teams could lose a game or two and end the season going to a major bowl. Win the bowl game and end up ranked in the top 10 with a certain level of satisfaction. Now, if you don't make the playoffs it's a bad season. If you make the playoffs and lose (us) it's a bad season.

In 2012 we went 10-2, beat Bama and trounced OU in the Cotton Bowl. We finished 6th in the polls and though we didn't win a championship of any sort most AGs were on top of the world.

I'm just not sure that we are in a better place now.

Edit: for the record, I was thrilled with this season. The win in Red Stick was my favorite. Beating ND at home and the comeback win vs. SC are a close second. Also, I'm not overly disappointed but it seems like so many on here are. I get it, it sucked to lose to sip and only scoring 3 points last Saturday but I think we've got a hell of a coach with Elko and I suspect he will find ways to get better.

You should definitely carry a sign that says "the end is near" and preach gloom and doom.

Schrute Farms said:

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If we beat Miami at home last week, this season would've ended higher than the one mentioned.

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And if your grandma had wheels she'd be a bicycle. Coulda, woulda, shoulda…. the A&M way.

We're in a better place… not as much fun, but NIL has leveled the playing field. Now it's just a matter of managing funds and personnel. When we make the playoffs then it's a successful year. Advancing in the playoffs will be incrementally better… but we now have to adjust our mindset to what was historically our program was before NIL, and what we have in this new NIL era.

Pre-NIL, including the number of championships… blue bloods…bag men… that's all irrelevant now.

NIL has moved us forward - and success is now making the playoffs… it's like now like the NFL without very many financial rules - LSU will lead the way for a while, but they don't have the capital to keep it going long term. Those that want to play the game will need to pay on a consistent and high level until the NIL creates its own guardrails/ limits on spending.

This might be one of the worst takes on this board and that's stating a lot.

I love the playoff format. It's what sports are supposed to do. Have not cared about bowl games in a long time.

It's about time Div 1 college football caught up.

FYI that A&M team that won the Cotton Bowl could also have made a run in the playoffs.

That game was fun bc we had a team that could win. Not bc we were in a bowl game.

Did you like the Volleyball tournament?

Let me put it another or provide examples.

Texas HS football playoffs. No one has ever said I hate these playoffs. Can we please change to just one one random postseason matchup.

Same goes for ALL other sports.

None of them state, can we change our format for just glorified exhibition matches!

Probably feels different than 2012 because the losses were earlier/spread out in the season (and close losses) instead of losing the last two of the season. And you had the Heisman to brag about as a consolation prize.

I remember hearing stories of basketball coaches telling football coaches to be thankful for the bowls instead of the tournament because half of the top teams were able to end the season on a win instead of a loss like all the teams in basketball (except NIT and NCAA tournament winners).

2012 was probably the last year where bowl games were really worth watching. I watched as many bowl games as I could before the playoffs, portal, NIL started turning CFB into the NFL.

I think I agree with the OP's sentiment…

The 2012 team finished the season ON FIRE…. There was a sense we could have beaten ANYONE at season's end that year…

This year, our season finished in a death spiral…

USCe escape, tu second half, and offense meltdown against Miami…

Give elite DCs some "book" on your offense and QB tendencies, and the better teams can take away what you do well, and force you to get out of your comfort zone…

At some point, QBs have to decide they're not auditioning for the NFL… That's what I like about NIL… Pay these guys that don't have the NFL skill sets, and turn them loose in CFB…

Random musings, but hey, I'm 2 glasses of Christmas Cheer down… Which ain't all bad !!!

Of course it's not bad.

Of course it is disappointing in the way it ended.

CAVGrunt97 said:

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Disappointment. Before the playoffs teams could lose a game or two and end the season going to a major bowl. Win the bowl game and end up ranked in the top 10 with a certain level of satisfaction. Now, if you don't make the playoffs it's a bad season. If you make the playoffs and lose (us) it's a bad season.

In 2012 we went 10-2, beat Bama and trounced OU in the Cotton Bowl. We finished 6th in the polls and though we didn't win a championship of any sort most AGs were on top of the world.

I'm just not sure that we are in a better place now.

Edit: for the record, I was thrilled with this season. The win in Red Stick was my favorite. Beating ND at home and the comeback win vs. SC are a close second. Also, I'm not overly disappointed but it seems like so many on here are. I get it, it sucked to lose to sip and only scoring 3 points last Saturday but I think we've got a hell of a coach with Elko and I suspect he will find ways to get better.

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Sounds like you are saying you prefer to win the last game over losing. Groundbreaking stuff. Playoffs are better than bowls.

The first playoff game is so early that if you lose round 1, it sure is jarring how quickly your team is out of the overall football picture despite being one of the best.