The DBR Pod raises an issue about whether it is time for the end of bowls? ESPN Events owns around half of the bowls in order to provide content during the Holiday season. The bowl contracts have been and will continue to be an issue for holding a CFP. If I was making a crystal ball prediction, it would be that CFP games except the Finals would move to campus sites as the CFP evolves. The Pros: More money for the schools; less cost for fans (travel, time off etc); but mostly why pay people in ugly jackets to host a game which the colleges already do 7-8 times per year?
I honestly do not understand the angst over Marshall pulling out of the Independence Bowl. A large part of the exodus was a result of the HC leaving to take a job at noted powerhouse S Miss. Are the players expected to show more "loyalty" to Marshall than the HC? The players are doing what is best for them, just like the HC did. Marshall also is acting in its self interest by not playing in a bowl game at which it would lose money. Part of the justification for bowls was it was a "reward" to the players in terms of fun in the sun (Boise, Boston, Detroit NYC etc being noted warm winter vacation spots) and the swag bags. Players now are paid, and perhaps could be rewarded based on the number of wins as coaches often are with schools using the money they would lose playing in the bowl to fund the payouts.
The problem is not with the date of the portal, but with players being expected to risk their health to play in an exhibition game which benefit mostly the local Bowl hosts. Would changing the date really change the decision of whether to play for a player who has decided to enter the portal? If so, why?