Florida Football: Bowl game for Gators will be fresh, but also meaningless

On the bright side, at least Florida football isn’t having to play in Birmingham. On another bright side, the content the Florida Gators social media team is going to be able to put out with references to Las Vegas will be amazing. And on a third bright side, if you are the type of fan that likes to travel to bowl games, playing in Vegas will be an experience the Gators won’t often have.

On the downside, Florida football will be playing in a lower-tier bowl game with zero stakes on the line and are having to make some sacrifices that other bowl teams don’t have to make.

Florida Football: What happens in Vegas…

Oregon State is a quality opponent on paper for the Gators to be facing. The Beavers went 9-3 this year and finished 14th in the college football playoff rankings. If anyone should be disappointed to be relegated to one of the first bowl games of the season it is them.

But given that Florida football is the Pac-12 champs, this on paper would actually be a fun matchup if both teams were at full strength and the game had any stakes.

About that.

O’Cyrus Torrence and Justin Shorter have already declared for the NFL. We’re assuming Anthony Richardson will be joining them shortly. This was going to be a chance for Jalen Kitna to showcase his talents heading into next season.

Oops.

Combined with seemingly everyone who didn’t get to play this season entering the transfer portal and Florida football will be entering the Las Vegas Bowl with a skeleton crew.

The reality is that whatever happens on the field at Allegiant Stadium will be meaningless heading into 2023. Somehow bowl games are supposed to be a reward for players after a long season while simultaneously being games that matter.

The Gators are going to be wined and dined around Vegas for a week and then expected to play at 100% ability level. Could you imagine if before the Florida-Georgia game if players had a TopGolf competition or took in a show the week of the game?

We would lose our minds and ask why aren’t they studying film.

Coaches will even tell you the most valuable part of making a bowl game are the extra practices and extra recruiting period the team gets. By most estimations, the Gators won’t be able to squeeze in all 15 practices they are allowed, and the game will be before recruiting opens back up.

So when the Las Vegas Bowl comes around in two weeks, enjoy it for what it is but don’t lose your mind if Florida football wins or loses.

When it comes to bowl season, like Who’s Line Is It Anyone once said, the points don’t matter.

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