... and not because I live there, but because the situation this year with the coaching turmoil, investigations, a new AD having to decide what to do with J Robinson, the program was in a position where it had no leader to really sign on for the second year of the bowl series.

That being said, when you've got a coach fired right before the season, schedules mostly set and a drug case that's drawn national attention, and a team that had 3-4 probable (At the time) starters suspended, well, it wouldn't make sense for a patchwork team that started ranked in the low teens to participate. On paper, they weren't supposed to be in the top eight.

They had a better than expected dual season. For that reason, I think the Gophers get a pass. Now, Illinois ... I have no idea why they didn't participate. Maybe Wisconsin wasn't supposed to be that good this year either.