With the BCS the Rose Bowl became slightly less important but still the premier Bowl game.
With the CFP the Rose Bowl became a little less important in the grand scheme of things.
Once the CFP expands to 8 or 12 teams the Rose Bowl will lose almost all semblance of being the Granddaddy of them all. They’ll probably still have the Rose Parade, and still play the game, but it will no longer be the premier bowl game. It will lose it’s lustre and in 10-20 years will be just a small notch above the other CFP games. However that would require the Rose Bowl Committee to put in a lot of work and effort to keep the traditions alive.
As I read the OSU boards they don’t see the Rose Bowl as quite the prize it used to be EVERY year.
I am very happy Utah made the Rose Bowl now instead of in two, three or more years. We are one of the last teams/fans to enjoy the Grandaddy of them all before it loses much of its prestige and becomes closer in stature to the other NY6/CFP games.
WSU last played in the Rose Bowl in 2003
UCLA in 1999
ASU in 1997
Oregon State in 1965
Cal in 1959
Oregon, UW, Stanford and USC have all played in the past 6 years.
And Arizona has never played in the Rose Bowl. (Colorado neither, but they haven’t been in the league as long as Arizona)
GO UTES!!!!!