In a surprising twist, Kansas State and Iowa State have both chosen to forgo participating in bowl games this season. Perhaps they’ve decided to leave the bowling to the likes of Pete Weber, children’s birthday parties, and local beer leagues. Of course, we’re talking football, not the sport with pins and lanes.

This decision comes at a cost. Both universities will incur a $500,000 fine from the Big 12 Conference for declining their bowl invitations. The underlying reason for their decision is a significant one: both programs are currently in the midst of leadership transitions.

Iowa State, which posted an 8-4 record this season, recently saw its head coach, Matt Campbell, depart for Penn State. In response, the Cyclones have appointed Jimmy Rogers, the former head coach of Washington State, as Campbell’s successor.

These coaching changes have undoubtedly influenced the schools’ choice to skip the postseason. It’s a bold move that underscores the importance they place on stability and long-term planning over immediate but temporary accolades. As these programs look towards the future, the priority seems to be setting a strong foundation under new leadership.

Iowa State (8-4) lost Matt Campbell to Penn State and replaced him with former Washington State coach Jimmy Rogers.

Kansas State lost Chris Klieman to retirement and hired Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein, an alumnus and former quarterback.

“While the Conference acknowledges the difficult timing around coaching changes, the Big 12 is responsible for fulfilling its contractual obligations to its bowl partners,” the conference said in a statement.

Iowa State said its decision was made by the players.

“The administrative staff and coaches respect and support the players’ decision,” Cyclones athletic director Jamie Pollard said in a statement. “Our student-athletes have had an incredible season and we are grateful for their leadership as we worked through this process with them today.”

Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor — who ripped the NCAA’s pay-for-play model after Klieman retired — said he made the decision to withdraw after speaking with the football team’s leadership council.

“This decision was not taken lightly, but with our coaching staff transition and several uncertainties regarding player availability, I felt it was not in our best interest to try to field a team that was not representative of Kansas State University,” Taylor said in a statement. “We applaud this group for fighting back from a 2-4 record to lead us to bowl eligibility yet again, and we are happy that our seniors were able to go out on top with a victory inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.”

Fellow Big 12 team, Baylor, also chose not to participate in a bowl game.

“We have declined the opportunity to play in a Bowl, as we’ve already progressed deeply into the offseason timeline of preparation for the 2026 season,” the school said in a statement.

That trio is joined by Notre Dame in sitting out a bowl.

The Fighting Irish don’t have a conference to issue a fine, though that might actually be one of the reasons that they were left out of the College Football Playoff. After the snub, Notre Dame (10-2) decided as a team not to join a second-tier bowl.

The College Football Playoff rankings are a “farce and total waste of time,” athletic director Pete Bevacqua told ESPN.