A SPECIAL REPORT: BOWL GAMES

STRATEGY: The Freedom has no corporate title sponsor or major network TV contract and thus offers only a $650,000 payout, the minimum permitted under NCAA rules. . . . That keeps away the nation’s top teams. In years past, the Freedom Bowl invited traditional powers coming off down years, hoping the name value of a Washington, Texas or Brigham Young could sell tickets. But those teams often disappointed on the field and at the box office. Last year’s game, between two teams on the rise, Colorado State and Oregon, resulted in a 32-31 CSU victory in front of a crowd of 41,450, the second-best ever.