As a Clemson fan, I had a really weird experience this year. We didn't make the playoffs for the first time in 6 years, instead getting picked for the Cheez-It

As a Clemson fan, I had a really weird experience this year. We didn't make the playoffs for the first time in 6 years, instead getting picked for the Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando...and it was fantastic. I grew up taking a family trip over Christmas break every year to wherever Clemson was playing in a bowl game. This was the 90s, so it was never a top tier game for us but the trips were always great. When my kids got old enough to start taking them on these trips, it was impossible to justify the $1,000+ cost per ticket for each playoff game. Before travel cost was factored in. Tickets to the Cheez-It Bowl were in the $50-80 range and you could pay a little more to get access to the Club Level. Took the whole family to the game and the kids loved it. We all had a great time. And Clemson won (take that Iowa State).