The quest to fill all 35 bowl games outside the playoff expanded to teams with losing records this year, but the searching didn’t get much easier. At least 10 teams reportedly declined invitations, raising questions about the future of the postseason games that are one of college football’s most cherished traditions whose role has dramatically changed.

Notre Dame, Iowa State and Kansas State were the first to decide against bowl trips, with the two Big 12 teams drawing $500,000 fines for throwing a wrench into the league’s commitment to certain games. After Notre Dame was left out of the College Football Playoff bracket, the Fighting Irish rejected an appearance in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.

In the second year of the 12-team playoff, some bowls — even established ones with long histories — ar

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