I don't know if it should be applauded, because it may have been the only political move to make. Now that both conferences are considering suspensions and their own sanctions, the two schools had to reject any bowl offers as sorta of 'trade-offs'. Both schools were fortunate to have something to trade to their respective conferences. Now we have to see if the trade-offs worked. Imagine, on the other hand, if one or both were not bowl eligible. They would not have the leverage of a bowl bid to work with. Now, the conferences will probably only suspend individual players with no more team sanctions.