All articles tagged with #opt outs
Michigan Football will be without 12-15 players in the Citrus Bowl against Texas due to injuries and opt-outs, including key players like Derrick Moore, Jaishawn Barham, and Giovanni El-Hadi, making the lineup uncertain for the game.
The future of college football bowl games is uncertain due to CFP expansion, player opt-outs, and changing conference alignments, but organizers see potential for coexistence and adaptation, with discussions ongoing about the number of bowls and their role in the postseason.
Georgia's head coach Kirby Smart expressed concern over the state of college football after his team's 63-3 Orange Bowl victory over a Florida State team missing key players due to opt outs and the transfer portal. Smart highlighted the need for a solution to the growing trend of players opting out of bowl games, which he believes undermines the integrity of the sport. Florida State's coach Mike Norvell pointed to the team's exclusion from the College Football Playoff as a factor in the players' decisions to opt out. Despite the lopsided win, both Georgia and Florida State ended their seasons with a 13-1 record.
The absences of key players like Drake Maye and Caleb Williams have had a significant impact on the betting lines for their respective college football bowl games. North Carolina is now a 6.5-point underdog against West Virginia, while USC is a 7.5-point underdog against Louisville. The Cotton Bowl has seen the biggest spread shift, with Missouri going from a 6.5-point underdog to a 2.5-point favorite against Ohio State. Despite these changes, Alabama remains a popular bet as a 1.5-point underdog against Michigan in the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal.
As Missouri prepares for its Cotton Bowl matchup against Ohio State, the Tigers have a lengthy 25-day gap to strategize and rest. However, the uncertainty lies in which players from Ohio State will actually play in the game, as the transfer portal has opened and there may be potential opt-outs. Ohio State's head coach, Ryan Day, expects everyone to play and views it as an opportunity for younger players to step up. Missouri's coach, Eli Drinkwitz, isn't concerned about who will be playing for Ohio State and is focused on his team's preparation.