Bowl season has arrived. But as every college football fan knows, the best games are still weeks away. Those looking for their Saturday football fix still have several intriguing options on tap this weekend, though: Louisville and Cincinnati will meet in the Fenway Bowl, and Troy and UTSA — two ranked Group of 5 teams — will meet in the Cure Bowl. However, all the bowl games on this weekend’s college football slate will be affected by opt-outs, injuries and coaching moves.
Here at the bowl game opt-outs from every college football team with a game scheduled for this weekend, including Cincinnati, Louisville, Oregon State and Florida.
Complete Bowl Game Opt-Outs for this Weekend
Bahamas Bowl Opt-Outs | Miami (OH)-UAB
When: Friday, Dec. 16 at 11:30 a.m. ET
Where: Thomas A. Robinson Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
Miami (OH) RedHawks
OL Caleb Shaffer (transfer portal), CB John Saunders (transfer portal), QB Brett Gabbert (TBD).
It’s usually a bigger deal if a starting quarterback’s status is uncertain, but Miami has had to play without Brett Gabbert for most of the season because of injuries. Gabbert, who helped lead Miami to a 5-3 record in the MAC and a bowl win, entered the transfer portal but changed his mind. Gabbert hasn’t played since early November and it’s unclear whether he’ll suit up. If he does, he’ll have one less starting offensive lineman to protect him: guard Caleb Shaffer. Cornerback John Saunders, a Second-Team All-MAC selection, will also sit out Friday’s game.
UAB Blazers
OL Theiron Cannon (transfer portal).
Although the Blazers have one opt-out to report, head coaching developments are far more significant. Offensive lineman Theiron Cannon didn’t make an appearance all year. Meanwhile, head coach Bill Clark suddenly retired in June, leading longtime assistant Bryant Vincent to serve as interim head coach. Vincent had earned the support of the locker room, but the administration chose to bring in former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer. The Blazers should come out fighting in Vincent’s final game at the helm.
Cure Bowl Opt-Outs | Troy-UTSA
When: Friday, Dec. 16 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
Troy Trojans:
WR Jabre Barber (injury), WR Marcus Rogers (injury)
It’s unclear if either Barber or Rogers will suit up for the Trojans. Both players were out for the Sun Belt Championship two weeks ago, and Barber hasn’t played since October. Barber still caught 25 passes in his six appearances and ranks second on the team in catches per game.
UTSA Roadrunners:
Brenden Brady (injury)
Like Barber and Rogers, UTSA’s Brenden Brady missed his conference championship game with an injury. However, he suffered his injury much more recently — he went down in UTSA’s regular-season finale against UTEP. Brady, an All-CUSA Honorable Mention, would be missed by the Roadrunners. Fellow running back Kevorian Barnes, who also earned an All-CUSA Honorable Mention this season, will have to pick up the slack for the Roadrunners.
Fenway Bowl Opt-Outs | Cincinnati-Louisville
When: Saturday, Dec. 17 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
Cincinnati Bearcats
QB Ben Bryant (injury), QB Luther Richesson (transfer portal), WR Tre Tucker (opt-out), WR Nick Mardner (transfer portal), WR Jadon Thompson (transfer portal), TE Josh Whyle (opt out), OL Jake Renfro (transfer portal).
The Cincinnati Bearcats bettors watch on Saturday won’t look much like they did in the regular season. Aside from all the injuries and opt-outs, head coach Luke Fickell has left for Wisconsin, leaving cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs at the helm. The Bearcats will replace Coombs with Louisville’s Scott Satterfield next season.
But beyond the coaching change, the Bearcats won’t have Ben Bryant, their starting quarterback. Backup Evan Prater, who has struggled in relief of Bryant so far, is expected to start. Unfortunately, he won’t have the benefit of tight end Josh Whyle, an All-AAC Second-Team selection, or wide receivers Tre Tucker, Jadon Thompson, or Nick Mardner, leaving the Bearcats with just one of their top five receivers. Starting center and All-AAC First-Team selection Jake Renfro also entered the transfer portal.
Louisville Cardinals
QB Malik Cunningham (opt-out), RB Tiyon Evans (opt-out), RB Trevion Cooley (transfer portal), RB Jalen Mitchell (transfer portal), WR Tyler Hudson (opt-out), OL Luke Kandra (transfer portal), DL Caleb Banks (transfer portal), CB Kei’Trel Clark (opt-out).
With head coach Scott Satterfield headed to Cincinnati, the Louisville Cardinals hired alumnus Jeff Brohm away from Purdue this offseason. However, Director of Player Development Deion Branch will take over as interim head coach for Louisville’s bowl game. He’ll have to assemble a starting lineup out of spare parts.
Cunningham’s absence means the Cardinals will turn to backup Brock Domann, a solid but unspectacular reserve. Domann has gotten plenty of starting experience this year because of injuries to Cunningham, but he’ll have to play without leading receiver and Second-Team All-ACC selection Tyler Hudson. Three running backs, including All-ACC Honorable Mention Tiyon Evans, will also miss Saturday’s contest, along with starting cornerback and All-ACC Third-Team selection Kei’Trel Clark.
Las Vegas Bowl Opt-Outs | Florida-Oregon State
When: Saturday, Dec. 17 at 2:15 p.m. ET
Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
Florida Gators
QB Anthony Richardson (opt-out), QB Jalen Kitna (dismissed), WR Justin Shorter (opt-out), OL O’Cyrus Torrence (opt-out), OL Josh Braun (transfer portal), LB Ventrell Miller (transfer portal)
The Florida Gators have had a tumultuous end to a bad season. They’ll now turn to their third-string quarterback after their starter, Anthony Richardson, opted out, and their backup, Jalen Kitna, got arrested. New quarterback Jack Miller III, an Ohio State transfer, is yet to attempt a pass for the Gators. He’ll have to work without the team’s second-leading receiver, Justin Shorter. Further, he won’t have protection from All-SEC First-Team guard O’Cyrus Torrence. The Gators also won’t have the services of starting linebacker Ventrell Miller, who ranks third on the team in tackles, but will have defensive tackle Gervon Dexter despite his decision to declare for the NFL draft.
Oregon State Beavers
QB Chance Nolan (transfer portal), TE Luke Musgrave (opt-out), CB Rejzohn Wright (injury).
The Oregon State Beavers enter the Las Vegas Bowl close to full strength. Neither quarterback Chance Nolan nor tight end Luke Musgrave has seen the field since October. Starting cornerback Rejzohn Wright, who owns two picks and a fumble recovery, is out with an injury. The bigger concern is whether All-Pac-12 First-Team running back Damien Martinez can play. He got hurt in the regular-season finale against Oregon but is expected to suit up. Martinez led the Beavers in total rushing yards (970) on an impressive 6.1 yards per carry.
LA Bowl Opt-Outs | Fresno State-Washington State
When: Saturday, Dec. 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Fresno State Bulldogs
DB Cale Sanders (transfer portal)
After a season full of injuries, the Fresno State Bulldogs got healthy down the stretch and won the Mountain West Conference championship game. Star quarterback Jake Haener, who had spoken about his hopes of qualifying for a New Year’s Six Bowl before the season started, will now face Wazzu in the LA Bowl.
Washington State Cougars
WR De’Zhuan Stribling (transfer portal), Donovan Ollie (transfer portal), Renard Bell (injury), LB Daiyan Henley (opt-out), LB Francisco Mauigoa (transfer portal), LB Travion Brown (transfer portal)
All departures can hurt a team, but cluster departures can cause teams to implode. The Washington State Cougars, who pass 59.6% of the time, won’t have three of their top four receivers in terms of total yardage — De’Zhuan Stribling, Donovan Ollie and Renard Bell had combined for 1,408 receiving yards. The Cougars will also have to make do with minimal linebacker depth after losing All-Pac-12 First Team selection Daiyan Henley and the two best-equipped players to replace him. The program also lost defensive coordinator Brian Ward.
LendingTree Bowl Opt-Outs | Rice-Southern Miss
When: Saturday, Dec. 17 at 5:45 p.m. ET
Where: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Rice Owls
QB Wiley Green (injury), QB T.J. McMahon (injury), WR Luke McCaffrey (injury)
The Rice Owls have dealt with some serious tumult at quarterback late in the year. Starter T.J. McMahon went down with an injury in November and is yet to return. His backup, Wiley Green, went down early in the season and re-aggravated that injury in mid-November. Third-stringer AJ Padgett will likely draw the start, but he may have to work without his second-best wide receiver, Luke McCaffrey.
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
RB Dajon Richard (transfer portal)
Although reserve running back Dajon Richard entered the transfer portal, the Frank Gore Jr-led Southern Miss Golden Eagles shouldn’t skip a beat.
New Mexico Bowl Opt-Outs | SMU-BYU
When: Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M.
SMU Mustangs
WR Rashee Rice (injury)
It’s a short list for the SMU Mustangs, but it’s also a meaningful one. Star wide receiver Rashee Rice, who led the team in receiving yards (1,355) and receiving touchdowns (10), will miss Saturday’s action with a toe injury.
BYU Cougars
QB Jaren Hall (injury), QB Jacob Conover (transfer portal), WR Keanu Hill (injury), LB Keenan Pili (transfer portal), LB Payton Wilgar (injury)
The BYU Cougars find themselves in a bit of a bind. Starting quarterback Jaren Hall is still working his way back from an injury, and backup Jacob Conover entered the transfer portal. Should Hall sit, the Cougars would likely turn to either Cade Fennegan or Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters, neither of whom have taken a snap under center for BYU. Fennegan last saw action for Boise State in 2020. Linebacker Keenan Pili, who ranked second on the team in tackles, entered the transfer portal.
The Cougars also made some coaching changes. Associate head coach and special team’s coordinator Ed Lamb left for Northern Colorado, taking a few assistants and analysts with him. Defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki and strength and conditioning coach Nu’u Tafisi are also gone, leaving head coach Kalani Sitake with a skeleton crew for the New Mexico Bowl.
Frisco Bowl Opt-Outs | Boise State-North Texas
When: Saturday, Dec. 17 at 9:15 p.m. ET
Where: Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Boise State Broncos
QB Hank Bachmeier (transfer portal), RB George Holani (injury), WR Stefan Cobbs (injury)
Neither leading running back George Holani nor third-leading receiver Stefan Cobbs have been ruled out, but both are working back from injuries. Holani got hurt in the Mountain West championship game a few weeks ago, while Cobbs hasn’t played since mid-November. The Broncos also lost longtime quarterback Hank Bachmeier to the transfer portal, but he announced his departure in October. Taylen Green has started under center ever since.
North Texas Mean Green
No opt-outs reported.
In a somewhat surprising move, the UNT Mean Green parted ways with head coach Seth Littrell despite qualifying for the CUSA championship game. However, UNT lost that contest by three scores, and Littrell owns an unremarkable 44-44 record through seven seasons. Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett will take over as interim head coach, and quarterback Austin Aune, who ranks an impressive 29th in passing efficiency (151.1), will play despite declaring for the NFL draft.
