Chris Klieman says it's 'great' that Sugar Bowl will not have opt outs

Neither Kansas State nor Alabama will have a single opt out for the 2022 Sugar Bowl. During bowl preparations, K-State football coach Chris Klieman discussed what it means for the state of college football to have these two high-profile teams playing at max capacity in a non-playoff setting.

Alabama’s Bryce Young and Will Anderson headline the group of players that will participate in the Sugar Bowl this weekend.

“I think it’s great,” Klieman said. “It’s great for college football that the best players are going to play in this game. We have a handful of those guys as well that have elected to play in this game. And that’s what it’s about. It’s playing with your brothers one last time for the guys that are going on to the next level. And I think that’s really important for our game in general.”

Of course, the excitement for Young and Anderson to play was reciprocated on the Alabama side, too. His coaching staff did everything that they could do as an institution “to minimize the risk for them to play” in the Sugar Bowl.

Alabama head coach Saban went on to praise the two for their leadership and said that the respect those two have for their teammates more than likely weighed into their decision to play.

Upon making his final decision, Anderson said that with him and Young setting the precedent for Sugar Bowl opt outs raised the bar for other players that are likely to enter the 2023 NFL Draft.

Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, also decided to come back for Alabama’s bowl game. Young said that he’s put in too much work with this squad to leave them early, and is ready for one last go donning crimson and white.

With neither side having a single opt out across the board, the two one-time College Football Playoff hopefuls will be at full strength for what should be one of the most competitive games of the postseason. Kickoff between the Tide and Wildcats is set for Noon ET on New Year’s Eve live on ESPN.