In a Strange Twist, Top Quarterbacks are Opting Into Bowl Games

Remember when opt-outs were ruining bowl games? That’s just not happening anymore, well, at least in the way they used to happen.

Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette were the first high-profile players to skip their bowl games in order to ensure a healthy pre-NFL Draft process. Since 2017, those opt-outs happened more regularly than not. In fact, it became the expectation for future first-round draft picks to skip bowl games.

Nobody in Big Blue Nation expected Will Levis to play in the 2022 Music City Bowl. Kenny Pickett decided to skip a New Year’s Six Game after leading Pitt to an ACC Championship. It became such a norm that before placing a wager during bowl season, one needed to research to see who was playing in the game. This year’s research produced a surprising result.

Top Quarterbacks are Playing in Bowl Games

Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward will spend the next four months lobbying to be the top pick in next year’s NFL Draft. This weekend they are competing in bowl games.

Why?

Even though it will not be publicly disclosed, there are surely NIL financial implications for players who are playing in these games. The assumption is if you don’t play, you don’t get paid. In Colorado’s case, Deion Sanders ensured Sanders and Heisman Trophy Winner Travis Hunter would play in the Alamo Bowl by insuring them.

“We happen to have two players that are probably going to be the first two picks of the NFL Draft. I think we all know who those two are, and they have received, I think, the highest number of (disability insurance) coverage that has ever been covered in college football. It far exceeds anyone that has ever played this game of college football. So, we’re happy and excited,” Sanders said.

Even though Jalen Milroe‘s case is different, it’s still noteworthy that he will suit up for Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Considered a Heisman candidate at the start of the season, he star has faded, and some of that may be the lingering effects from his play in last year’s Rose Bowl against Michigan. He’ll get a chance for some revenge against the Wolverines on New Year’s Eve.

Transfer Portal is Causing Absences

Just because the sport’s biggest stars are playing, doesn’t mean teams are competing at full strength. The transfer portal is to blame for this wave of bowl opt-outs.

The Washington State Cougars will be a shell of themselves when they take the field as 17.5-point underdogs against Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl. The Cougars have lost their head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and running backs coach. Star quarterback John Mateer is following his offensive coordinator to Oklahoma. He’ll be one of about two dozen Wazzu players who will not be available for the game.

NIL appears to have helped postseason participation, but the transfer portal is decimating rosters at an even more alarming rate.