Bowl Games Opt Out List
First Responder Bowl: FIU vs. UTSA
FIU Transfer Portal
- CB Brian Blades II (582 snaps)
- CB Mister Clark (776 snaps)
- CB Victor Evans (481 snaps)
- FS Jessiah McGrew (769 snaps)
- RT Daniel Michel (454 snaps; Miguel Cedeno will start; 395 snaps)
- RG Antonio Tripp (on depth chart)
Only Tripp will play in the bowl. FIU will be extremely shorthanded in the secondary with the following projected starters:
- SS Wesley Etienne (169 snaps)
- NB Bobby Salla (83 snaps)
- CB Ashton Levells (256 snaps)
- FS Shamir Sterlin (normal starter)
- CB Jai Celestine (413 snaps)
FIU Injuries
- QB Joe Pesansky (foot)
- QB Keyone Jenkins (groin)
Pesansky had started a few games before original starter Keyone Jenkins returned from injury and started the finale. Head coach Willie Simmons said if the bowl game were played on Dec. 17 that third-string quarterback Clayton Dees would start. However, he does expect both Pesansky and Jenkins to recover in time before the bowl game. He even said "we might put a wrinkle in and start them both."
Both quarterbacks are listed on the most recent depth chart with an "OR" designation.
UTSA Transfer Portal
- Starting NT Chidera Otutu (287 snaps)
- Starting CB KK Meier (399 snaps)
- Starting CB Davin Martin (437 snaps)
- Starting DE Kenny Ozowalu (stud; 341 snaps)
- DE Daemian Wimberly (168 snaps)
It sounds like more names are coming after head coach Jeff Traylor said his team will "be a shell of themselves" for the bowl game. He said he expects to be without 10-20 players due to a mix of opt-outs, injuries and transfer portal entries. I'd guess the Roadrunners will be without 6 or 7 starters on defense. It looks like the entire offense will be in tact, per the updated bowl depth chart.
UTSA Potential Opt-Outs
- LT Kamar Missouri (on depth chart)
- LB Shad Banks Jr. (on depth chart)
UTSA Injuries
- OLB Vic Shaw (missed finale; 349 snaps; on depth chart)
- RG Darrell Jones (hurt in Week 13; didn't play finale)
- TE3 Dan Dishman (hurt in Week 12)
Military Bowl: Pitt vs. East Carolina
Pitt Opt-Outs
- RB Desmond Reid
- LB Kyle Louis
Pitt Potential Opt-Outs
- RT Ryan Baer (on depth chart)
Pitt Transfer Portal
- LB Rasheem Biles (stud; 606 snaps; still on depth chart)
- RB Juelz Goff (259 snaps; not on depth chart)
- WR Zion Fowler-El (118 snaps; not on depth chart)
Pitt Injuries
- DT Sean FitzSimmons (last played in Week 10; listed as starter on depth chart)
- RG Ryan Carretta (didn't play final two games; on depth chart)
- LG Keith Gouveia (last played in Week 5; out for year)
Pitt Coaching Changes
Defensive coordinator Randy Bates will retire following the Military Bowl.
East Carolina Transfer Portal
- QB Katin Houser (will not play in bowl)
- TE Jayvontay Conner (496 snaps)
- WR Yannick Smith (583 yards, 5 TDs)
- LT Jimarion McCrimon (803 snaps)
None of the four are expected to suit up. You could see either the well-traveled Mike Wright (more of a runner who even played on defense this year) or freshman Chaston Ditta (more of a passer and better fit for offense) at quarterback (or both) or even Raheim Jeter.
East Carolina Opt-Outs
East Carolina Potential Opt-Outs
East Carolina Injuries
- LG Panda Askew (didn't play in finale)
- CB Rasheed Reason (last played in Week 7)
East Carolina Coaching Changes
ECU defensive coordinator Josh Aldridge left for the same role at USF, while offensive coordinator John David Baker is headed to Ole Miss in the same role.
Pinstripe Bowl: Penn State vs. Clemson
Penn State Transfer Portal
- CB Elliott Washington (256 snaps)
- CB AJ Harris (493 snaps)
- DE Chaz Coleman (150 snaps)
Penn State Opt-Outs
- RB Nicholas Singleton
- DT Zane Durant
- DE Zuriah Fisher
- S Zakee Wheatley
- LG Olaivavega Ioane
- OL Nick Dawkins
- RT Nolan Rucci
- LT Drew Shelton
- TE Khalil Dinkins
The Nittany Lions will be without four of their five starting offensive linemen for the Pinstripe Bowl.
Penn State Potential Opt-Outs
- DE Dani Dennis-Sutton
- RB Kaytron Allen
- WR Trebor Pena
- LB Amare Campbell
All of the above are still on the depth chart, but interim head coach Terry Smith hinted that some starters may only play limited reps.
Penn State Injuries
- QB Drew Allar (out for year)
- LB Tony Rojas (out for year)
- LB Alex Tatsch (out after bowl prep injury; 108 snaps)
Penn State Coaching Changes
The Nittany Lions fired head coach James Franklin during the season, which led to Terry Smith taking over as interim head coach. Matt Campbell will take over next season.
Co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Ty Howle has also been hired as the offensive coordinator at Virginia Tech.
Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is negotiating his buyout and will head to Tennessee.
Finally, offensive line coach Phil Trautwein is set to become Florida's next offensive line coach.
Scott Taetsch/Getty Images. Pictured: Penn State's Nicholas Singleton.
Clemson Transfer Portal
- S Khalil Barnes (522 snaps; will not play)
- LB Dee Crayton (79 snaps)
- LB Jamal Anderson (51 snaps)
Clemson Opt-Outs
- DT DeMonte Capehart (declared for NFL draft)
- DT Peter Woods (declared for NFL Draft)
- DE T.J. Parker (declared for NFL Draft)
- CB Avieon Terrell (declared for NFL Draft)
- WR Antonio Williams (declared for NFL Draft)
Potential Opt-Outs
- QB Cade Klubnik (says he will play)
- RT Blake Miller (says he will play)
- DE Will Heldt will play (returning next season)
Clemson, which is looking to extend its FBS record of consecutive years with a postseason victory to 15, will be without seven of its top 12 defenders in terms of snap count (and 5 of top 12 on offense).
Clemson Injuries
- Starting LB Wade Woodaz (surgery; will not play)
- Starting LG Collin Sadler (will not play)
- Starting WR Bryant Wesco (hurt in Week 8; out for year)
- Starting TE Olsen Patt-Henry (hurt in Week 13; out for year)
- DE Jahiem Lawson (hurt in W13; 300 snaps; will not play)
- RG Walker Parks (hurt in Week 12; out for year)
- OL Brayden Jacobs (hurt in Week 12; out for year)
- OG Elyjah Thurmon (hurt in week 4; out for year)
- QB Cade Klubnik (did not throw in practice on Dec. 15 but should be ready)
Head coach Dabo Swinney said 27 players will miss the bowl game due to injury or opt-outs. That includes eight who started in the regular season finale.
Fenway Bowl: UConn vs. Army
UConn Opt-Outs
There's a slight chance UConn could be down to QB4 if backup Nick Evers ends up entering the portal. WR Skyler Bell, who's Senior Bowl-bound, said he plans to play and is trying to convince others in the portal to do the same.
UConn Transfer Portal
- Starting RT Carsten Casady (774 snaps)
- Starting LT Ben Murawski (773 snaps)
- Starting RG Brady Wayburn (430 snaps)
- Starting RB Cam Edwards (says he'll play)
- Starting CB Cam Chadwick (796 snaps)
- Starting LB Oumar Diomande (790 snaps)
- CB Osiris Gilbert (288 snaps)
- RB Victor Rosa (157 snaps)
- RB Mel Brown (56 snaps)
- RB MJ Flowers (37 snaps)
- DL Vincent Carroll-Jackson
- TE Juice Vereen
UConn Injuries
- TE3 Juice Vereen (last played in Week 11; 211 snaps)
- DT Vincent Carroll-Jackson (last played W12; 494 snaps)
- S Tyrece Mills (last played in Week 12; 251 snaps)
Army Injuries
- RG Paolo Gennarelli (last played W11)
Will be updated following Army-Navy game, but the Black Knights defense finally appears fully healthy with the return of CB Justin Weaver and both top interior defensive linemen.
Pop-Tarts Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. BYU
Georgia Tech Transfer Portal
- C Tana Alo-Tupuola (455 snaps; rotated as starter)
- Backup QB Aaron Philo
- LB Melvin Jordan IV (148 snaps)
Georgia Tech Potential Opt-Outs
- RG Keylan Rutledge (sounds like he should play)
- WR Eric Rivers (expected to play)
- QB Haynes King (expected to play)
- RB Jamal Haynes (on depth chart)
Georgia Tech Injuries
- S Clayton Powell-Lee (637 snaps; out with an ankle)
- DE Brayden Manley (347 snaps; out due to shoulder surgery)
- WR Isiah Canion (567 snaps; out due to undisclosed injury)
- S Jy Gilmore (414 snaps; out for season; last played in Week 13)
- DT Akelo Stone (last played in Week 13; on depth chart)
Georgia Tech Coaching Changes
OC Buster Faulkner took the same position with Florida. Co-OC Chris Weinke will likely take over duties for the bowl game for an offensive staff that lost quite a few key pieces.
BYU Potential Opt-Outs
- LT Isaiah Jatta (on depth chart)
- WR Chase Roberts (on depth chart)
- DT Keanu Tanuvasa (on depth chart)
BYU Injuries
- RB LJ Martin (Big 12 OPOY: out following surgery)
- Backup RB Sione Moa (will not play)
Arizona Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Fresno State
Miami (OH) Transfer Portal
- Starting WR Kam Perry (led nation in yards per catch; nearly 1,000 yards; traveled with team)
- Starting DE Adam Trick (best defensive player; will not play)
- Starting CB Mychal Yharbrough (591 snaps)
- Starting RT Drew Terrill (best OL)
- CB Luke Evans (175 snaps)
- LS Hudson Powell
Miami (OH) Potential Opt-Outs
- S Eli Blakey
- S Silas Walters
I'd guess they'll play.
Miami (OH) Injuries
- QB Dequan Finn left the program
- LB Corban Hondru (stud; missed final two games)
- RB Kenny Tracy (out for year after five games)
Miami (OH) turned to freshman QB Tommy Gotkowski, but he was benched mid-game for veteran Henry Hesson.
Fresno State Transfer Portal
- S Jayden Davis (285 snaps)
Fresno State Potential Opt-Outs
- CB Al'zillion Hamilton
- DL Korey Foreman
Fresno State Injuries
- S Ryan Wilson (missed finale)
- DT Martin Owusu (last played in Week 10; 286 snaps)
- LB K'Vion Thunderbird (last played in Week 7; 302 snaps)
Quarterback Carson Conklin is listed as the starter for the Bulldogs.
New Mexico Bowl: North Texas vs. San Diego State
North Texas Transfer Portal
- QB Drew Mestemaker (expected to play)
- DT Jayden Williams
- DL Saadiq Clements
- OG Johnny Dickson (two-time all-conference selection)
North Texas Potential Opt-Outs
- RB Caleb Hawkins
- WR Wyatt Young
- WR Miles Coleman
North Texas Injuries
- RB Caleb Hawkins (stud; left conference title game with injury)
- LB Shane Whitter (last played in Week 10; 468 snaps)
- RB Makenzie McGill II (last played in Week 8; 206 snaps)
- WR Simeon Evans (last played in Week 11; 211 snaps)
North Texas Coaching Changes
Head coach Eric Morris took the job at Oklahoma State and will not be with the team for the bowl. I'd guess North Texas might have a handful of key opt-outs, with a few potentially following Morris to Stillwater, where they'd instantly start. However, per the latest updates, most are expected to play.
Neal Brown will be the next head coach in Denton. Brown did say everybody but Mestemaker (who was receiving an award) attended the team meeting on Monday, for what it's worth.
Special teams coach Drew Svoboda will serve as the interim coach for the bowl game with the rest of the staff expected to stay on for the game, sans Morris.
San Diego State Transfer Portal
- DE Jared Badie (131 snaps)
- EDGE August Salvati (118 snaps)
San Diego State Potential Opt-Outs
- CB Chris Johnson
- LB Owen Chambliss
- EDGE Trey White
Johnson will be drafted, while rumors have swirled that Chambliss and White (both All-MWC) could follow DC Aurich to Nebraska.
San Diego State Injuries
- QB Jayden Denegal (surgery; will not play)
- WR Jordan Napier (out for year)
- WR Jacob Bostick (out for year)
- LB Tano Letuli (last played in Week 10; 209 snaps)
Former Central Michigan QB Bert Emanuel Jr. will start in place of Denegal.
San Diego State Coaching Changes
Aztec defensive coordinator Rob Aurich took the same job with Nebraska. Passing game coordinator Demetrius Sumler will serve as the interim DC for the bowl game.
Gator Bowl: Virginia vs. Missouri
Virginia Transfer Portal
- Starting CB Ja'Son Prevard (585 snaps)
Virginia Potential Opt-Outs
- RB J'Mari Taylor
- QB Chandler Morris
- DE Fisher Camac
- S Antonio Clary
- S Devin Neal
Taylor said he's deliberating about whether or not he's going to play.
Virginia Injuries
- LB Kam Robinson (out for year)
- TE Dakota Twitty (last played W6; 247 snaps)
- WR Trell Harris (top wideout left ACC title game with an injury; still waiting on imaging)
- RG Kevin Wigenton II
Missouri Transfer Portal
- Starting QB Beau Pribula (won't play)
- WR Josh Manning (318 yards, 2 TDs; will not play)
- WR Marquis Johnson (340 yards, 2 TDs; will not play)
With Pribula entering the portal, backup Matt Zollers — who started three games this season — will get the start.
Missouri is also pretty thin at wide receiver.
Missouri Potential Opt-Outs
- LT Cayden Green
- RT Keagen Trost
- C Connor Tollison
- DE Zion Young (will play)
- DE Damon Wilson II
- WR Kevin Coleman
- DT Chris McClellan
- S Jalen Catalon
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said he expects minimal opt outs.
Missouri Injuries
- Starting TE Brett Norfleet (won't play)
- Starting LB Josiah Trotter (won't play)
Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Houston
LSU Transfer Portal
- DT Ahmad Breaux (274 snaps; will still play in bowl)
- OL Carius Curne (305 snaps; will still play in bowl)
LSU Opt-Outs
- QB Garrett Nussmeier
- CB Mansoor Delane (potential first-round pick)
- S AJ Haulcy
- DE Jack Pyburn
- LB Harold Perkins
- LB Whit Weeks
- LB West Weeks
- OG Josh Thompson
- WR Aaron Anderson (241 snaps)
LSU Potential Opt-Outs
- DE Patrick Payton (on depth chart)
- WR Zavion Thomas (on depth chart)
- WR Chris Hilton (on depth chart; will play)
- WR Barion Brown (on depth chart)
LSU Injuries
- C Braelin Moore (missed finale; should play)
- WR Nic Anderson (last played in Week 11; 222 snaps)
Quarterback Michael Van Buren will make his fourth straight start. The projected starting offensive line is Tyree Adams, Coen Echols, Braelin Moore, Paul Mubenga, and Weston Davis.
Houston Opt Outs
Starting center Demetrius Hunter left the program on Dec. 8 and is no longer on the roster.
Houston Potential Opt-Outs
- RB Dean Connors
- TE Tanner Koziol (accepted Senior Bowl invite)
- DE Eddie Walls
QB Conner Weigman announced he will return to Houston in 2026 for his final season of eligibility.
Houston Injuries
- DT Khalil Laufau (missed finale; 649 snaps)
- WR Stephon Johnson (last played in Week 7)
Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Appalachian State
Georgia Southern Injuries
- RB OJ Arnold (stud; missed finale)
- WR Dalen Cobb (missed finale)
- DT Devan Lowe (missed finale)
Appalachian State Transfer Portal
- QB AJ Swann (lost job late in year)
- QB JJ Kohl (took starting job late in year)
- Starting S DJ Burks (leading tackler over past two seasons)
- Starting WR Davion Dozier (448 yards, 5 TDs)
- Starting CB Elijah Mc-Cantos (705 snaps)
- LB Brayshawn Littlejohn (305 snaps)
- EDGE Thomas Davis (220 snaps; hasn't played since Week 8)
- OT Denell Nix Jr. (236 snaps)
If Swann and Kohl don't suit up, App State only has two quarterbacks with experience on the roster in freshman Noah Gillon (13-32 for 111 yards on the season) and senior Billy Wiles (formerly at Clemson and Southern Miss)
Appalachian State Injuries
- WR Jaden Barnes (didn't play final two games)
- RG Trent Ramsey (hasn't played since Week 8)
- TE Izayah Cummings (hasn't played since Week 9)
- S Dylan Hasz (missed final two games)
Other Notes: This is a rematch of a regular season conference game in which Georgia Southern won 25-23.