2025 College Football Bowl Opt-Outs Tracker – Player Updates & Injuries

• Track all the players opting out for the 2025 college football bowl season
• Notable opt-outs include Penn State’s Vega Ioane and Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II
• Read below for complete college football bowl opt-outs, transfers, and injury updates

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The 2025 College Football Bowl Season is here. That means opt-out season is also in full swing.

Bowl games lost some appeal when the 12-team playoff launched. If you’re not in the playoff, you’re playing what amounts to an exhibition game. Top prospects aren’t risking NFL millions for exhibitions.

With more than 40 bowl games scheduled this season, tracking every player who opts out, transfers, or gets injured is tough. We’re keeping tabs on all of it right here.

This page shows a complete record of confirmed opt-outs and other player absences for each bowl game. We’ll update this tracker with new information as it comes in. Check back regularly for the latest updates.

Key College Football Bowl Opt-Outs

Penn State leads all non-playoff teams in major opt-outs. The Nittany Lions lost four starters before the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson.

Tennessee loses its top receiver for the Music City Bowl. Arizona State heads to the Sun Bowl without its most explosive weapon. Texas is missing several key defenders for the Citrus Bowl.

Keep scrolling to see every player sitting out their bowl games.

2025 College Football Bowl Opt-Outs and Injuries

Here is the full schedule of 2025 college football bowl games. Jump to a specific bowl game by clicking a link below.

Dec. 13 Celebration Bowl | LA Bowl

Dec. 16 Salute to Veterans Bowl

Dec. 17 Cure Bowl | 68 Ventures Bowl

Dec. 18 Xbox Bowl

Dec. 19 Myrtle Beach Bowl | Gasparilla Bowl | CFP Round 1 Game 1

Dec. 20 CFP Round 1 Game 2 | CFP Round 1 Game 3 | CFP Round 1 Game 4

Dec. 22 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Dec. 23 Boca Raton Bowl | New Orleans Bowl | Frisco Bowl

Dec. 24 Hawai’i Bowl

Dec. 26 GameAbove Sports Bowl | Rate Bowl | First Responder Bowl

Dec. 27 Military Bowl | Pinstripe Bowl | Fenway Bowl | Pop-Tarts Bowl | Arizona Bowl | New Mexico Bowl | Gator Bowl | Texas Bowl

Dec. 29 Birmingham Bowl

Dec. 30 Independence Bowl | Music City Bowl | Alamo Bowl

Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl | Sun Bowl | Citrus Bowl | Las Vegas Bowl | Cotton Bowl (CFP QF)

Jan. 1 Orange Bowl (CFP QF) | Rose Bowl (CFP QF) | Sugar Bowl (CFP QF)

Jan. 2 Armed Forces Bowl | Liberty Bowl | Duke’s Mayo Bowl | Holiday Bowl

Jan. 8 Fiesta Bowl (CFP Semifinal)

Jan. 9 Peach Bowl (CFP Semifinal)

Jan. 20 CFP National Championship

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Celebration Bowl (Dec. 13)

The following players won’t participate in the Celebration Bowl:

Prairie View A&M

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

South Carolina State

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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LA Bowl (Dec. 13)

The following players won’t participate in the LA Bowl:

Boise State

• Ty Benefield, SAF (opt-out)
• Kage Casey, OT (opt-out)
• Ben Ford, WR (injury)

Washington

• Charlie Crowell, TE (injury)
• Tacario Davis, CB (injury)
• Kade Eldridge, TE (injury)
• Justice Williams, WR (injury)
• Rashid Williams, WR (injury)

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Salute to Veterans Bowl (Dec. 16)

The following players won’t participate in the Salute to Veterans Bowl:

Jacksonville State

• Aghogho Eyafe, WR (injury)
• Lucas Farrington, RB (injury)
• Nabi Hoyt, WR (injury)
• Jalen Likely, RB (injury)
• Brock Rechsteiner, WR (injury)

Troy

• Goose Crowder, QB (injury)
• DJ Jackson Jr., DL (transfer portal)
• Tae Meadows, RB (transfer portal)

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Cure Bowl (Dec. 17)

The following players won’t participate in the Cure Bowl:

Old Dominion

• Maurki James, RB (injury)
• Colton Joseph, QB (transfer portal)
• Titus Myers, WR (injury)

South Florida

• Jaden Alexis, WR (injury)
• Kajuan Banks, CB (opt-out)
• Byrum Brown, QB (opt-out)
• Alex Golesh, HC (hired by Auburn)
• Christian Neptune, WR (injury)
• Chas Nimrod, WR (injury)
• Cartevious Norton, RB (injury)
• Kory Pettigrew, WR (injury)
• Brandon Winton, WR (injury)
• Weston Wolff, TE (injury)

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68 Ventures Bowl (Dec. 17)

The following players won’t participate in the 68 Ventures Bowl:

Delaware

• Thomas Amankwaa, WR (injury)
• Ja’Carree Kelly, WR (injury)
• Zach Marker, QB (injury)
• Oliver Redd, RB (injury)
• Calvin Thomas, WR (injury)
• Connor Witthoft, TE (injury)

Louisiana

• Bryant Williams, OT (transfer portal)

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Xbox Bowl (Dec. 18)

The following players won’t participate in the Xbox Bowl:

Arkansas State

• Nana Burris, WR (injury)
• Jabari Bush, TE (injury)
• Ja’Quez Cross, TE (injury)
• Cash Hudson, OC (transfer portal)
• Tyler Little, TE (injury)

Missouri State

• Ryan Beard, HC (hired by Coastal Carolina)
• Tristian Gardner, WR (opt-out)
• JJ O’Neal, DB (opt-out)
• DJ Wesolak, DL (opt-out)

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Myrtle Beach Bowl (Dec. 19)

The following players won’t participate in the Myrtle Beach Bowl:

Kennesaw State

• Garland Benyard, LB (injury)
• Caleb Offord, CB (injury)
• Antonio Stevens, SAF (injury)
• JeRico Washington, CB (transfer portal)

Western Michigan

• Noah Bishop, DL (injury)
• Cole Cabana, RB (injury)
• Nadame Tucker, DE (opt-out)

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Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 19)

The following players won’t participate in the Gasparilla Bowl:

Memphis

• Travis Burke, OT (injury)
• Jaidyn Denis, CB (injury)
• Chauncey Logan Jr., CB (injury)
• Ryan Silverfield, HC (hired by Arkansas)

NC State

• Brody Barnhardt, SAF (injury)
• Sean Brown, LB (injury)
• Brandon Cleveland, DT (opt-out)
• Jamel Johnson, CB (injury)
• Justin Joly, TE (opt-out)
• Devon Marshall, CB (opt-out)
• Jacarius Peak, LT (opt-out)
• Hollywood Smothers, RB (opt-out)
• Kamen Smith, OG (injury)

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CFP Round 1 Game 1 – Alabama vs Oklahoma (Dec. 19)

The following players won’t participate in this CFP Round 1 game:

Alabama

• Zabien Brown, CB (injury)
• Kelby Collins, DL (injury)
• Josh Cuevas, TE (injury)
• Kevin Dewberry, OG (injury)
• Justin Jefferson, LB (injury)
• Jam Miller, RB (injury)
• LT Overton, DL (injury)
• Kevin Riley, RB (injury)

Oklahoma

• Jovantae Barnes, RB (injury)
• Jake Maikkula, OG (injury)
• Heath Ozaeta, OG (injury)
• R Mason Thomas, DL (injury)
• Gentry Williams, CB (injury)

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CFP Round 1 Game 2 – Texas A&M vs Miami (Dec. 20)

The following players won’t participate in this CFP Round 1 game:

Miami

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Texas A&M

• Jay Bateman, DC (hired by Kentucky)
• Collin Klein, OC (hired by Kansas State)

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CFP Round 1 Game 3 – Ole Miss vs Tulane (Dec. 20)

The following players won’t participate in this CFP Round 1 game:

Ole Miss

• Lane Kiffin, HC (hired by LSU)

Tulane

• Jon Sumrall, HC (hired by Florida)

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CFP Round 1 Game 4 – Oregon vs James Madison (Dec. 20)

The following players won’t participate in this CFP Round 1 game:

James Madison

• Bob Chesney, HC (hired by UCLA)

Oregon

• Dakoda Fields, CB (transfer portal)
• Jahlil Florence, CB (transfer portal)
• Tosh Lupoi, DC (hired by Cal)
• Will Stein, OC (hired by Kentucky)

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Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Dec. 22)

The following players won’t participate in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:

Utah State

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Washington State

• Anthony Palano, LB (transfer portal)
• Braden Pegan, WR (transfer portal)
• Jaxson Porter, QB (transfer portal)
• Kenny Worthy, CB (transfer portal)

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Boca Raton Bowl (Dec. 23)

The following players won’t participate in the Boca Raton Bowl:

Louisville

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Toledo

• Jason Candle, HC (hired by UConn)
• Malachi Davis, EDGE (transfer portal)
• Vince Kehres, DC (hired by Syracuse)

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New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 23)

The following players won’t participate in the New Orleans Bowl:

Southern Miss

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Western Kentucky

• Dylan Flowers, CB (transfer portal)

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Frisco Bowl (Dec. 23)

The following players won’t participate in the Frisco Bowl:

Ohio

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

UNLV

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Hawai’i Bowl (Dec. 24)

The following players won’t participate in the Hawai’i Bowl:

California

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Hawai’i

• Jackson Harris, WR (transfer portal)

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GameAbove Sports Bowl (Dec. 26)

The following players won’t participate in the GameAbove Sports Bowl:

Central Michigan

• Kade Kostus, DL (transfer portal)

Northwestern

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Rate Bowl (Dec. 26)

The following players won’t participate in the Rate Bowl:

Minnesota

• Fame Ijeboi, RB (transfer portal)

New Mexico

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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First Responder Bowl (Dec. 26)

The following players won’t participate in the First Responder Bowl:

FIU

• Mister Clark, CB (transfer portal)
• Victor Evans III, CB (opt-out)

UTSA

• Chidera Otutu, DL (transfer portal)

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Military Bowl (Dec. 27)

The following players won’t participate in the Military Bowl:

East Carolina

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Pittsburgh

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 27)

The following players won’t participate in the Pinstripe Bowl:

Clemson

• Khalil Barnes, SAF (transfer portal)
• Avieon Terrell, CB (injury)

Penn State

• Zane Durant, DL (NFL Draft)
• Vega Ioane, OL (NFL Draft)
• Nicholas Singleton, RB (NFL Draft)
• Zakee Wheatley, SAF (NFL Draft)

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Fenway Bowl (Dec. 27)

The following players won’t participate in the Fenway Bowl:

Army

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

UConn

• Carsten Casady, OT (opt-out)
• Cam Chadwick, DB (opt-out)
• Oumar Diomande, LB (opt-out)
• Cam Edwards, RB (transfer portal)
• Ben Murawski, OT (opt-out)
• Brady Wayburn, OG (transfer portal)

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Pop-Tarts Bowl (Dec. 27)

The following players won’t participate in the Pop-Tarts Bowl:

BYU

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Georgia Tech

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Arizona Bowl (Dec. 27)

The following players won’t participate in the Arizona Bowl:

Fresno State

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Miami (OH)

• Dequan Finn, QB (opt-out)
• Kam Perry, WR (transfer portal)
• Adam Trick, DL (transfer portal)
• Michael Yharbrough, CB (transfer portal)

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New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 27)

The following players won’t participate in the New Mexico Bowl:

North Texas

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

San Diego State

• Jared Badie, EDGE (transfer portal)
• August Salvati, EDGE (transfer portal)

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Gator Bowl (Dec. 27)

The following players won’t participate in the Gator Bowl:

Missouri

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Virginia

• Ja’Son Prevard, CB (opt-out)

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Texas Bowl (Dec. 27)

The following players won’t participate in the Texas Bowl:

Houston

• Demetrius Hunter, OL (opt-out)

LSU

• Ahmad Breaux, DL (transfer portal)
• Mansoor Delane, CB (NFL Draft)

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Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 29)

The following players won’t participate in the Birmingham Bowl:

App State

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Georgia Southern

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Independence Bowl (Dec. 30)

The following players won’t participate in the Independence Bowl:

Coastal Carolina

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Louisiana Tech

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Music City Bowl (Dec. 30)

The following players won’t participate in the Music City Bowl:

Illinois

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Tennessee

• Chris Brazzell II, WR (NFL Draft)
• Boo Carter, CB (opt-out)

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Alamo Bowl (Dec. 30)

The following players won’t participate in the Alamo Bowl:

TCU

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

USC

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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ReliaQuest Bowl (Dec. 31)

The following players won’t participate in the ReliaQuest Bowl:

Iowa

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Vanderbilt

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Sun Bowl (Dec. 31)

The following players won’t participate in the Sun Bowl:

Arizona State

• Sam Leavitt, QB (transfer portal)
• Chamon Metayer, TE (opt-out)
• Jordyn Tyson, WR (NFL Draft)

Duke

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Citrus Bowl (Dec. 31)

The following players won’t participate in the Citrus Bowl:

Michigan

• Sherrone Moore, HC (fired for cause)

Texas

• CJ Baxter, RB (transfer portal)
• Anthony Hill Jr., LB (NFL Draft)
• Michael Taaffe, SAF (NFL Draft)

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Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 31)

The following players won’t participate in the Las Vegas Bowl:

Nebraska

• Emmett Johnson, RB (opt-out)

Utah

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Cotton Bowl – CFP Quarterfinal (Dec. 31)

The following players won’t participate in the Cotton Bowl:

TBD

• No updates yet

TBD

• No updates yet

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Orange Bowl – CFP Quarterfinal (Jan. 1)

The following players won’t participate in the Orange Bowl:

TBD

• No updates yet

TBD

• No updates yet

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Rose Bowl – CFP Quarterfinal (Jan. 1)

The following players won’t participate in the Rose Bowl:

TBD

• No updates yet

TBD

• No updates yet

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Sugar Bowl – CFP Quarterfinal (Jan. 1)

The following players won’t participate in the Sugar Bowl:

TBD

• No updates yet

TBD

• No updates yet

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Armed Forces Bowl (Jan. 2)

The following players won’t participate in the Armed Forces Bowl:

Rice

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Texas State

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Liberty Bowl (Jan. 2)

The following players won’t participate in the Liberty Bowl:

Cincinnati

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Navy

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Jan. 2)

The following players won’t participate in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl:

Mississippi State

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

Wake Forest

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Holiday Bowl (Jan. 2)

The following players won’t participate in the Holiday Bowl:

Arizona

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

SMU

• No injuries or opt-outs reported

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Fiesta Bowl – CFP Semifinal (Jan. 8)

The following players won’t participate in the Fiesta Bowl:

TBD

• No updates yet

TBD

• No updates yet

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Peach Bowl – CFP Semifinal (Jan. 9)

The following players won’t participate in the Peach Bowl:

TBD

• No updates yet

TBD

• No updates yet

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CFP National Championship (Jan. 20)

The following players won’t participate in the National Championship:

TBD

• No updates yet

TBD

• No updates yet

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College Football Bowl Opt-Outs FAQ

Why do players opt out of bowl games?

Players opt out to protect their NFL draft stock from injury risk. Top prospects don’t want to jeopardize millions in potential earnings in what’s essentially an exhibition game. The most famous example is Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith, whose Fiesta Bowl knee injury tanked his draft position.

How does the transfer portal affect bowl games?

The transfer portal opens January 2, 2026, creating a wave of player movement. Once a player enters the portal, playing for coaches they’re leaving while risking injury before a fresh start makes little sense. Schools can struggle to field full rosters after major portal exits.

Do coaching changes impact bowl rosters?

Yes. When head coaches leave for new jobs, players often follow them into the portal or opt out rather than play for interim staffs. South Florida lost its head coach to Auburn and is missing its starting QB plus multiple receivers for the Cure Bowl.

Which bowl game has the most opt-outs?

Penn State leads all non-playoff teams with four major opt-outs for the Pinstripe Bowl, including All-America guard Vega Ioane, running back Nicholas Singleton, defensive tackle Zane Durant, and safety Zakee Wheatley.

Do CFP teams have opt-outs?

Less often, but coaching changes still impact CFP rosters. Oregon lost its defensive coordinator to Cal and has two cornerbacks in the portal. Alabama is dealing with multiple injuries. Most star players stick around when a championship is on the line.

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