ESPN blurb today about an NC State linebacker opting out of their bowl game on 12/28.

I've seen quite a few of those within a few days of the bowl game this year - opt outs right before the game, not opt outs in general I mean - feels like more than usual.

Are these just announcements that weren't made public or are these guys practicing, going through bowl prep, and then suddenly deciding "eh, maybe not"? I mean, assuming no new injury issue or something, WTF if the latter.

IDK. It is a new thing. I can't help but think the coaches probably know they aren't playing, but they are allowing them to continue to practice to prepare for the draft. Right now, every senior and guys likely leave for the draft including Brock Bowers are practicing for Georgia but there is no official word they are actually playing in the Orange Bowl. I can't help but think some or most won't play, they are just using every last college practice they can.

And I imagine it is time for next years players to start taking a bigger role. So get your free practice in and good luck in the draft.

That's what I'm thinking. Most teams are looking more toward next year in these games. It is possible coaches are offering the practices with the agreement the players won't play.

We just though the Dodgers were big spenders in free agency this year.

My favorite college bowl game trophy: the Pop Tarts Bowl


https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/stat...86933142356439

Back to guys who practiced with the team for the bowl and not playing, Brock Bowers and Amarius Mims didn't travel to the Orange Bowl with the team. Kirby is still not confirming they won't play, but it doesn't seem likely. The weird thing about Mims? He is a junior that has only had 8 total starts, and 7 of those as a freshman. He is still getting a first round grade for the draft. He is likely a NFL First rounder and couldn't keep a starting job at Georgia.
Btw, the incoming class of o-linemen at Georgia average 6-6 and 335 pounds.

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Florida State released their depth chart today. 21 in the portal or draft, including would be starters at QB1, RB1, WR 1-2, TE1-2, DE, CB1, DB1. I honestly think given a dozen years of a 12 team playoff, the bowl games will be finally put out of their misery.

Sounds like 'planet theory' in action to me (as in 'there are only so many guys on the planet that are this big, this fast and this athletic'), although it does help that Mims has shown real potential when he has been on the field.

This is a real statement from the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia. #DukesMayoBowl pic.twitter.com/1LkFq679LT

— Daniel Burbank  (@DanielBurbankTV) December 28, 2023

After this first half, I won't be surprised -- nor even have hurt feelings -- if the WRs in Miami enter the portal.

If they don't land a big time transfer at QB, not much football point in sticking around

Tongue in cheek, but also true. Pepperoni rolls are a treasure that most people don't know about.

I will say that I watched that game in its entirety and I have never seen a broadcast team work harder to make mention of the sponsor. They were talking about mayonnaise all night long, during every sideline report, and every interaction with fans. It was insane.

I had to stop when they put mayo on a Krispy Kreme donut. I've never hated a person more.

My wife is from Texas and not long after we got married someone at her work brought in pepperoni rolls and she mentioned it. I asked her what part of WV is her coworker from and she was confused. The next day she asked where she was from and she said WV.

And making pepperoni rolls here has kind of become a holiday tradition for us so I actually just made some a few days ago.

Mario Cristobal will never figure out clock management, will he?

Miami got bullied by Rutgers.
That ain't a good look, no matter how many players were missing.

How in the heck does The U end up being soft?

He wouldn't have a clue if you gave him all the vowels and two free spins

That's what $80 mil gets you

Miami haven't shown up in sub 40 degree weather in like, ever. I picked Rutgers instantly when they announced the matchup.

Next year, with the conference changes and expanded playoffs should be a really fun year. I'm really interested to see what becomes of Oklahoma and USC in their new conferences. They both look like they could be in for some tough years and it will be interesting to see how their fanbases handle potential mediocrity.

"This game is drunk"

Pretty accurate analysis in the booth for the 4th quarter of Kentucky-Clemson

Ryan Day seems content to let his QB die tonight.

Play College Fantasy Football

Fuck that half of football was arguably worse than any Iowa game.

Non playoff NYD bowl games are gonna be trash. This will probably end 3-2. Fiesta and Orange Bowls will be blowouts. Maybe PSU/Ole Miss willl be interesting though I doubt it.

The wheels are going to come off for OSU next year. They have no QB and a garbage offensive line. If Henderson goes pro, and he should, the offense will be a disaster.

I hope so -- since apparently we're gonna go watch it in person -- but I have serious doubts.

Iowa games were fun to watch because of Taylor and DeJean

Yteres a dude on Tik Tok running a dynasty on NCAA24 playing Iowa without running an offensive play. He lost in the nattyu. It was fun to watch

Maybe Kyle McCord wasn't that bad after all.

I think it's just a bit of gamesmanship from the coaches. I mean there was no chance Harrison Jr was going to play in the bowl game but they never really ruled him out till the other day from what I saw.

Spoiled by Fields and Stroud.

And Mizzou might just have a pretty solid team.

And to think at one time, the Hogs thought they were on the same level as the Tigers. Great win for them (but they need to change their uniform!)

Ole Miss taking control in this game.

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Drew Allar could be good if he were a different person.

Fun stat I just saw. In the last 14 games against SEC opponents:
Vandy is 2-12
Ohio State is 1-13

What is Cristobal doing to get such a good recruiting class? I mean, at some point, it seems that no matter how convincing the coach is on the recruiting trail, don't recruits begin to question playing for someone who can't make basic game management decisions?

Easy answer: $$$$$$$

Dawgs taking care of business.

I expected Georgia to win this game by 50+ and although I'm not a betting man I'd have been willing to put money on the 20 point spread I saw. Then I was surprised to turn the game on with about 5 minutes to go in the first and see it's still tied. Then I did some stuff around the house to come back to a 7-0 game, which was still a surprise to me. Then I felt like a turned away for 5 minutes and it's suddenly 28-3 and still in the 2nd.

Going to see the second and third team in the second half. The game might tighten up enough that the 20 point spread won't be safe.

I will say that this game might do some permanent damage to the FSU QB psyche.

This FSU team wouldn't even make it through the first round of the FCS playoffs.

I'm not sure there's a D1 team in FBS or FCS this version of FSU could score 20 on, backups or not.

But then again IDK. Georgia took being left out of the playoffs as a challenge and the coalesced together and are determined to prove a point. FSU fell apart, and went every man for themselves.

If Georgia had beaten Bama, this would have been the 1 v 4 game. No way the committee ignores the symmetry of 4 undefeated major conference champs in the last year of the 4 team playoff.

Instead, we're just being shown that the expanded playoff is probably the right thing since Georgia is still probably the best team in the country.

Yeah, I was just saying that. This has nothing to do with talent, either. Those guys are all highly recruited players. It is not that they are talent-less. It is they are not a team. They gave up once they didn't make the playoffs.

Crazy stat:

Georgia's last six quarters of bowl football: 107-10.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 30, 2023

Btw, that was Georgia's third string quarterback this year that took the team down the field and scored.

Oh God. There is still another quarter of this. Maybe FSU can sue to get out of the fourth quarter.